• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Because the Family that Skis Together, Enjoys Life Together.
  • Home
  • About
    • Awards
    • Featured Author
    • Brand Ambassador
  • Brave Ski Mom Stickers
  • Contact Me

The Brave Ski Mom

Building a new generation of skiers and snowboarders.

  • Skiing
    • Skiing With Kids
    • Ski Racing
    • Learn to Ski
    • Cross Country Skiing
    • Telemark Skiing
    • Snowboarding
  • Ski Resort Reviews
    • United States
      • Alaska
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • Idaho
      • Maine
      • Massachusetts
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Montana
      • Nevada
      • New Hampshire
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • North Carolina
      • Oregon
      • Pennsylvania
      • Utah
      • Vermont
      • Washington
      • West Virginia
      • Wisconsin
      • Wyoming
    • Argentina
    • Australia
    • Austria
    • Bulgaria
    • Canada
    • Chile
    • France
    • Finland
    • Greece
    • Italy
    • Japan
    • New Zealand
  • Ski Gear Checklist and Recommendations
    • Equipment and Gear
    • Product Reviews
    • Brave Ski Mom Stickers
  • Hiking
    • Camping
  • Biking
    • Downhill Biking
    • Mountain Biking
    • Road Biking
  • Good Stuff
    • Parenting
    • Health
      • Getting in Shape
    • Reflections

Okemo Mountain Resort: Where Friends and Family Come to Ski

January 22, 2018 by braveskimom

beautiful-okemo-vermont-and-the-sunburst-six-heated-bubble-express-chairlift
Okemo has invested a lot in infrastructure, from express lifts, including the Sunburst Six heated bubble chairlift, to extensive, high-efficiency snowmaking.

brave ski mom logoI’ve been wanting to visit Okemo Mountain Resort in Ludlow, Vermont for several years.

Perhaps it’s because I’m a big fan of Crested Butte Mountain Resort and Okemo and Crested Butte are part of the same family (and they’re both on the MAX Pass).

Maybe it’s because I know a lot of families who love skiing Okemo and make a point to return every year.

Or maybe it’s because the people I know who ski Okemo (and I seem to know a lot of them!) are good people.

The reason doesn’t really matter. The result does.

Blue Skies, Bright Sun, Good Friends, Close Family

In early January, my son, husband and I skied Okemo on what could arguably be a contender for the most beautiful winter day in 2018.

beautiful-bluebird-day-okemo-mountain-resort
January 10, 2018. One beautiful day to ski Okemo! Photo: Peter Hines

Conveniently ensconced in a massively roomy condo at the Jackson Gore Lodge, we awakened to moderate temperatures and a brilliant, clear sky.

Our day got off to a bang. Staying so close to the lifts, we claimed our skis from the hotel at 8:30 a.m. and were ready to ski when the lifts opened at 9:00 a.m.

When we decided to visit Vermont this winter, we invited nearby family and friends to join us at any of the resorts we’d be visiting.

By the time we arrived at Okemo, our party of three had grown to a party of ten, a fantastic mixture of friends and family.

Because skiing with ten people is unwieldy, we split up, knowing that on a mountain of Okemo’s size, we could easily meet up, and mix it up, throughout the day.

lummis family ski okemo mountain resort
The extended Lummis family met up to ski at Okemo Mountain Resort. We had so much fun, we’re going to do it again!

Too Much to Ski In Just One Day

Okemo doesn’t sound like an exceptionally large ski resort, with 667 skiable acres and a vertical drop of 2,200’, the highest in Southern Vermont (Okemo also has 98% snowmaking coverage, the most in Vermont).

Spread across five mountains, including 3,344’ Okemo Mountain and 2,725’ Jackson Gore Peak, Okemo has an astounding number of trails and glades — 121, to be exact — for a total of 46 miles of skiing and riding.

okemo mountain resort skiing
Photo: Okemo Mountain Resort

The runs at Okemo are almost evenly divided between easier (green), more difficult (blue) and most difficult (black).

Beginner terrain is found at both the Clock Tower base and the Jackson Gore base, as well as higher on the mountain, including some long meanders from the top of the Sunburst Six Heated Bubble Express lift and the South Face Express lift.

Mostly though, what you’ll find outside of the base areas at Okemo are countless combinations and variations, a mixture of intermediate and advanced groomed runs, interspersed with moguls and glades.

okemo glade skiing
Although known for extensive snowmaking (at 98% of terrain, the most in Vermont) and immaculate grooming, Okemo also has glade skiing in designated areas. Photo: Okemo Mountain Resort

Recommended Runs at Okemo

We skied a full day at Okemo, pretty much bell-to-bell. Enthralled by the gorgeous day, the stunning views, the fantastic snow and the excellent company, I quickly lost track of the runs we were skiing.

So, I’ve turned to more experienced family friends and locals, who know Okemo better than we do, for recommendations.

Wendy Clinch, the founder of TheSkiDiva.com, is a Ludlow local who has logged hundreds of days skiing Okemo. Her favorites include Defiance, Timberline, Nor’easter and Stump Jumper for nice pitches and fun rollers on fast “groomer zoomers.”

For “baby bumps,” Wendy recommends the lower part of Timberline, which is often left ungroomed. She also suggests Rolling Thunder and Eclipse in Jackson Gore. Her pro tip: ski Big Bang/Eclipse, with moguls at the top, a mellower middle section, followed by moguls again at the bottom.

views-from-the-upper-mountain-road-at-okemo
Peter Hines, Wendy Clinch and James Lummis checking out the view from the Upper Mountain Road, a green run at Okemo.

Peter Hines, a photographer from upstate New York, prefers World Cup (both the Upper and Lower portions), a long black to blue run from the top to the bottom of the Sunburst Six lift.

Other friends, like Richard, a father of two young skiers who vacationed over the holidays at Okemo, spoke highly of the intermediate terrain under the Solitude Express Quad.

As he explains, the runs on this part of the mountain “had nice carving sections and some good drops that kept it interesting. The pitch varied at points and wasn’t just steady blue from top to bottom.”

His go-to suggestions? Heaven’s Gate to Screamin’ Demon and Sidewinder.

As for our friend Bob, and all of our extended family, we were all in agreement that Double Diamond, a double black mogul and glade run accessed from the South Face Express Quad, was our favorite. For me, it stood out in contrast to the groomers, offering more “natural” challenges and being a lovely change of pace.

bob-cantwell-finding-his-way-while-skiing-at-okemo
Our friend Bob Cantwell, pointing out his favorite trails and helping us find our way around Okemo Mountain Resort.

Why Families Love Okemo

Last season, I featured an interview with ski mom Karen de Seve that focused on what makes Okemo especially good for families, including learn-to-ski information.

family skiing at okemo
Okemo is definitely a favorite with families who ski in Vermont. Photo: Okemo Mountain Resort

Last week, after posting some photos on Facebook, Audrey, a ski mom from Connecticut provided me with this answer, when I asked her, “Why Okemo?”

“What’s not to love,” she wrote. “Okemo is the most family-friendly mountain we’ve skied, in every aspect.The terrain is so varied that we have enjoyed exploring the entire resort, advancing a bit more every year, with Okemo having ample room to try out our new skills, speed and interests.

“The runs are always well-groomed, lift lines typically move along, the lodge is spacious and well-designed so that there is always room, even when crowded, and we love the bubble chairs on super cold days.”

Most importantly, Audrey gives a big shout out to Okemo’s ski patrol and ambassadors for their caring and friendliness.

If you haven’t been to Okemo, this is a good video showing many aspects of the resort. It’s just two minutes.

When You Go…

To a person, our friends and family suggest staying at the Jackson Gore base area. The Jackson Gore Inn has condo units that are enormous and make life with a busy family easier.

jackson-gore-base-area okemo
The Roundhouse lodge and the Jackson Gore Inn at Okemo Mountain Resort.

During the holidays, Richard reported that the hotel lobby was a vibrant place to hang out and relax. Of note, he highly recommends the Okemo Boulevard cocktail.

Richard also rates the Okemo Timber Ripper Mountain Coaster as a “don’t miss” family activity. The Timber Ripper is located at the Jackson Gore base, as is the tubing hill, ice skating rink, a very large hotel pool and numerous hot tubs.

okemo timber ripper mountain coaster
The fast, fun Timber Ripper Mountain Coaster at Okemo. Photo: Okemo Mountain Resort

Money Saving Tips

Okemo is on the MAX Pass. If you don’t know the MAX Pass, you should. It’s a multi-mountain ski pass that provides five days at each of 44 ski resorts in the U.S. and Canada. In Vermont alone, the MAX Pass covers Okemo, Killington, Pico Mountain and Stratton. A list of all MAX Pass ski resorts can be found here.

If your child is in 5th grade, he or she can get three free days at Okemo with a Ski Vermont Fifth Grade Pass. The cost is just $10 for processing.

Another idea is to ski midweek at Okemo. Book a Ski & Stay package at an Okemo Mountain Resort-managed property for at least two nights, Sunday – Thursday and save up to 50% on lodging, along with additional savings on lift tickets, lessons, rentals, spa services, day care, dining, activities and more.

Midweek, your family will also have Okemo to yourselves!

So, round-up your friends and family. Take the kids out of school. And go ski Okemo.

Enjoy!

sunburst six heated bubble chair at okemo
Photo: Okemo Mountain Resort

© 2018, braveskimom. All rights reserved. Any use or publication of content, including photos, requires express permission.

Spread the Love (thanks!)

  • Email
  • Print
  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr

Related

Filed Under: Ski Resort Reviews, Skiing, Skiing With Kids, Travel, United States, Vermont Tagged With: Family Skiing, ski, ski resort reviews, ski resorts, skiing, travel

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mar says

    January 29, 2018 at 5:34 am

    I haven’t been skiing in years. We typically take our vacation in the summer and go camping or to the beach. But this place looks beautiful!

    • braveskimom says

      January 29, 2018 at 8:42 am

      It is beautiful and from what I understand it is fun and beautiful in the summer, too! Thanks for commenting!

Primary Sidebar

2023-2024 Partners

FERA
World Snow Day
FERA

Welcome

I'm Kristen, a western Colorado mom, wife and trail boss in a busy outdoor family. Our family has a passion for skiing and my goal is to provide information to help other families enjoy their skiing adventures. Whether you have tiny toddlers just learning to slide or grown children with whom you're planning a reunion, you're in the right place. Cheers!

Never Miss a Post

Enter your email address to subscribe. You'll receive notifications of new posts by email.

Follow Me

FacebookInstagram Pinterest Twitter

Today’s Most Popular Posts

  • No Snow? No Problem: Summer Skiing in North America
    No Snow? No Problem: Summer Skiing in North America
  • A First-Time Family Guide to Skiing Breckenridge, Colorado
    A First-Time Family Guide to Skiing Breckenridge, Colorado
  • Why Our Family Likes to Ski at Teton Village, Wyoming
    Why Our Family Likes to Ski at Teton Village, Wyoming
  • Ski Fashion 2016-2017: Season Highlights from WinterWomen.com
    Ski Fashion 2016-2017: Season Highlights from WinterWomen.com
  • Quotable Ski Quotes?
    Quotable Ski Quotes?
  • Family Skiing at Beaver Creek and Vail
    Family Skiing at Beaver Creek and Vail

Categories

Footer

Recent Tweets

My Tweets

Featured In

snowlink world snow day snowkidz
liftopia mtn town learn to ski and snowboard mom trends
Copyright © 2025 · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · Affiliate Disclosure · Product Review & Giveaway Policy · Guest Post Policy · Privacy Policy · Login
 

Loading Comments...