Killington Expert Skiing

Expert skiers love Killington and with good reason. Few resorts in the East can match the breadth of Killington’s offerings. From long, steep groomers to unrelenting bump runs and tight trees, Killington will challenge even the best skiers. The largest concentrations of expert-only terrain can be found in The Canyon (directly below Killington Peak) and Bear Mountain (home to famous bump run, Outer Limits). However, great steeps are also found sprinkled throughout the remainder of the resort.

Killington Peak and the Canyon Expert Skiing

Killington’s largest pod of expert terrain is found in the Canyon, just below the summit of Killington Peak. Experts love the terrain, but also really love that only double black and one lone black run lead to the Canyon Quad that services this terrain. Translation? No lift lines.

The dozen or so runs that funnel down to the Canyon Quad vary in character and difficulty. The easiest run to the base is actually not the lone single black diamond (East Fall) in the area, but rather the double black diamond Cascade run directly under the gondola. The best tree skiing can be found in Big Dipper Glade, a very wide open tree run with well spaced hardwoods. Escapade and Downdraft are often left moguled and are a stern test. The longest run in the area is the Flume trail which bypasses the Canyon Quad and returns skiers to the base of the K1 gondola.

Near the summit are also a handful of black diamond runs worth trying. Upper Escapade under the gondola is a quick, steep shortcut that takes skiers directly to the top of the Canyon. Up the stairs from the K1 is the narrow Catwalk trail which is an excellent choice early on powder days because the 5 minute hike scares off most. In the North Ridge area (formerly called “The Glades”) just below the peak, Powerline and Ridge Run are two short natural snow options that form nice bump lines with sufficient natural snowfall.

Bear Mountain Expert Skiing

Bear Mountain’s expert terrain is legendary. As the home to Outer Limits – the steepest bump run in the East – this portion of the resort has bona fide expert terrain that will challenge even the best skiers. Outer Limits plunges almost 1,100′ from the top of the Bear Mountain Quad and every foot of that is in full view of the gawking bystanders on the deck below. On a sunny spring day, the bumps can truly become, as the resort’s PR slogan goes, “the size of Volkswagens.”

While Outer Limits grabs all the headlines, our favorite expert trail at Bear Mountain Devil’s Fiddle. Just to the skier’s right of Outer Limits, Devil’s Fiddle is noteworth for the large cliff band in the top center of the run. Every bit as steep and bumpy as Outer Limits, Devil’s Fiddle is never groomed and the wide open slope interspersed with rocks and trees is more reminiscent of Colorado than Vermont.

From the top of Bear Mountain there are also several single black diamond runs, with our favorite being the oft-groomed Wildfire trail. There are also several gladed runs, but the lower elevation and Eastern exposure can leave these trails a bit thin. Glade afficiandos would do better elsewhere.

Snowdon Mountain Expert Skiing

Snowdon has Killington’s most underrated expert terrain. While most advanced skiers will head straight for the Canyon or Bear Mountain, Snowdon has much to offer, particularly its glades and natural snow trails. Northstar and the tree runs that adjoin it are great choices on windy days since the snow tends to blow into this natural horseshoe area. On the other (looker’s left) side of Snowdon are a handful of fantastic black runs. Our favorite is Royal Flush, a steep, natural-snow trail that drops down to the base of the Canyon Quad. Catch it early in the day though because it faces south and tends to become sun-affected.

Skye Peak Expert Skiing

Although the bulk of Killington’s expert skiing is found in the Canyon, neighboring Skye Peak actually is home to the resort’s steepest trail – Lower Ovation. This double black run is steep enough to get any skier’s attention and actually skis easier when it’s ungroomed. When rolled flat the snow tends to slide off making it an icy mess. One trail over, Superstar is Killington’s signature spring run. The resort stockpiles snow on Superstar to allow skiing until May (or in previous years, even June). 

The best classic New England black run on Skye Peak is Bittersweet. This windy switchback black diamond trail is not the steepest on the hill, but it is our favorite for its dips, turns and rolls. Neighboring Skyelark is also a popular choice.

Over at the Needle’s Eye area of Skye Peak, skiers will also find a small and often overlooked pod of expert terrain. Vertigo, skier’s left of the the Needle’s Eye run, is a short, steep shot that is easy to lap because the Needle’s Eye Express Quad is one of the fastest rides on the mountain. Hop on the Skyeship gondola from midstation to reach some of the steeps above the top terminus of the Needle’s Eye Quad. The entrances to these runs are a bit difficult to find, meaning trails like Thimble and Upper Needle’s see a lot less skier traffic.

Rams Head, Snowshed and Sunrise Mountain Expert Skiing

These three mountain areas do not offer any black diamond trails. Ironically, however, both Sunrise and Rams Head were formerly home to some excellent expert trails. The now-removed Northeast Passage Triple at Sunrise had several excellent runs from its midstation. These expert runs are now part of a snowmobile area.

Rams Head’s expert terrain met a similar fate when the Rams Head Express Quad was designed to stop short of the summit. The handful of now-closed expert trails can be seen above the top lift station. Killington is considering resurrecting these trails when the long-awaited interconnect to Pico becomes a reality.