Two Beloved Vermont Ski Areas Team Up on One Season Pass
Following the news that Smugglers’ Notch and Burke Mountain, Vermont, had been folded into the same ski area group, Bear Den, the two ski resorts announced that they’ll be included on one season pass next winter.
The pass costs relatively little, totalling $649 for adults. Seniors ($199) and youth ($349) pay much less. Those prices are good until Memorial Day, or May 25, 2026, after which, presumably, they’ll increase.
The passes have no blackout dates and, if you buy them now, work at Burke and Smugglers’ Notch for the rest of this season.
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Smugglers’ Notch has been kicking around since the 1950s, when local entrepreneurs put two Poma Lifts up Sterling Mountain. Since then, as ski resorts often do, Smugglers’ Notch has grown, now spanning eight lifts, three peaks, and plenty of gladed goodness.
Burke Mountain is around a two-hour drive away. It captures the same, local, and homey feeling as Smugglers’ Notch, operating on a humble chunk of 178 skiable acres.
Together, the two ski areas recently joined Berkshire East and Catamount, Massachusetts, in the miniature Bear Den fiefdom.
For now, here’s what that means. Berkshire East and Catamount are on the same pass. Smugglers’ Notch and Burke Mountain are on the same pass. However, all four aren’t on the same pass with unlimited access.
But the Smugglers’ Notch and Burke Mountain pass is good for two days each at the Massachusetts mountains (and vice versa), making for something like a mega pass lite.
And on Catamount’s web page describing the joint Berkshire East pass, there’s this tease: “Additional mountain access and partner benefits will be revealed later this summer.”
At Smugglers’ Notch and Burke Mountain, there’s still some skiing to take advantage of this season. Smugglers’ Notch has a projected closing date of April 12, according to Ski Vermont. Burke Mountain made it until April 6 last winter.
As always, you’ll find the latest closing day information on each ski area’s website or Instagram page.
Related: Photo Gallery: Exploring British Columbia’s Ski Areas “Lost In Time”
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