Mount Snow tubing is the easiest win of a winter trip: no lessons, no rentals, no skill required, and it works for everyone from a first-grader to a grandparent. The tubing hill sits right at the base of Mount Snow, between the Main Base Lodge and the Grand Summit Resort Hotel, and it’s one of the biggest in Vermont, with a covered Magic Carpet lift that carries you and your tube back to the top so nobody trudges uphill. Here’s how the hill works, when it opens, how to get tickets before sessions sell out, and how to turn it into a full afternoon.
Mount Snow Tubing: The Quick Answer
Mount Snow’s tubing hill runs daytime sessions Friday through Sunday plus holiday weeks, with riders required to be at least 42 inches tall and one person per tube. Tickets are sold online for specific time slots and picked up at the tubing window – there is no waitlist and no tickets held for walk-ups, so book ahead. Last season the hill opened on December 19, a few weeks after the ski trails.
| Mount Snow tubing | |
|---|---|
| Location | Base area, between the Main Base Lodge and the Grand Summit Resort Hotel |
| Lift | Covered Magic Carpet surface lift |
| Height minimum | 42 inches; one rider per tube |
| Last season’s hours | 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday–Sunday plus holiday weeks |
| Opening | Mid-to-late December, snow permitting (Dec. 19 last season) |
| Tickets | Online by time slot; no waitlist or walk-up holds |
| Add-on | Unlimited hot cocoa for $7 at the Grand Country Deli |
What to Expect on the Tubing Hill
The format is simple and the fun is immediate. Staff line riders up at the top, count everyone down, and send groups off side by side, so racing your kids (or your friends) to the bottom is half the point. At the bottom you grab your tube, step onto the covered Magic Carpet, and ride back up – no hiking, no carrying. The loop is quick enough that you get plenty of runs in a session.
Tubes are provided, and every rider gets their own. Mount Snow’s rules are straightforward: one person per tube with no lap riders, riders sit in the tube holding the handle (no lying on your belly), no running starts or pushes, and no ski boots. It’s genuinely all-ages – grandparents ride just as often as the grandkids.
When Mount Snow Tubing Opens
The tubing hill opens later than the ski trails because it needs a solid snow base on the lanes. Last season it opened on Friday, December 19, and ran 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, plus daily during the holiday stretches (Christmas week, MLK Day, and Presidents’ Week). Mount Snow posts each season’s dates on its tubing page, so check the resort’s tubing page before you plan a trip around it.
If your visit lands before mid-December, plan on skiing or a non-skier activity instead, and save tubing for a later trip.
How to Get Mount Snow Tubing Tickets
Buy tickets online for a specific date and time slot, then pick them up at the tubing ticket window when you arrive. Every rider needs a valid ticket for their exact day and time. Online booking gets the best rates and availability, and it matters more than it sounds: when a slot shows sold out, it’s gone. Mount Snow doesn’t run a waitlist or hold tickets back for walk-up guests, though additional slots sometimes open, so it’s worth checking back.
Refunds need 24 hours’ notice, and the hill operates in all weather conditions, so a snowy or windy afternoon won’t cancel your session. Prices vary by date – check the resort’s site for current rates.
What to Wear
The hill is outdoors and exposed, and you’ll get snow on you. Dress like you would for a ski day:
🧤 Waterproof gloves or mittens
👖 Snow pants or waterproof outer layers
🥾 Warm boots with good traction (ski boots aren’t allowed)
🧣 A hat and a neck gaiter for wind at the top
🔥 Hand warmers tucked into gloves – a small move that makes a big difference
No helmets, goggles, or special gear required. That simplicity is exactly why tubing works for mixed groups.
Warm Up: Cocoa, S’mores, and a Quick Bite
This is the detail most people miss. Add unlimited hot cocoa to your tubing ticket for $7, redeemed at the Grand Country Deli just beyond the top of the tubing slopes. The deli is also the spot for a quick bite between runs, and it sells s’mores kits for the firepit nearby. For kids, cocoa plus s’mores plus tubing is about as good as a winter afternoon gets.
Tips for Families
🕐 Arrive 20–30 minutes early to pick up tickets and get settled so you don’t lose time from your slot.
📏 Measure little ones before you go. The 42-inch minimum is firm, and a no at the window is a tough moment for a small kid.
📱 Use a strap or lanyard if you’re filming – phones fly out of hands mid-run.
🎿 Pair it with a ski day: a morning on the slopes and an afternoon tubing session is a full day that tires out everyone.
Make It a Full Mount Snow Day
Tubing works as its own outing or as the après activity for skiers. For dinner afterward, Trail 87 and The Last Chair are both a few minutes down Route 100 and easy with a tired, happy crew. For more ideas, see our guide to casual family restaurants near Mount Snow.
Then head home. Valley View Villa is about seven minutes from the tubing hill, so the hot tub, the fireplace, and a fire pit for more s’mores are close enough that nobody has time to get cold in the car. With eight bedrooms and a game room, it’s built for the multi-family ski trips where tubing becomes the part the kids remember. Holiday and Presidents’ weeks book first – check winter dates early.
🗺️ More to Explore Near Mount Snow
- Winter Activities for Non-Skiers – more options off the slopes
- Mount Snow Family Ski Trip Guide – lessons, childcare, and budgeting
- Mount Snow Ski Trip Bucket List – 10 experiences on and off the mountain
- Things to Do in December – holiday season and tubing’s opening month
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Mount Snow tubing open?
Tubing opens once there’s enough snow on the lanes, typically mid-to-late December. Last season it opened on Friday, December 19. Check Mount Snow’s tubing page for this season’s date.
What are the Mount Snow tubing hours?
Last season the hill ran 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, plus daily during Christmas week, MLK Day, and Presidents’ Week. Confirm the current schedule on the resort’s website.
How tall do you have to be to go tubing at Mount Snow?
Riders must be at least 42 inches tall, with one person per tube and no lap riders. There’s no maximum age.
Do you need to book Mount Snow tubing in advance?
Yes. Tickets are sold online by time slot and picked up at the tubing window. There’s no waitlist and no tickets held for walk-ups, so popular weekend and holiday slots can sell out.
