The Mount Snow area in West Dover, VT delivers far more than skiing – from lake days and brewery runs to golf, hiking, and live music throughout the year. These top things to do near Mount Snow are all within a short drive of Valley View Villa, our luxury vacation home in West Dover. Here are ten activities worth building your trip around, no matter the season.
Mount Snow gets 600,000 visitors a year, and most of them come for skiing. Fair enough – the mountain is the reason this corner of Vermont exists as a destination. But the Deerfield Valley has a lot more going on than chairlifts and powder days. The best trips here mix mountain time with lake days, brewery runs, and a few things you won’t find anywhere else in the state.
Here are the ten things worth building your trip around, no matter what season you’re visiting.
1. Ski and Ride Mount Snow
The obvious one, but it deserves the top spot. Four mountain faces, 86 trails, 18 lifts, and Carinthia – the largest terrain park complex in the eastern U.S. with 100+ acres of parks, a superpipe, and features that have produced more Olympians than any other park in the country. The North Face has the steepest terrain. Sunbrook is the quiet side nobody waits in line for. And the Bluebird Express bubble chair – the only one of its kind in North America – makes even the coldest days bearable.
Buy tickets online in advance to save significantly off the window price. Mount Snow is on the Epic Pass if you ski more than a few days a year.
For tips on navigating the mountain with kids, check out our family ski day guide.
📍 5 min from Valley View Villa | Late Nov – mid-Apr | $$$$
2. Go Tubing Under the Lights
Mount Snow’s tubing hill is one of the biggest in Vermont, and the covered Magic Carpet lift means you never have to walk back up. Night sessions under the lights are the real draw – the hill glows, the atmosphere is festive, and no skiing ability is required. It’s the best non-ski winter activity in the area, especially for families.
Book online – sessions sell out on weekends and holidays. More details in our dedicated tubing guide.
📍 Mount Snow base area | Fri-Sun + holidays, sessions from 3:30 PM | $$
3. Ride the Mountain Bike Park
When the snow melts, Mount Snow becomes one of the best lift-served bike parks in the Northeast. Nine downhill trails ranging from beginner greens to double black diamonds, plus cross-country options at the base. Full rental fleet available – DH full-suspension bikes, hardtails, helmets, pads. The green runs are genuinely beginner-friendly, not just “less steep.”
See our summer adventure guide for more on biking, golf, and warm-weather activities.
📍 Mount Snow base area | Fri-Sun, 10 AM – 5 PM (summer) | $$
4. Take the Scenic Chairlift to the Summit
Ride the Bluebird Express to 3,586 feet for 360-degree views of southern Vermont. On clear days, you can see Somerset Reservoir, Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire, and on the clearest days, Mount Washington. The summit has hiking trails and picnic spots – ride up, hike down, or ride back. During peak foliage in early October, this is hands-down the best way to see the colors in the region. No hiking ability required.
📍 Mount Snow base area | Fri-Sun, mid-June through mid-Oct | $$
5. Spend a Day on Harriman Reservoir
Vermont’s largest lake is 15 minutes from Valley View Villa, and most Mount Snow visitors have never heard of it. Eight miles long, 28 miles of shoreline, open for swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing, and powerboating. Wards Cove is the most popular swimming spot – arrive early on hot summer weekends. The reservoir is also stunning during fall foliage, when the surrounding hills light up and the water goes glassy at dawn.
Kayak and SUP rentals are available through local outfitters. A Vermont fishing license is required for anglers.
📍 Wilmington, VT | ~15 min from Valley View Villa | Free access
6. Hike to the Mount Olga Fire Tower
The best effort-to-reward hike in the area. A 1.7-mile loop through Molly Stark State Park climbs 500 feet to a historic fire tower on Mount Olga. From the top: 360-degree views of the Green Mountains, the Berkshires, Mount Monadnock, and Mount Snow. The trail crosses a brook and passes through hardwood and spruce forests. Short enough for kids, rewarding enough for adults.
For more options, see our hiking trails guide.
📍 Route 9, Marlboro | ~20 min from Valley View Villa | $
7. Paddle Somerset Reservoir
If Harriman is the lake everyone knows, Somerset is the one nobody does. A 1,568-acre wilderness reservoir at 2,200 feet, surrounded by Green Mountain National Forest. No houses, no development, no cell service, and a 10 mph speed limit that keeps jet skis away. The 10-mile gravel access road is part of the experience – it filters out the crowds and delivers you to some of the most pristine paddling water in New England.
Bring your own kayak or canoe – there are no rentals at the reservoir. Go early morning for glassy water and the best chance of spotting loons and eagles.
📍 Somerset, VT | ~25 min from Valley View Villa via gravel road | Free
8. Tour the Local Craft Breweries
Three distinct breweries within 20 minutes of each other make for an easy self-guided tour. Start at Snow Republic on Route 100 – house-brewed beers, solid food, dogs welcome, open daily noon to 8 PM. Head south to Valley Craft Ales in a restored 1828 sawmill in downtown Wilmington – their coal-fired pizza and river deck are worth the drive alone. If you’re feeling adventurous, continue east on Route 9 to Beer Naked Brewery for a funky, off-the-beaten-path tasting room with views from Hogback Mountain.
📍 West Dover and Wilmington | Year-round | $-$$
9. Go on a Sleigh Ride at Adams Farm
Adams Farm in Wilmington is the quintessential Vermont farm experience. In winter, horse-drawn sleigh rides go through a maple grove and up the mountain, ending at a log cabin where you warm up with hot chocolate by the wood stove. In summer and fall, it’s wagon rides and a petting zoo with goats, sheep, llamas, alpacas, miniature donkeys, and draft horses. Book sleigh rides in advance – they fill up fast, especially during holiday weeks.
📍 Wilmington, VT | ~15 min from Valley View Villa | $$
10. Explore Downtown Wilmington
A walkable New England village with locally owned shops, galleries, and restaurants. Bartleby’s Books is the kind of independent bookstore that makes you lose an hour. Pickwell’s Barn has women’s clothing that’s actually worth browsing. And the whole downtown is especially photogenic during fall foliage. Combine with lunch at one of the Wilmington restaurants and a stop at Valley Craft Ales for a full town day.
For more, check out our Wilmington shopping guide.
📍 Wilmington, VT | ~15 min from Valley View Villa | Free to browse
One More Thing
If you’re staying at Valley View Villa, you already have a private hiking trail, a spring-fed pond with kayaks and paddleboards, a hot tub, a fire pit, and a game room with pool and foosball tables. Some of the best days are the ones where you never leave the property. But when you do venture out, this valley delivers more than most people expect from a ski town.
🗺️ More to Explore Near Mount Snow
- Top 10 Restaurants Near Mount Snow — Where to eat in West Dover and Wilmington
- 5 Best Hiking Trails Near Mount Snow — Get outside on trails at every skill level
- Skiing at Mount Snow: Guide to the Ski Trails and Terrain — Full winter skiing breakdown for every ability
- 5 Hidden Gems Near Mount Snow That Most Visitors Miss — Off-the-beaten-path spots worth seeking out
