Mad River Glen Backcountry & Glades
Mad River Glen’s backcountry skiing is expansive and challenging. Marked and unmarked runs blur together as most of the resort’s trees are skiable.
Got trees? (Photo Credit: Mad River Glen)
At Mad River Glen, it can sometimes be difficult to tell where the marked runs end and the locals’ wooded runs begin. Although the trail map lists only 45 trails, there are at least as many unofficial trails. Some are even marked with small signs, others are not.
Most of the tree area at Mad River Glen are skiable in good conditions. Many of these areas comprise the “unmarked” runs referred to above. Knowing their names isn’t important, but understanding the steepness and tightness of the trees before jumping in is a good idea. Venturing into the woods alone is a poor idea anywhere, but particularly at Mad River Glen where many of the areas between the runs look tempting. Some are certainly harder than other, but the entrances can be deceiving. Hiring a ski instructor for the day (or befriending a local in General Stark’s pub) is the best way to tour the other half of Mad River Glen that doesn’t appear on the trail map.
For what it’s worth, our favorite unmarked run is 19th Hole on the extreme skier’s right of the mountain.
As far as challenging off-piste marked runs, Paradise is undoubtedly the most challenging. A short traverse to the skier’s left off the Single Chair leads to the top of this wooded, steep trail. Paradise is said to be the steepest continuous pitch in New England. Gazelle Glades off the Sunnyside Chair is also an excellent marked tree skiing run.