Ski season is the most magical time of the year in The Berkshires! Home to powdery peaks nestled in quaint villages, this idyllic portion of New England attracts skiers, snowboarders, and "lodge cocoa" aficionados worldwide. Here's a look at the five best ski resorts near Pittsfield, MA, where you can feel the beauty of The Berkshires all around you!
1. Berkshire East Mountain Resort
For decades, this classic East Coast ski resort in the gorgeous Deerfield River Valley has been a getaway spot for snow lovers. Its peaks and trails straddle parts of Charlemont and Hawley, Massachusetts. Berkshire East visitors can look forward to 1,000 feet of vertical drop, 200 acres of skiable terrain, and a good mix of beginner, intermediate, advanced, and expert runs. Nearly 70% of the resort's terrain caters to beginner and intermediate skiers. The resort also has four lifts. Guests in the summer enjoy Thunder Mountain Bike Park, a mountain coaster, an aerial park, whitewater rafting, and hiking trails.
2. Bousquet Mountain Ski Area
Enjoy a 200-acre ski area with 23 trails, two lifts, two magic carpets, and a 750-foot vertical drop. Bousquet Mountain Ski Area is the oldest ski area still in operation in The Berkshires. People have been loving the powder here since 1932! The resort has been visited by John F. Kennedy, Jackie Kennedy, Gerald Ford, and countless Olympic skiers. Nestled within the Taconic Mountain Range, this acclaimed ski area in Pittsfield, MA, offers skiing and snowboarding on the summit of Yokun Ridge. If you come for tubing, you'll enjoy ten lanes and a magic carpet on a tubing hill with snow-making machines!
3. Catamount Mountain Resort
Catamount Mountain Resort is located on Mount Fray in the Taconic Mountains and covers portions of Hillsdale, New York, and South Egremont, Massachusetts. It is known for being home to one of the Northeast's biggest youth racing programs. With 99% of the trails here equipped with snow-making capabilities, Catamount is one of New England's most dependable ski resorts. The resort offers 199 acres of skiable area in total. Its longest trail stretches just over 2.5 miles.
4. Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort
As one of the most recognizable ski resorts near Pittsfield, MA, Jiminy Peak welcomes visitors from all over to its trails within the Taconic Mountains in Hancock, Massachusetts. Skiers and riders can stay busy covering 167 explorable acres featuring 45, nine lifts, and two magic carpets. A popular spot for beginners and families looking for ski getaways, Jiminy Peak offers a 1,150-foot vertical rise with a summit elevation of just over 2,380 feet. In the summer, the resort transforms into a fun family spot that offers mountain coasters, an aerial adventure park, rock climbing walls, lift rides, hiking, and much more!
5. Butternut Ski Area and Tubing Center
Butternut offers great skiing in Great Barrington! This resort has helped to make The Berkshires popular for year-round vacations since opening its trails for the first time in 1962. A true family mountain, Butternut offers 100 skiable acres of 80% beginner and intermediate terrain. Every single trail in the resort is equipped with snow-making machines. Visitors can also utilize four quads, one triple, four carpets, and one tubing carpet.
There's No Ceiling on the Fun You Can Have in the Mountains of Cozy Pittsfield
With mountain peaks and snowy trails calling for adventurers of all ages, the Pittsfield area is the perfect spot for a cozy winter vacation. With the area's top resorts transforming into wonderlands during the summer, there's actually never a bad time to plan a trip to The Berkshires. This guide to things to do near Pittsfield MA will even help you find some magic when you're off the mountain!