Prospect Mountain Ski Area

Location Woodford, VT
Acreage 144
Protected Since 2019
Featured Recreation Land

This beloved community ski area has consistently good snow because of its high elevation

Tucked away in the Green Mountains, just seven miles east of Bennington, sits Prospect Mountain Nordic Ski Center. There you’ll find a network of 30 kilometers of skillfully groomed trails with consistently good snow.

It has the highest base elevation of any alpine or cross-country ski area in Vermont (2,250 feet)—something that helps with all that snow!

In the winter, the mountain is a hub of activity with skiers of all ages and abilities exploring the trails, and college and high school ski teams training and racing. In the warmer months, the trails are open for hiking.

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Trail info and snow conditions

Trails at Prospect Mountain range from beginning to expert. Most have tracks set on either side with a wide skating lane in the center. There is also a network of snowshoe trails and single-track trails.

Because of the 2,250-foot base elevation, Prospect often has good snow. The cross-country ski season usually runs late-November into early April.

A live trail cam (and weather station) provide a fun way to check on conditions and to remind you that it is usually more snowy up there than you think.

Our tip: The widest choice of trails is on days when there are no school races so call ahead, if you can.

Trail Cam

Some of our favorite ski routes

For those who are looking for a workout, especially you classic skiers, a ski up Shea’s to the summit and down Mountain Trail is an excellent adventure.

A short trip around the 1.1 km Danish Delight loop near the top is a great way to catch your breath and feel the peace of the mountain.

If you are looking for something a little flatter or prefer skate skiing, an extensive network of trails all begin with the Woodpecker trail and spread out from there. Green markers on trailside trees lead you around the easiest loop.

A loop from Woodpecker, to EZ Way, to Troll Road, to Hobbit Hollow, and back along Whistlepig makes a fun, family-friendly 2.3 km adventure.

The wilder Hoot Toot ‘n Holler and Joe Parkway single-track loop is great classic fun, especially when done clockwise and when the snow is deep.

Alpine touring skiers like to skin up the T-bar line and ski the old trails. Eight former alpine trails are still open and provide almost 5 km of downhill fun, although most of these usually are not groomed.

There are also some great snowshoe trails.

Day passes, season passes, rentals, and Prospect gear are available in the Ski Shop.

Trail conditions

Time to relax at the lodge

What to do after some fabulous skiing or snowshoeing or in between runs? The cozy base lodge is an inviting place to relax and recharge. It has a country, old-time ski atmosphere with a large woodstove and big windows to enjoy the view.

It’s a great place to warm up by the woodstove, grab a grilled cheese and hot chocolate, find a bathroom, view photos from bygone decades, or meet old and new friends.

Visit Prospect Mountain

Public Access
Parking

Enjoy a network of 30 kilometers of groomed trails. Trails are groomed for both skate-skiing and classic cross-country skiing. There are also special snowshoeing and single-track trails. Post-ski, check out the 1960s-era base lodge, complete with a wood stove, rustic charm, and a restaurant. In the off season, the mostly grassy trails can be accessed for non-motorized uses, such as hiking, for free.

Visit the Prospect Mountain website for all the details!

There’s ample parking at 204 Prospect Access in Woodford, right in front of the ski area.

Visit the Prospect Mountain website for trail maps, including connecting trails to neighboring land, and snowmaking info.

Main trail map

The Prospect Mountain Story

Prospect Mountain Ski Area opened in the 1930s with a rope tow. World War II put a pause on things. After sporadic activity, the ski area reopened in earnest in the 1960s with two T-bar lifts ferrying skiers uphill.

The first cross-country ski trails were built around 1980. The lack of snowmaking, combined with years of light snow, eventually put too much pressure on the business and alpine operations stopped around 1990. However, Nordic skiing continued to be popular.

Volunteers and conservation helped save the ski area

Passion for cross-country skiing and the use of the trails by many organizations, such as the Bill Koch Youth Ski leagues and Williams College, helped keep Prospect in business. These factors also contributed to community support to save the ski area when the long-time owners wanted to sell the land in 2017.

With public access to the trail at risk, committed volunteers created the nonprofit Prospect Mountain Association. The group raised the money to buy the land with support from VLT.

A true community ski area

In September of 2018, the group bought the ski area, and in 2019, 144 acres were conserved with VLT. Williams College “ski” alumni and the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board contributed to the project, as did many community members who adore Prospect Mountain.

The fundraising campaign was so successful because of the deep ties to the land, the community, and the sport. Contributions came both from people who’ve skied there for decades and those who never have. Local businesses chipped in and so did the town of Bennington.

“Once we got going, the fundraising just kind of took on a life of its own,” said David Newell president of the Prospect Mountain Association. “It was tremendous, the momentum we had.” Before they knew it, they had raised $55,000 more than the goal.

This and additional fundraising in the years that followed have helped the group invest over $600,000 in Prospect. This includes significant trail improvements, lodge improvements, and future snowmaking in the area near the lodge.