Mad River Glen

Mad River Glen in Waitsfield is a singular institution in North American skiing — a skier-owned cooperative that operates on the principle of preserving the most authentic, ungroomed mountain experience in the eastern United States. The resort is one of only two ski areas in the country that prohibit snowboards, a policy maintained by the co-op's membership to protect the mountain's natural terrain, which is intentionally left largely ungroomed and ungated. The centerpiece is the Single Chair, a 1948 Lift Engineering single-seat chairlift that is the only original single chair still operating at a commercial ski area in America. Riding the Single Chair to the 3,637-foot summit of Mad River Mountain is itself an experience distinct from anything at a modern resort — a slow, contemplative ascent through dense northern hardwood and spruce forest that takes approximately 15 minutes each way. The mountain's terrain skews heavily toward intermediate and expert, with deep mogul fields, gladed tree runs, and natural ice and rock features demanding technical ability. Notable runs include Paradise — a sustained expert pitch off the summit — and Antelope, a wide natural cruiser favored by strong intermediates. The base lodge is deliberately rustic, without a high-speed detachable lift or a resort hotel, maintaining the aesthetic and social atmosphere of a 1950s New England ski hill. Mad River Glen has been skier-owned since 1995, and approximately 2,000 co-op members vote on policy decisions including the snowboard ban and development plans. A day at Mad River Glen is considered a pilgrimage by skiing traditionalists from across the Northeast. Most skiers complete 8–12 runs in a full day given the single chair cadence.