I have skied for over a decade in 5 states and over ten mountains. Here are my top rankings based on price, number of trails, reviews from interviews and online, availability and quality of trails and snow. In-person interviews from the Wooster community and my experience skiing hold the most value, followed by price, online reviews, number of trails and availability.
1# Mohawk Mountain (Cornwall): Mohawk is the oldest ski area in Connecticut, founded in 1947. Mohawk Mountain was actually the first ski area in the world to make its own snow. This tradition isn’t lost with many mentions of how even after a rainy day, the area is perfectly groomed and well-maintained.
A review from OnTheSnow said, “If you want to be assured of a well groomed ski area, go to Mohawk. [Even] after an all day rain the next day the ski area is groomed perfectly. The groomers and snow makers at Mohawk are the best in New England.”
Although the area lacks many challenging trails and terrains, it is the second-largest ski area in Connecticut and was applauded for its beginner and family-friendly challenges. The mountain is great for starters, or those looking for some fun with friends, and is well deserving of its number one rank.
2# Ski Sundown (New Hartford): Sundown is a very “hit or miss” experience. The consistency of quality is non-existent with one day being extremely icy but the next being as fluffy as can be. They have one of the shortest seasons and hours and have been described as “Last to open and first to close” (OnTheSnowReview). Its night skiing is subpar, with lighting issues and poor quality control during the night.
At its best, the mountain rivals Mohawk and sometimes is better; however, at its worst, it’s unenjoyable. There are quite a few downsides, with the price being average to a bit expensive, despite not having a lot of runs. The 17 runs aren’t very impressive on their own, either, with the longest run being just over a mile. Despite being so small, its trails are fun for even intermediate skiers. One aspect of this mountain that separates it from the rest is its lifts. It has five lifts, including a high-speed quad, two triple chairs and two surface lifts. Surface lifts aren’t very common now, so they could be seen as a fun experience or annoying, depending on the person.
Overall, skiing at Sundown really depends on your risk tolerance. If you ski it at its best, it is arguably the best option in Connecticut, but this doesn’t happen every time, and the enjoyment of this mountain really depends on the person.
“I ski very often in Vermont and found that Sundown is very similar in certain aspects and can be a wonderful experience, especially if [you live] close!” Luke J. ’28 said.
3# Mount Southington (Plantsville): Southington is the third largest mountain in Connecticut. Despite Southington having fewer terrain and trails available than the other mountains on the list, it has the most night skiing trails, with every trail open during the night. This may be overvalued because its price is equal to or sometimes greater than Mohawk while having half the acres. I would only recommend Mount Southington, especially at night, because that is its only advantage compared to the other mountains with better pricing, more runs, more advanced runs and better terrain parks.
“I really enjoyed the night skiing, but the overall mountain could definitely have been better,” Asher ’27 said.
Overall, each of these mountains have their strengths and weaknesses. There are so many factors to determine which mountain is the best for you, like price, closeness, and quality. To anyone trying to find their favorite mountain, I recommend you try these three first.
Robert '28
Journalism Student
