Magic Mountain Ski Area

Magic Mountain is a small, but friendly ski resort. Only one lift was in operation while we were there, but there weren’t many skiers, so it wasn’t an issue. There are beginner trails, but they aren’t really for beginners. I took an hour of private lesson, which wasn’t enough to prepare me for the steep mountain. It’d be great if they had a smaller, bunny slope for the newbies (not just the learning slope).
The second day, we deemed it too cold to ski. It was a formidable –30 and even though we bought fixed 2-​day passes, the owner/​manager/​guy in charge (could be named Saar?) gave us an extension on our passes so we could return the following day instead. He really did his best to help us and was very accommodating. In addition, Capusine, who works at the ticket office was very kind and understanding. Jim, my ski instructor, was very patient and helpful. Also worth mentioning are Andrew and Sam in the rental shop. Both of them are extremely knowledgable and are excellent assets to the resort.
Overall, this resort is great for intermediate and experienced skiers. It’s also cheaper than any other resort in Vermont. Trust me, I’ve done the research. Everyone here is really friendly and accommodating.

Dump. I was here last weekend with my wife to have a drink and its a run down mess. Dirt all over the floors. Rotting ceilings and floors. Dry rot on the deck and unhelpful staff hanging out with customers. So we keep looking for a small ski mountain.

just got back from skiing magic today. It hasn’t snowed in almost a week and we still had untracked stuff all over the places in the trees. If you like tree skiing and exploring, this mountain is in its own league in southern vermont. I am amazed, perfect natural ski conditions, 28 degrees, sunny skies and if we had to wait 2 min to get on the lift it was a lot. On the slopes you were definitely skiing basically alone with no other skiers in sight. Lunch time in the restaurant, we walked in, got a table without waiting, had a hamburger, a water and a red bull and off we went for the afternoon. We parked our truck literally 150 yds if that from the red chair (to close to have to even bother with the 2 min drop off zone). All I could think was, why join the Hermitage Club for membership plus $ 6800 per season, when u can just ski magic. The terrain definitely has a relatively high percentage of black and double black areas. We have historically been skiing Okemo, so the comment my 11 yrs and 9 yr old made after skiing the Wardrobe trees (which is a double black), is that if they had a trail that hard at Okemo they would call it a quadruple black. After skiing the black line trail which has a few pretty steep drop offs mixed in with some really nice ungroomed mogul fields, they said, «Dad, That was epic, it was kind of scary sometimes, but it was really fun, can we do it again?» We were planning on going to Sugarbush this coming weekend and they already asked if we can to Magic instead.

Magic is a sentimental favorite, but they only have 2 lifts… when one is broken, the other gets crowded. The lodge looks and feels just the way it did in 1992. Ditto the food and the bar. It’s a shame to waste such a great set of ski trails.

This place is absolutely, without question, and awesome skiing experience for adult and children alike. Not just an ‘expert’ mountain, Magic has amazing steep groomers and plenty of intermediate terrain. They need a beginner lift, which I hear they are going to be putting in next year. And, to boot, day tickets are a fraction of what I pay at other ‘big’ resorts in the area.

What a gem! I feel this place has a lot to offer, especially for the price. Magic Mountain is overshadowed by larger resorts like Stratton and Bromley. We were among a small number of skiers on the trials last Friday and it felt like we had it all to ourselves. Not an expert, but I felt the trials were challenging and decently groomed. They only had one lift running but that was never a problem! People were super friendly, and I cannot wait to go back!
Tip: Might not be the best place for inexperienced skiers or for first timers. They do not have any true beginner trials.

If you want to see how good of a skier you are try Magic. This is classic New England skiing with narrow trails, some thin cover, ledges to hop, etc. The base lodge is all you need and the tavern is fantastic. Rebel IPA and some great beers on tap. Don’t let the lifts frighten you, both move quicker than expected and are really sheltered from the wind. After you ski Magic there is no reason to ski Bromley, Stratton, or Okemo. The toughest terrain south of MRG (that includes Killington).

what can I say — yes its a throwback to the 60’s, two double chairs but 0 zero min. lift lines, it’s like skiing on a private slope & yes, Magic has some SERIOUS terrain. Kind of equivalent to Mad River Glen. Wish they had some serious snow making.
Take the red or the black chair and scoot over west (to your right) that’s where you will find the diamonds and double diamonds & they are true diamonds.
They need a decent deli/​restaurant, either at the base lodge or somewhere near by.
It’s great for the kids — small, no crowds, cheap tix’s

Magic Mountain is old school VT skiing at its best. If you’re an advanced skier, you’ll love the challenges it offers. It is steep, with moguls and glades sprinkled liberally throughout. Don’t expect much of a village shopping scene here. This family friendly, (and pet friendly), mountain is for those who only want to do some serious skiing and riding.

My favorite mountain in Vermont ! Short lines to wait on, Very challenging mountain with some of the best trails in Vermont. Skiing here is fun, Its doesn’t have all of the fancy features like some of the other mountains, But if you are looking for a mountain that treats you like you are part of there family go to Magic Mountain.

I know that New England was a horrible place to attempt snow skiing this winter, but our friends still rallied to make it out to the slopes for one day of skiing. When we arrived, the sign out front informed us that there were 6 runs open. We proceeded to the rental department and it took 1 hour for them to find poles, boots, and skis that were intact and/​or fit correctly. They said, «We just had a big group come through and they are using most of the matching equipment.» We ended up using poles that were mismatched, bent, and either too short or too long for our bodies. I tried on 3 pairs of boots before finally settling on a pair that was *still* the wrong size because that was all they had. When we finally got to the slopes, there were *2* runs open. And there were patches of ground, dirt, and ice everywhere. They never should have opened the resort on a day like this. Needless to say, there was really nothing to ski.
We ended up going back to the lodge for some food and beer. The waitress said they were too busy and too overwhelmed to serve us. Literally. We sat down in amazement and the owner’s wife happened to see the whole conversation and approached us to say that she would do her best go get us some food. When the waitress brought us our food, we asked for utensils and napkins and she said, «You have to get it yourself,» and walked away.
All in all, a horrible experience. I will never return.

I was a bit disappointed with Magic Mountain. The mountain needs some grooming and they need to have better signage.
I am a beginner, and I was excited about all the green line paths I could ski here when I looked at the map. Only one lift was working and it’s a slow, long ride to the top, but it was a nice ride nonetheless. When we got off at the top, we began to follow the green circles, only to find out that the beginner slope was blocked off. The ONLY way left to go at this point is down the black diamond «trick» trail. What??? I was freaked out, and started side sliding my way down on my skis, only to see a huge drop off at the end. I then took my skis off and walked back up to find another way down. Luckily, I was rescued by some staff on a snow mobile who brought me down the black diamond section to where the beginner’s slope picked back up.
The good part of the day was the staff who were all friendly. Not only did they rescue me, but they gave my boyfriend and I some ski tips. I spent most of the day on the bunny slope. The lift there is one you have to grab onto with your hands as it lifts you up. It felt like my arms were ripping out of their sockets. It was very jerky. Kids and adults were having a hard time holding on.
An hour before closing, my boyfriend and I decided to try going back up again and taking a blue trail down. We have done blue at other mountains and don’t normally have a problem. Since green wasn’t open we figured this was our best shot at getting some true skiing in. Wrong again. The blue section had branches, thorns and rocks coming out of the snow. It was very bumpy and steep and it was icy. The mountain had been empty all day, so of course no one was out there with us. It took us an hour to navigate down the blue slope through the ice and rough terrain. The mountain was closed when we got to the bottom. Luckily, the lounge was still open so that we could retrieve our shoes.
Overall, this was not the skiing experience I was looking for. It was a nice two hour drive, but the ski experience wasn’t worth it. The benefits of this mountain are the nice staff and the nonexistent crowds. This is not a good mountain for beginners.

Magic Mtn is a great expert mountain but I am giving them two stars because I think their customer service is lacking. Most big mountains have a great policy where if you take one run and for whatever reason you are unsatisfied then they will refund your money. Well not here at MM. I took one run today and knew today was not a day I should be on the mountain. I was the 2^nd chair of the morning and then came right in. The women behind the window was very unsympathetic. They could have just refunded my $ 39 and I would have gone to the bar while waiting for my friends and would have probably spent more. But now, I’m giving my ticket to someone in the parking lot for free (so they don’t get an additional $ 39) and Unilocaling about it.

One word; Rustic!
Nostalgic for what skiing used to be? check out Magic.
The good: No crowds, cheap lift tix, steep steeps, Old fashioned ski expreience
The bad: Small, old fashioned = antique slow as molasses lifts & minimal snowmaking/​grooming
All the locals raved about the place and given my unwise choice to try to ski during the holiday week I was all ears when they spoke of an uncrowded mountain remeniscent of Mad River Glen. The description was on the mark but that comes with some trade offs (good/​bad above). Make sure you’re prepared to make them or you may be disappointed.

I am in love with this mountain! Magic is where I first learned how to snowboard, with the amazing staff of instructors who are the most patient, yet helpful crew, you’ll have much terrain to practice on. This rustic yet homey mountain has one really old chairlift working at the moment, but there are never any lines and there’s barely anyone on the mountain while you’re coming down the trails. I was lucky enough this past Saturday to do sweep with the ski patrol! For a new snowboarder, it just made my day! Everyone working there is unbelievably friendly, and don’t be scared if a stranger says hi, it’s probably a regular since everyone knows each other there! The happy hour is great with cheap drinks and live bands, kids running around everywhere and pet friendly too. I’ve even seen a dog hop on the chair lift with the owner, and get off! There is also tubing there and a great ski shop! The torch lighting was amazing too! And everytime I head there, I always meet someone new with the name Lisa! I’ve met 5 Lisa’s not including myself! It’s a great mountain, and there’s nothing like it!

Magic Mountain by far is the best, steepest and hardest terrain in Southern Central VT. You cannot find black & double black diamond run at any of the larger resorts (Stratton, Okemo, Killington) that can compare to Magic’s legendary terrain. As the new owners are still working on infrastructure (snow making) the best time to ski/​ride Magic is on a powder day or the days following a snow storm. Or is you just don’t feel like waiting in 10 – 15 minute lift lines then any day at Magic is worth it.
Never any crowds, no fancy high speed lifts, skiing Magic is like stepping back into the 80’s. Very modest lift ticket prices, even the food & bar prices are cheaper than the larger resorts too. They have a fantastic & friendly staff and its a great family mountain. They offer a tubing park and ski/​ride lessons for young and old.
My favorite runs (ski them if you can) are: Red Lift Line, Broom Stick, Upper Ledges and Slide of Hans are just a few to mention. Magic offers boundary to boundary skiing /​riding so if your like me and know the woods on the mountain then the tree skiing is unbeatable.
If you need a place to stay, check out the newly renovated Inn at Magic Mountain, a walk to the lifts, nice rooms, a beautiful bar/​tavern and a great restaurant too. Need I say, just like Magic very modest prices.
Magic, you have my support and we will be back for years to come!

This might be one of my favorite ski areas ever. It’s classic, old-​fashioned skiing with no crowds, no fancy-​pants resort stuff, no obnoxious people who don’t know what they’re doing, no bull. Just great skiing for real skiers (and boarders). It’s comparable to Mad River Glen, only they allow snowboarders, has less hype, more snow-​making, and is quite a bit smaller. But there’s still that same classic skiing community feel, and lots of challenging ungroomed runs.
I was there on a sunny snowy Sunday, and my family shared the mountain with probably one other guy and his daughter. We basically had the mountain to ourselves. When we went in for lunch, the cafeteria wasn’t «open» per se, but the cook made us grilled cheese and grilled chicken sandwiches… basically whatever we wanted.
And the skiing was fantastic. My favorite run was Broomstick, a steep, narrow double-​black chute through the trees. I also enjoy how the trails all have wizardy names, like Sorcerer and Talisman. There is a fair amount of beginner and intermediate terrain, but beware — even most of the blues are ungroomed so have bumps. It’s definitely a family friendly mountain… if you’re a skier family.
To illustrate how «natural» a lot of trails are, I’ll share my saga. Late in the day I decided to take Greenline by myself, a single black diamond. I expected it to be challenging, but I’ve been skiing all my life and will ski just about anything… how hard could it be? As I started down it was bumpy and steep, but no problems. Until I reached The Cliff. I got as close to the edge as I could, but all I could see was the snow some 10 – 15 ft below and a few rocks jagging out. I could see ski tracks below so someone had skied it, but it didn’t look too friendly. I had two options: 1. Jump, or 2. take my skis off and hike back up. I was alone — with about 5 other skiers and 3 staff on the whole mountain (I may be exaggerating a little but those were the only other people I saw all day) — so I decided jumping probably wasn’t the best option. I could picture myself laying at the bottom unconscious hours before someone found me. So I went with option 2. Let me tell you hiking up a steep icy hill is no fun.
And that my friends, is how hardcore Magic is. You don’t find that sort of awesomeness in the Poconos.