The self-proclaimed Beast of the East exceeds mere regional boasting. Stowe sports four of the toughest slopes in New England; its high-speed lifts to each peak keep the lines moving; its slopes range from sharp-angle blacks to gentle cruisers; and its glade runs alone make this place worthy of weeklong exploration. With free shuttles to and from most hotels and slope-side gear rentals at both bases, there’s little to get in the way of you and the piste.

The resort is divided into two mountains: The majority of Stowe's 116 runs criss-cross 4,393-foot Mount Mansfield, the state's tallest peak. The Mountain Triple deposits you roughly midway up Mansfield's western ridge, with access to a slew of groomed blues and a couple meandering greens. Moving east, the Lookout Double runs farther up the ridgeline, putting a few of the mountain's more serious blacks within reach, along with a wider expanse of blue cruisers. North Slope, the first run to open and the last to close, is a delight, especially under a dearth of natural snowfall. But skiers at Stowe can always rely on the resort’s snowmaking capacity, which covers 80 percent of the trails.

FourRunner Quad delivers you right to the Front Four—National, Lift Line, Goat, and the mogul minefield of Starr. These runs are largely responsible for Stowe's rep as an expert's mountain, and they deliver. The quad also puts you at the top of a meandering green run called Toll Road, the high entry points to blues. The summit makes for a spectacular observation point—Lake Champlain, the Adirondacks, and Mount Washington are visible on a clear day. The quad also accesses the marked glade runs: Tres

The self-proclaimed Beast of the East exceeds mere regional boasting. Stowe sports four of the toughest slopes in New England; its high-speed lifts to each peak keep the lines moving; its slopes range from sharp-angle blacks to gentle cruisers; and its glade runs alone make this place worthy of weeklong exploration. With free shuttles to and from most hotels and slope-side gear rentals at both bases, there’s little to get in the way of you and the piste.

The resort is divided into two mountains: The majority of Stowe's 116 runs criss-cross 4,393-foot Mount Mansfield, the state's tallest peak. The Mountain Triple deposits you roughly midway up Mansfield's western ridge, with access to a slew of groomed blues and a couple meandering greens. Moving east, the Lookout Double runs farther up the ridgeline, putting a few of the mountain's more serious blacks within reach, along with a wider expanse of blue cruisers. North Slope, the first run to open and the last to close, is a delight, especially under a dearth of natural snowfall. But skiers at Stowe can always rely on the resort’s snowmaking capacity, which covers 80 percent of the trails.

FourRunner Quad delivers you right to the Front Four—National, Lift Line, Goat, and the mogul minefield of Starr. These runs are largely responsible for Stowe's rep as an expert's mountain, and they deliver. The quad also puts you at the top of a meandering green run called Toll Road, the high entry points to blues. The summit makes for a spectacular observation point—Lake Champlain, the Adirondacks, and Mount Washington are visible on a clear day. The quad also accesses the marked glade runs: Tres Amigos off Hayride, the Lookout Glades, and the glades spreading from Rimrock. Take Rimrock across the valley into the small stretch of slopes fed by the eight-person gondola, including the blue cruiser Perry Merrill; the bump-and-grind Chin Clip; and Gondolier, a smooth blue that’s also open for night skiing.

Spruce Peak, which used to be linked to Mansfield only by shuttle bus or a long walk (especially in ski boots), is now a short two-minute lift ride away on the ten-person Over Easy gondola. This section of Stowe is prime beginner and intermediate terrain. The mountain has only two blacks of significant length—Whirlaway and Upper Smugglers—and there are loads of fun blues such as Main Street and Smugglers, along with copious glade skiing between the marked slopes. Lower Spruce Peak is brimming with friendly greens, and the Stowe Ski and Snowboard School is based here.

Spruce Peak has long been perceived as the little sister to Mount Mansfield. But recent improvements to trails, snowmaking, and lifts have re-energized Spruce. Not to mention the slope-side additions of the mountain cabins and the Stowe Mountain Lodge and Spa, the 18-hole Robert Cupp-designed golf course, the retail village, and the performing arts center.

Use the sun as your guide to skiing Stowe, especially on a sub-zero day. Start on Mansfield’s western slope and slowly migrate east. This approach will keep you in the sunlight and also prime your legs for a midday assault on the Front Four. As the sun drops below the western ridge, head to the gondola until the shadows encroach. This signals the time for one last run before taking the Over Easy to Spruce Peak, whose south-facing slopes stay bathed in sunshine until the lifts close.

Stowe is also one of the best places for snowboarding, a groomer’s preference half-based on the legendary Learn to Board program held in consort with Stowe local and boarding pioneer Jeff Burton. Participants use specially designed trainer equipment and are guaranteed to be able to link turns by the end of the first day, fueling countless mountain addictions.