For skiers and riders who come to Mount Snow looking for steep pitches, tight trees, and terrain that demands full attention, the North Face is where the mountain shows its teeth. This side of the resort has a reputation for being challenging, unapologetic, and deeply rewarding when conditions line up.
Staying close to the mountain makes it much easier to time your North Face laps properly. From Valley View Villa — 3 miles and 7 minutes from the main entrance — you can catch it when it’s freshly groomed, recently opened after snowfall, or simply quieter than the main faces.
This guide is written for confident, advanced to expert-level skiers and riders who want to know what actually matters before dropping in.
What makes the North Face different
The North Face at Mount Snow sits apart from the rest of the mountain in both feel and function. Trails here are steeper, narrower, and often more technical than what you’ll find off the main faces. Snow tends to stay colder, wind exposure is different, and traffic is lighter, especially midweek or early in the morning.
This is not beginner or intermediate terrain, and it’s not meant to be. The North Face rewards strong edge control, quick decision-making, and comfort skiing sustained steeps.
The core expert trails
While trail openings depend heavily on snow and grooming, several runs consistently define the North Face experience.
• Ripcord
Often cited as one of the steepest groomed trails at Mount Snow, Ripcord delivers a short but intense pitch that feels even steeper from the top. When freshly groomed, it’s a technical carving challenge. When firm, it demands respect.
• Free Fall
A classic expert run with sustained steep sections and less margin for error. Free Fall is usually a bit more forgiving than Ripcord but still firmly in expert territory.
• Plummet
Plummet runs the fall line with a sustained pitch and tighter exits — a strong choice when the snow is soft and a punisher when it’s firm.
• Chute
Chute combines pitch with a narrower fall line, creating a trail that feels enclosed and fast. It’s a favorite for strong skiers looking for a clean, aggressive descent.
Conditions change quickly here, and what feels manageable at 9 am can feel very different by lunchtime.
Tree skiing on the North Face
On good snow years, the North Face woods are a major draw. Tree lines here tend to be tighter and steeper than those on the main faces of the mountain. When open, they reward advanced skiers with soft snow, natural features, and fewer crowds.
The tree shots adjacent to Ripcord and Plummet are the best-known local lines and typically the first to open after a storm. They also track out fast — if you’re not skiing them by mid-morning the day after a snowfall, expect choppy lines and exposed obstacles.
Tree terrain on the North Face is best approached early in the day after snowfall. Lines get tracked quickly, and late-day refreeze can make exits tricky.
If tree skiing is a priority, check the snow report and lift status before committing your day to this side of the mountain.
Lift access and strategy
North Face access is primarily via the North Face Express, and that alone shapes the experience. Fewer lifts mean fewer casual laps, which helps keep traffic down but also means bottlenecks when conditions are prime.
North Face Express typically opens around 9 am and closes around 3:30 pm — confirm posted hours that morning, since they shift with conditions and patrol schedules.
Local strategy usually looks like this:
• Hit the North Face early if it’s freshly groomed or newly opened
• Avoid peak mid-day weekends unless you’re comfortable with crowds
• Loop back later in the afternoon when traffic thins again
Being close to the mountain makes this much easier to manage, especially if you can be flexible with timing.
Local’s safety read
The North Face is worth the trip on the right day and a frustrating choice on the wrong one. Read the conditions before you commit.
When it’s worth it: the day after a fresh storm, especially if the temperature stays cold overnight. Patrol usually opens the steeper trails by mid-morning, the trees come in soon after, and you’ll get the kind of skiing that defines the mountain. Cold, clear weekday mornings in January and February are reliably good.
When to skip it: late March, when freeze-thaw cycles leave a hidden ice layer under softening corn snow, especially in the trees off Ripcord and Plummet. Once trees ice over, exits get sketchy and rocks start showing — better to spend that day on the soft front-side groomers and save the North Face for the next storm.
The first time I tried Ripcord in March 2025, I underestimated how much the overnight refreeze had hardened the upper third. The pitch is short but unforgiving when it’s firm, and I made a lot more turns than I needed to. Lesson learned: warm up two or three runs on the front side first, and look at the top of the trail before dropping in to read what the surface is actually doing.
When the North Face shines
The North Face is at its best:
• After overnight grooming
• After a cold snowfall that opens woods
• On clear, cold mornings before crowds arrive
It’s less enjoyable during freeze-thaw cycles or heavy icing, when the steeps can become punishing rather than fun.
If conditions aren’t lining up, it’s often smarter to spend the day elsewhere on the mountain and save the North Face for another lap.
Après-ski recovery back at the house
One of the underrated benefits of skiing the North Face is knowing what’s waiting afterward. After a demanding day on expert terrain, heading back to Valley View Villa for a soak in the hot tub, a relaxed dinner, and space to stretch out makes a real difference.
Hard skiing pairs well with low-effort evenings. Being close enough to come home quickly means you don’t have to rush or push tired legs longer than needed.
Final local advice
• Warm up before heading over — North Face terrain punishes cold legs
• Check grooming and lift reports before committing your day
• Don’t underestimate how quickly conditions can change
The North Face is not for everyone, and that’s exactly why it’s special. When you catch it at the right moment, it delivers some of the most satisfying expert skiing Mount Snow has to offer.
If you’re planning multiple ski days, mixing North Face laps with other terrain across the mountain keeps things fresh and helps you ski stronger all week.
I have a personal rule about the North Face that I pass along to every strong skier who stays with us: check it before you commit to it. Next season, take a warm-up run somewhere else first, then ride up and actually look at the pitch and the surface before you drop in. This side of the mountain changes character hour to hour with the sun and the wind, and the difference between hero snow and a scraped-off sheet of ice can be a single afternoon. The best skiers I know are the patient ones, not the reckless ones.
When it is right, though, there is nothing else on the hill like it. My favorite version is a cold, clear morning after a few inches have settled in overnight, when the bumps are soft and the crowd has not found them yet. We tell guests to fuel up properly before they head over, because this terrain punishes tired legs, and to ski it with a partner rather than alone. Then come back to the villa and earn the hot tub. There is a particular satisfaction in a hard North Face run that a groomer will never give you, and it is worth the wait for the right conditions.
🗺️ More to Explore Near Mount Snow
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the North Face worth a trip if I’m an advanced but not expert skier?
Yes, on a good day. Trails like Free Fall and Chute reward strong intermediates who are comfortable on sustained steeps. Skip the trees and Ripcord until you’ve scouted them in good conditions.
What lift accesses the North Face?
North Face Express is the primary lift. It typically opens around 9 am and closes around 3:30 pm, but confirm posted hours that morning since they shift with conditions.
When should I avoid the North Face?
Late-March freeze-thaw days are the worst — hidden ice under soft corn snow, especially in the trees off Ripcord and Plummet. Spend that day on front-side groomers instead.
