By Laura Wallis
Photo above courtesy of Ski Butternut
Ski Butternut
Great Barrington | skibutternut.com
100 skiable acres / 22 trails / tubing hill / 2 terrain parks
Touted as the Berkshires’ “affordable family mountain,” Ski Butternut is an always reliable destination. The resort offers 100% snowmaking coverage (in fact, in November 2024, those snowmaking capabilities were called into action to help fight the Butternut fire, which broke out just adjacent to the slopes!) Two lodges, upper and lower, offer dining, wine, and beer. Cocktails—and amazing views—are served at Channing’s Bar in the Upper Lodge.
New in 2025/26: Jane’s Quad, a state-of-the-art Skytrac lift, will replace the Overbrook Triple Chair this winter—promising improved access to trails and smoother, more efficient ride.
Otis Ridge
Otis | otisridge.com
75 skiable acres / 11 trails
In business since 1946, Otis Ridge maintains a lot of its old-school family-friendly charm. The terrain is ideal for beginners learning to ski or snowboard, and many of the slopes are lit for nighttime skiing. The Grouse House, a country inn at the base of the mountain, offers dining, drinks, and skier-watching.
Package deals: Look to Otis Ridge for programs like 6-Week Night-Ski on Wednesdays or Thursdays, with or without lessons; or the return of the popular Women’s Ski & Sip, 4 weekly lessons followed by wine and apps. And a new perk this year: Otis Ridge season passholders ski free at Ski Butternut on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Bousquet Mountain
Pittsfield | bousquetmountain.com
200 skiable acres / 22 trails / 2 chair lifts, 2 magic carpets / terrain park / tubing
The first ski area in the U.S. to offer night skiing, thanks to a few intrepid skier/electricians from nearby General Electric who illuminated the slopes with floodlights in 1936. Nearly 100 years later, Bousquet is still a mainstay of Berkshires ski culture, with 90% snowmaking coverage and slopes for everyone from beginners to Olympic-level athletes.
Events to watch for: Bousquet promises a lineup of new events this season in addition to the return of popular events like Shredfest Rewind hosted in partnership with Bomb Shack Vintage, SkiBR with Pabst Blue Ribbon, New Year’s Eve and St. Paddy’s Day Parties, and more.
Courtesy of Bousquet Mountain
Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort
Hancock | jiminypeak.com
167+ skiable acres / 45 trails / 3 terrain parks
A full-service resort, Jiminy Peak is getaway ready. One of the largest ski areas in the region, it offers a range of lodging options just steps from the slopes, whether you want a country inn experience or a private vacation home. Multiple restaurants are onsite, as well as a country store where you can stock your own kitchen. The mountain offers 9 total lifts and 96% snowmaking coverage.
Extra day deal: From January 8 to March 12, 2026, Jiminy Peak is offering a free Thursday night stay if you book Friday and Saturday nights in the Country Inn Suites. If booking a ski package, Thursday night will also include 2 adult lift tickets. (Subject to restrictions.)
Berkshire East Mountain Resort
Charlemont | berkshireeast.com
180 skiable acres / 45 trails / tubing / terrain park
One of the most expansive ski areas in the region, it’s also a leader in responsible development—the first in the world to generate all its power from onsite, renewable, solar and wind energy. The resort is equipped for 100% snowmaking coverage. 18 trails are lit for night skiing. And even the non-skiers in the group will appreciate the three, 500-foot lanes in the tubing park. Grab an Unlimited Summit Pass and you’ll get access to Berkshire East as well as Catamount and Bousquet.
Après ski: The Crazy Horse Bar & Grill is located upstairs in the Berkshire East Main Lodge, and a full lineup of Friday evening live-music events—après at the Crazy Horse—are on the calendar for Winter 2025/26.
Catamount Mountain Resort
Egremont and Hillsdale, NY | catamountski.com
119 skiable acres / 44 trails / tubing / terrain park
This resort on the New York-Massachusetts border boasts some of the most varied skiing and snowboarding terrain in Southern New England. 22 of its trails are illuminated at night, as is its tubing park, so the fun continues after dark. The resort offers three full-service restaurants—Fat Cat Burgers and Fries, Campfire Bar & BBQ, and Stateline Grill, plus a convenience store stocked with snacks and a coffee shop for your daily fuel-up. A variety of on- and off-site lodging options are available, many within walking distance of the main lodge.
Raceday fun: Each winter season, the Vertical Challenge—a series of free, casual ski and snowboard races, plus events and wintry activities for the whole family—are held at ski resorts throughout the Northeast. Catamount’s Vertical Challenge is on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
Courtesy of Catamount Mountain Resort
Mohawk Mountain
West Cornwall, Connecticut | mohawkmtn.com
112 skiable acres / 27 trails / tubing hill
Mohawk’s claim to fame? Snowmaking was born here. Walt Schoenknecht, who founded the family owned and operated resort in 1947, pioneered the process. Snowmaking is now available on 100% of the resort’s slopes, 16 of which offer night skiing 6 nights a week. Dining is available in the main lodge or in the Pine Lodge—a rustic ski in/out lodge midway up the mountain that was originally the Schoenknecht family home.
Deals for the season: 2025/26 Anytime and Weekend Season Passes come with some new perks: 2 complimentary buddy passes, 2 half-off buddy passes, 2 complimentary tubing passes, and 10% discounts in retail and the workshop. (Restrictions apply.)
