5 Green Getaways
Vermont’s Resorts Are Crafting the Future of Sustainable Tourism
Vermont’s Green Mountains, celebrated for their vibrant seasons and commitment to environmental stewardship, provide an ideal getaway for eco-conscious travelers. Leading in sustainability, Vermont’s businesses and communities are committed to showcasing the state’s natural beauty while minimizing environmental impacts.
With a deep-rooted tradition of stewardship, Vermont actively works to enhance visitor experiences and preserve its landscapes for future generations. Through innovative energy solutions, educational programs, and eco-friendly operations, each resort uniquely proves that sustainable tourism is not only achievable but deeply fulfilling. Embrace Vermont’s picturesque seasons and explore a wide range of outdoor activities at five of the Green Mountain State’s premier destinations.
After more than two decades of dedicated efforts, Vermont’s outdoor recreation areas seamlessly integrate sustainability with the exhilarating, year-round activities for which the state is celebrated. This blend of recreation and environmental stewardship lies at the core of the Green Mountain State’s philosophy, establishing Vermont as a top choice for those in search of thrilling yet eco-friendly experiences in any season.
If you’re seeking a green getaway, look no further than these three extraordinary lodging properties in southern Vermont. Each with a unique approach to a shared mission, these properties provide outlets for recreation and rejuvenation, all while promoting some of the best sustainable living practices, from responsible land management to regenerative food systems. These three lodging properties skillfully blend hospitality with sustainability, showcasing the best Vermont offers for both people and the planet, proving there’s no need to compromise.
Jay Peak Resort
Leading the Way in Eco-Innovation
Nestled at the top of the state in the northern Green Mountains, Jay Peak Resort also holds top billing as a resort fully committed to sustainability. Most recently the location of one of the largest carbon reduction projects in Vermont’s—and the ski industry’s— history, Jay Peak Resort boasts a long and proud record of ambitious environmental initiatives.
Jay Peak’s recently installed three-megawatt electric boiler testifies to their commitment to reducing fossil fuel reliance. Projected to reduce propane demand by 60%, the boiler will heat the hotel, conference center, indoor waterpark, restaurants, and retail spaces. An existing waste heat recovery system also transfers heat from the indoor skating arena to the indoor waterpark, further decreasing energy needs and continuing to demonstrate that decisions that benefit the environment can also benefit business. The resort’s expanded partnership with ECOLAB also enables housekeeping’s services to reduce water consumption by two million gallons a year.
No matter the season you visit Jay Peak Resort, you’ll find activities for all ages, tastes, and abilities. In the winter, its slopes are a paradise for skiers and snowboarders, boasting the highest natural snowfall in the East and some of the best snow on its varied terrain. As the weather warms, the resort transforms into a hub for golf, hiking, and mountain biking, with its stunning landscapes offering a constant backdrop. Year-round, check out the indoor waterpark, spa, arcade, climbing gym, and more.
Smugglers’ Notch Resort
A Family-Centric, Eco-Conscious Retreat
With a long-held policy that the environment is an important part of every family vacation, Smugglers’ Notch Resort has been a leader in environmental stewardship since the 1970s. Focused on minimizing their overall environmental footprint, management and employees are committed to being responsible stewards of Vermont’s natural resources and communities by local sourcing food and products, updating to energy efficient lighting, promoting wildlife and habitat protection, and more. The Living Machine water conservation program utilizes specific environmentally friendly plants and bacteria to facilitate their wastewater treatment.
As a family-focused resort, Smugglers’ Notch is also committed to inspiring all visitors to appreciate the nature around them with their educational programs, which aim to raise the environmental awareness of guests. Their ongoing goal is to make every stay not just a vacation, but an educational environmental stewardship experience they’ll take with them when they leave the resort.
Smugglers’ Notch Resort offers a plethora of year-round, family-inclusive activities and recreation. Winter activities include skiing and snowboarding, tubing, snowshoeing, and the Adventure Center with Ninja Ropes course. Summer offers up opportunities for vibrant hikes, swimming, kayaking, fishing, disc golf on their national PDGA-recognized course, and more. There’s never a lack of something to do while exploring the area’s lush surroundings.
BOLTON VALLEY
Setting the Sustainability Bar High
Discover a haven of ecological adventure at Bolton Valley Resort. Nestled in the mountains just outside of Burlington, Bolton Valley boasts some of the best backcountry skiing in the state. Visitors enjoy breathtaking views, diverse recreational offerings, and a commitment to sustainability that cements Bolton Valley as a pioneer in responsible tourism.
Sporting an on-site wind turbine and the recipient of the state’s first shipment of Taiga electric snowmobiles, Bolton is a cross-season blur of sustainability projects, both inside and out. On the snow, the resort replaced 150 halogen night-skiing lights with high-efficiency LEDs, cutting energy use by half, and replaced its diesel pumphouse generator with an electric compressor, drastically reducing fuel consumption. Captured heat from the new compressor, along with two high-efficiency propane wall heaters, also function as a de-icing room for snowmaking hoses. Bolton’s projects show that even seemingly small improvements can positively affect multiple areas of a resort.
Thanks to a partnership with the Energy Co-op of Vermont, Bolton heats its base lodge with high-efficiency, low-emission pellet stoves, powered by locally produced wood pellets, further reducing fossil fuel dependence and emissions. From trash bags made from recycled agricultural plastics to replanting spring grass with composted soil from collected food waste, Bolton Valley Resort continues to improve its sustainability while providing epic experiences that keep visitors returning for generations.
Just a 30-minute drive from downtown Burlington, surrounded by 5,000 acres of pristine forest, Bolton Valley offers year-round recreation. Enjoy cross country, alpine, backcountry, and night skiing and riding, snowshoeing, pool, hot tub, and more during the winter. In the summertime, enjoy a round of disc golf, hit the trails as a beginner or expert mountain biker, or take in live music at an outdoor concert.
Killington Resort
Sustainable Innovation in Every Season
The Beast of the East is as big on environmental initiatives as it is on terrain and is renowned for being the first ski resort to open and the last to close on the East Coast. Guests can indulge in their favorite outdoor activities while supporting environmental initiatives through Killington Resort’s innovative approach to sustainability offers. This commitment to sustainability enhances the overall experience.
While Killington Resort is home to one of the larger solar arrays in the Vermont ski industry, it also powers its Peak Lodge and the K-1 Express gondola via Cow Power, a joint program that uses an anaerobic digester that repurposes greenhouse gasses produced by cow manure into renewable electricity. The electricity is put to good use at Killington Resort, which is home to the largest EV charging hub in the U.S. ski industry. Combined with comprehensive recycling and composting efforts, and even a solar array-adjacent apiary program (where visitors can purchase Killington-produced honey at the Grand Lodge shop), Killington stands out as a big player making big environmental moves for the benefit of the state.
Heralded for its legendary skiing and snowboarding, Killington’s allure extends into summer with a thrilling downhill biking park, hiking, golfing, and more. Year-round, go for an exhilarating ride on the Killington Beast Mountain coaster, a 4,800-foot-long roller coaster featuring twists, turns, and corkscrews.
Stratton Mountain Resort
Green Practices in a Four-Season Wonderland
An EPA-recognized WasteWise partner, Stratton is known for its longstanding commitment to waste reduction and environmental stewardship. The resort mirrors its expansive on- and off-slope programs with an equally robust roster of efficiency and sustainability initiatives that touch every aspect of the resort.
An early implementor of efficiency upgrades including LED lighting and low-energy snowguns, Stratton sets a high bar for energy sourcing, with 64% of its power coming from renewable sources and an overall 94% designated as carbon-free. Taking steps to support its commitment to zero-waste, Stratton utilizes compostable packaging for all to-go containers, sources food and beverages from local farms and businesses, and, with the help of Casella, diverts up to two tons of food waste a week from the landfill to a methane digester to be used for renewable energy production.
Stratton’s robust snowmaking system allows the ski area to enhance riparian habitat for local flora and fauna, stewarding the terrain for the plethora of organisms that call the resort’s three snowmaking ponds home. The resort continues to prove that sustainable practices can enhance the recreational experience, making it more meaningful and impactful.
The resort’s diverse terrain offers a variety of activities throughout the year. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, enjoy snowmobile tours, Nordic skiing, and the tube park during the winter months. Summer brings the opportunity for downhill mountain biking, golf, tennis, pickleball, and hiking at Stratton Mountain Resort.
After over two decades of ongoing work, Vermont’s outdoor recreation areas continue to blend sustainability practices with the exhilarating, year-round activities that Vermont is known for. Vermont’s ski areas offer a window into a world where the thrill of adventure is firmly rooted in a deep respect for the environment. The unique combination of recreation and environmental stewardship is at the heart of the Green Mountain State’s ethos, making Vermont a premier destination for those seeking an exciting and eco-conscious escape in any season.
To learn more about the sustainability initiatives at Vermont’s outdoor recreation resorts, check out SkiVermont.com.
ACCESSIBLE ADVENTURE AT VERMONT RESORTS
- Through Adaptive Sports Partners, Jay Peak’s Adaptive Ski Program offers lessons to empower all individuals through sport.
- Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports is committed to empowering individuals with disabilities. They promote independence and further equality through access and instruction to sports and recreational activities.
- Smugglers’ Notch Resort’s adaptive program provides inclusive recreation for children and adults, ensuring everyone can experience the joy of skiing and riding.
- The Bart Adaptive Sports Center at Stratton Mountain Resort teaches all athletes the joys of skiing and snowboarding, using the latest in adaptive equipment and progressive methods.
About the Vermont Inspiration Guide
This itinerary comes from the Vermont Inspiration Guide through a partnership between the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. This free annual publication highlights Vermont’s restaurants, retailers, attractions, and outdoor adventures and can be ordered online along with other trip planning resources.