The Ski Retreat · Sugarbush, Vermont
Sugarbush Vermont Women's Ski Retreat
Sugarbush is a skier's mountain with personality—and a women's retreat here feels less like a polished resort vacation and more like being welcomed into a community.
Sugarbush, Vermont, is the kind of mountain you don't just visit—you become loyal to. Tucked into Vermont's Mad River Valley, it's a place where challenging skiing, old-school mountain culture, small-town charm, and a community of people who actually live here all come together.
Big thank you to Nicole Feliciano, Founder of The Ski Moms and our host for this trip,
for providing us with local’s intel on this mountain and town that we used to create this summary.
How Sugarbush Vermont Compares
If Stowe and Killington are the Vermont ski resorts everyone already knows, Sugarbush is the one people discover and then quietly become obsessed with.
It's bigger than it feels and more local than you'd expect. Sugarbush spans two distinct mountains—Lincoln Peak and Mt. Ellen—with 111 trails and 16 lifts. But unlike some sprawling destination resorts, the experience still feels rooted in the surrounding community.
The Mad River Valley has managed to hold onto something that many ski destinations have lost: a sense of place. You'll find second-home owners and longtime locals, serious skiers and families, fancy mountain gear and equipment that has clearly survived several decades. People come here for the skiing, but they stay because they like the valley.
Sugarbush isn't trying to be everything to everyone. It’s challenging and a little quirky and it’s very Vermont. For a women's retreat, that makes it an especially good place to spend a few days getting out of your normal routine and into something that feels genuinely different.
The Mountain: What to Expect on Skis
Sugarbush is made up of two mountains: Lincoln Peak in Warren and Mt. Ellen in Fayston, with Slide Brook Basin sitting between them.
Together, the resort offers 111 trails, 16 lifts, nearly 2,000 acres of skiable terrain, extensive tree skiing, and terrain ranging from beginner-friendly groomers to serious expert lines.
Lincoln Peak
Lincoln Peak is the heart of Sugarbush and where you'll find a little bit of everything from approachable groomers to some of the mountain's most challenging terrain. For advanced skiers, Castlerock is one of the names you'll hear repeatedly.
This isn't a mountain where "black diamond" means something you casually squeeze in between brunch and après. Castlerock is steep, technical, and unapologetically New England. Don’t forget the glades! Sugarbush has nearly 30 wooded areas, giving experienced skiers plenty of opportunities to disappear into the trees and find their own line.
Mt. Ellen
Mt. Ellen has its own personality!
With 39 trails and seven lifts, it's a little more removed from the main Lincoln Peak energy and can feel like the quieter, more local side of the resort. Sugarbush itself calls Mt. Ellen a particularly appealing weekday option, with longer turns and fewer crowds.
Slide Brook
And finally there's Slide Brook. The two mountains are separated by the Slide Brook Basin, and the connection between them is part of Sugarbush lore.
When the Slide Brook Express is operating, it makes moving between the mountains an experience of its own. At roughly two miles long, it has been described as North America's longest chairlift.
Who should ski Sugarbush?
Sugarbush truly offers terrain for different ability levels, but the retreat's group skiing is best suited to intermediate and advanced skiers. Beginners and newer skiers can enjoy Sugarbush's progression terrain and ski school, while experienced skiers have plenty of challenging terrain to explore.
Something we’ll always remind you, the important thing isn't chasing the most difficult run. It's finding the terrain that makes you excited to click in.
The Town: The Mad River Valley
Sugarbush isn't surrounded by a giant purpose-built resort village. Instead, it's part of the Mad River Valley, where Warren and Waitsfield give the area its small-town character.
Think covered bridges, local restaurants, cafés, boutiques, farm-to-table food, artisan shops, mountain views, and the kind of places where you can actually imagine someone living year-round. Warren sits right below Lincoln Peak, while Waitsfield is the valley's main hub for restaurants, shopping, and services.
Don't skip Waitsfield.
Historic Waitsfield Village is home to one of Vermont's iconic covered bridges and a collection of local shops, restaurants, and places to wander.
There's also Lawson's Finest Liquids, one of the area's well-known local breweries, along with classic Vermont food, farm-to-table restaurants, and plenty of cozy places to settle in after skiing. This is après without the need to manufacture an après scene.
The Culture: More Than a Ski Trip
Mascara Mountain
Sugarbush opened in 1958, during the golden age of New England skiing. The resort earned the nickname "Mascara Mountain" because of its chic clientele—a nod to the women who helped give Sugarbush its early reputation as a fashionable ski destination and we are kind of obsessed that historical tidbit.
Today, some of that glamour has softened. The character hasn't. Sugarbush remains deeply rooted in its history while continuing to attract skiers who care more about the mountain than the spectacle surrounding it.
FOOD
After a morning of fresh turns, there's something special about sitting down with a group of women, warming up, ordering something good, and swapping stories about the mountain. The Mad River Valley isn't about flashy dining for the sake of being flashy. It's about local food, cozy spaces, good coffee, après treats, and meals that give you a reason to linger.
COMMUNITY
The Mad River Valley has a particular kind of community energy. There are longtime locals, families who have been coming for generations, second-home owners, serious skiers, farmers, artists, small-business owners, and people who simply decided they wanted their lives to revolve around the mountains.
It's a mix and it totally works. That's also what we experienced through the Ski Moms community.
The idea behind the Ski Moms gatherings wasn't to create another polished event where women show up, take a few photos, and leave. It was about creating a reason to , ski, celebrate our learnings and connect with other women.
Photo credit: The Ski MomsLogistics: getting there and around
Sugarbush is located in Vermont's Mad River Valley, about an hour from Burlington and roughly three hours from Boston by car. For most guests, driving is the easiest option.
If you're coming from Burlington or Montreal, you'll generally approach through Route 100. From Boston and points south, you'll typically connect to I-89 before making your way toward the valley. Sugarbush provides detailed driving directions for both Lincoln Peak and Mt. Ellen.
Once you're there, the Mad Bus provides free transportation between Sugarbush's two mountains and throughout portions of the Mad River Valley.
the Sugarbush Vermont Retreat experience
Included
3 nights accommodation with sauna
all meals
shuttle to/from the mountain
all activities - yoga, creative activity, fireside chat - and the other surprises we have up our puffers
amazing goodie bag
Not included
Flights to and from
Epic Pass or lift tickets
Ski or snowboard rentals
Ski or snowboard lessons
Travel insurance - we highly encourage
Hear from women who've been on a ski retreat
“When women are encouraging, supportive, giving, and just there for someone, I think that’s so important. It’s a reminder that we need to be a girl gang. Especially in this day and age, it’s important to look out for one another and feel empowered to do that.”
- jessica
“If you can do it, do it. If you’re worried about coming alone, don’t. Everyone is welcoming. You’re surrounded by people with shared interests and a common goal. You’re going to find people you connect with.”
meet your retreat leaderS
Nicole Feliciano
Co-Host | Retreat Leader
She is a late-blooming skier herself, Nicole brings a welcoming, relatable perspective to mountain life through Ski Moms trips, the Ski Moms Podcast, and her love of helping women feel at home in the outdoors.
meet your retreat leader
Stephanie Barnhart
Co-Host | Retreat Leader
She is a lifelong snowboarder, marketing and creative strategist, and Executive Director of NASJA who loves bringing women together through a shared love of winter and the outdoors.
Frequently asked questions
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All experience levels are welcome as attendees, but group skiing is best suited to intermediate and advanced skiers. Sugarbush itself offers terrain for all ability levels, as well as ski and ride school options.
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Most guests drive to the Mad River Valley. Burlington is approximately an hour away, while Boston is roughly three hours by car.
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No. Ski and snowboard rentals are available through the Sugarbush area. Rental availability and recommendations will be provided as part of your trip planning.
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Absolutely.
In fact, that's one of the best reasons to come.
The women who arrive without knowing anyone often leave with some of the strongest connections.
You don't need to bring a ski group.
You just need to show up.
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The Ikon pass.
A Few Final Notes
Spots fill fast — repeat guests rebook before the retreat is even publicly announced
All experience levels are welcome as attendees, but skiers should be at an intermediate level or above to ski with the group
Elk sightings are common and genuinely magical
The ski resort bathrooms are, inexplicably, a talking point (in the best way!)