April 8th's solar eclipse is a historic event and we look forward to people visiting Vermont to experience this natural wonder. As always, it's important to know before you go to your favorite ski area.
Be prepared. April in Vermont is a time of swift changes. Be prepared for swings in weather and conditions--and remember your eclipse glasses.
Plan ahead. Lodging at Vermont's ski areas is booked, with few exceptions. Confirm you have your tickets, a viewing destination, and a place to stay before you start the drive. Plan to arrive early. In case of delays, keep a full tank of gas, extra food, water, warm clothing, and a charged cell phone accessible. It never hurts to over-prepare.
Enjoy responsibly. Part of celebrating the outdoors is respecting them. To minimize risk, agencies and industries have partnered to limit event size or access to certain areas to allow operations, maintenance, and safety crews the ability to do their jobs effectively. For your safety and theirs, please obey all closures and warning signs.
Lodging at every ski area is sold out, with few exceptions. If you don't have a reservation at the area or in town, it's unlikely you'll find any. Ski areas do not allow RVs or overnight camping unless explicitly stated.
Have a pre-arranged place to stay and plan to get to the lift line early to avoid a capacity cutoff (see your destination's website for details).
Traffic will be a factor eclipse weekend. Plan to arrive to your destination with plenty of time for the event, and if you have a place to stay, consider staying late.
Many people will be sharing in this experience with you and it will be more enjoyable if travel times are spaced out.
Parking Lots Will Be Full and Access Roads May Be Closed. Some areas are allowing the public to access parking lots to share in the eclipse experience, but its safe to expect full lots regardless. Please consider carpooling and leave plenty of time to get a space.
Additionally, due to safety concerns, parking on access roads will not be allowed at most areas (unless otherwise stated). Remember to confirm everything on your destination area's webpage.
Lift Access is as varied as Vermont's incredible ski terrain. Some areas will stop spinning in the hour leading up to totality; some will spin right on through the event for prime viewing; still other will extending operations later in the day to account for planned lift-stoppage.
Check your destination area's policies for specifics or special events.
Out-of-Bounds Skiing/Skinning or Entry to Closed Areas is Prohibited. Out-of-bounds areas are not patrolled, and with the number of visitors expected, Ski Patrol will be busy. With the eclipse taking place in the afternoon, there will be little time for corrective action before nightfall should you need assistance.
Please respect closures for your own safety and that of Ski Patrol.
Uphill travel is not available at all areas where normally permitted. Confirm the eclipse rules at your destination prior to reaching for your skins, and remember to remain in designated areas.
Remember to confirm all information on the destination area's webpage prior to your trip.
Jay Peak will experience 100% coverage for 3min 33sec.
Parking Lot Open to Public: Only the main Tramside Entrance will be open. Parking Attendants will be parking cars as efficiently as possible but once lots are full, we’ll access to resort will be limited. Carpooling Strongly encouraged. Overnight camping, in tents, campers, or otherwise, is not permitted anywhere at the resort. Please note: there is no parking on Route 242 once resort lots are full.
Lift Operations:
Monday April 8 operating hours are adjusted so no one is on the mountain during totality.
Uphill Travel: Not permitted.
Smuggler's Notch will experience 100% coverage for 3min9sec during the April 2024 Solar Eclipse.
Bolton Valley will experience 100% coverage for 2min55sec during the April 2024 Solar Eclipse.
Parking Lot Open to Public: Parking will be available for lift ticket holders, hotel guests, and season pass holders. Space is limited, however, and parking is not guaranteed. Carpooling is strongly encouraged.
Lift Operations: Lifts will run from 12-7pm and will pause during the eclipse.
Uphill Travel: Yes, with a valid NBU ticket for that day.
Other: Bolton highly encourages those interested in viewing the eclipse to buy their lift ticket in advance as they expect to sell out.
Stowe will experience 100% coverage for 2min49sec during the April 2024 Solar Eclipse.
Parking Lot Open to Public: Yes. RV's are allowed if under 25'. No overnight parking is allowed, carpooling is encouraged, and resort parking is not guaranteed. Resort shuttles will be servicing both the Toll House and Cross Country Center parking areas as needed.
Foot traffic: Allowed.
Lift Operations: Lifts will pause at 3pm when the solar eclipse begins and will resume operations once it is light again. Lift operating hours are extended until 5 p.m. on April 8.
A limited number of tickets for the Gondola SkyRide (expected to start operations at 12:30 on April 8) are available for non Epic Pass holders to view the eclipse from outside the Cliff House*.
The Mansfield Gondola and the Over Easy Gondola will continue to operate throughout the solar eclipse.
Uphill Travel: Allowed on Spruce Peak the day of the eclipse.
Schedule of Events:
• 12:30 p.m.: Mansfield Gondola Opens
• 2 p.m.: Cliff House Party Begins; party is sold out.
• 2:14 p.m.: Partial Eclipse Begins
• 3 p.m.: Lift Operations Pause
• 3:26 p.m.: Totality Begins
• 3:27 p.m.: Maximum Totality
• 3:29 p.m.: Totality Ends
• 3:45 p.m.: Lift Operations Resume
• 4:37 p.m.: Partial Ends
• 5 p.m.: Lift Operations Cease (Over Easy Gondola planned to operate until 5:30 p.m.)
*For those attending the Cliff House Party, or who have purchased Gondola SkyRide tickets, please allow adequate time to arrive and park.
Trapp Family Lodge will experience 100% coverage for 2min49sec during the April 2024 Solar Eclipse.
Parking Lot Open to Public: Yes, with purchase of an eclipse-viewing ticket.
Lift Operations: n/a
Foot traffic: Individuals only allowed on property with an eclipse-viewing ticket.
Burke will experience 100% coverage for 2min16sec during the April 2024 Solar Eclipse.
Parking Lot Open to Public: Yes
Lift Operations: Operating 9am-5pm. Lifts will stop about 3:20pm and will then reload about 3:40pm.
Foot traffic: Not allowed on lifts or trails.
Uphill Travel: Allowed.
Skiing is discouraged during the eclipse.
Mad River Glen will experience 100% coverage for 1min during the April 2024 Solar Eclipse.
Parking Lot Open to Public: Yes. No overnight parking Sunday, April 7th. No parking on private roads. Parking on Monday, April 8th for passholders, shareholders, ticketholders only. No other parking allowed. Carpooling highly recommended.
Lift Operations: Open 10-5 with a suspension of operations during the eclipse.
Uphill Travel: No
Sugarbush will experience 100% coverage for 1min during the April 2024 Solar Eclipse.
Parking Lot Open to Public: Parking available at most lots.
Lift Operations: Lifts run 10am-5pm but will be shutting down temporarily from 3:10 PM until daylight returns. No foot passengers allowed on lift.
Uphill Travel: Mt. Ellen will be open for uphill travel.
Other:
Middlebury will experience 100% coverage for 45sec during the April 2024 Solar Eclipse.
Parking Lot Open to Public: Yes.
Lift Operations: N/A. Middlebury will be closed for the season during the 2024 Eclipse.
Uphill Travel: Yes, at your own risk. There will be no patrol services as Middlebury Snow Bowl will be closed for the season.
Killington will experience 99% coverage during the April 2024 Solar Eclipse.
Pico will experience 99% coverage during the April 2024 Solar Eclipse.
Bromley will experience 98% coverage during the April 2024 Solar Eclipse.
Okemo will experience 98% coverage during the April 2024 Solar Eclipse.
Parking Lot Open to Public: Parking will be available for lift ticket holders, hotel guests, and season pass holders. Find more parking information here.
Lift Operations: Standard operation.
Quechee Ski Area will experience 98% coverage during the April 2024 Solar Eclipse.
Stratton will experience 97% coverage during the April 2024 Solar Eclipse.
Magic Mountain will experience 97% coverage during the April 2024 Solar Eclipse.
Mount Snow will experience 96% coverage during the April 2024 Solar Eclipse.
Parking Lot Open to Public: Parking will be available for lift ticket holders, hotel guests, and season pass holders. Find more parking information here.
Lift Operations: Standard operation.
Text VTECLIPSE to 888777 for text updates.