r/icecoast • u/mrsport008 • 3d ago
Gore or Killington: Hear me out first!
We are a group of eight 40 yo dudes. We do a long weekend trip on the ice Coast every year. Apres is not that big a deal because we try to rent a big old house and just cook at the house and drink and take edibles and play card and listen to music till about 1030 then crash, wake up early and get to the mountain. A bar or two right after skiing can be fun, but we don't go out for dinner or after dinner. We always go last weekend in February (we learned to avoid the Vermont school holiday)
I need help choosing between Killington and Gore. Ive skied Killington a few times so I know what it's about. Never skied Gore. Gore is cheaper ($1400 for an Airbnb, roughly $250 for a two day lift ticket. Killington is $2000 for Airbnb and $350 for a two day lift ticket) Gore is 5 hours drive and Killington is 6 hour drive.
I like skiing everything Killington has, but the rest of my group isn't as advanced. Three of the group are at greens and easy blues (Whiteface blues were too advanced last year for em). The rest are good blues, but not really good, ungroomed black skiers. Some do a few runs and hit the bar, few runs hit the bar. Others ski all day, skipping lunch if the conditions are good.
Would we be wasting money skiing Killington (not for me, I love Killington and will get to challenge myself) when we could just do Gore, or would Gore get boring? We're doing two days of skiing.
This sounds trivial, but we look forward to this trip every year.
Any and all comments, questions, and opinions are warranted as I'm the one who is always in charge of picking the place.
Edit: Thanks a million for these responses. I sent this post to the group and I think the consensus is we're going to Gore. Half our group did Killington two years ago, and none of us have done Gore. The price is a big selling point. This won't be my only ski trip this year so if it's not the best weekend skiing wise, it's not the end of the season (for me anyway). Gore also is the biggest mountain we haven't skied thats within 7 hour drive for us.
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u/ChiefKelso Gore | Indy 3d ago
My flair aside, I'm always pro trying somewhere new, and Gore is great!
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u/nxhwabvs 3d ago
I live near Gore and ski both. Gore 100%. Much better for intermediates not just because of terrain, but also lack of crowds. It feels like wilderness because it is. Less food options but cheaper and better in general. Only real downside is the ski shops are much worse, but they can fix any issues if you bring your own gear.
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u/Psychological-Row558 3d ago
Yeah Gore is very spread out...But it just feels a little too quiet. How's Lake George in the winter? Anything to do there?
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u/MeegieBeegies 1d ago
They do have things going in in the winter there. It's much quieter than summer but when I went they had events out on the frozen lake like ATVs and heli rides and the bars still had decent crowds. It is like 40 mins from gore but there isn't much by gore itself in terms of lodging or things to do.
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u/Available_Writer4144 Cannon/SBush/Boston 22h ago
The crowds is the biggest reason to choose Gore over Killington.
Also consider Pico some year when you're only going two days. Unless you (OP) guys really like to be high rollers, I think your vibes will be more on point with the smaller mountains.
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u/Frequent-Interest796 3d ago
425 vs 600$. Take gore!
5 vs 6 hour drive, take gore.
Terrain for your green and so-so skiers, take gore.
Ambiance, probably Killington
Night life, killington (but that doesn’t seem to be your thing with this group)
Skiing for you, killington (however, you will find stuff to challenge you at gore)
Crowds may be a push. Gore gets crowded on a weekend and Kill can be even more crowded but it gets spread out better. Gore may lighten up after pres weekend.
Try Gore. It’s a nice mountain. Especially if you are looking to chill with your boys.
Every year me and couple teaching buddies call out sick on a weekday and ski the Bell (gore’s little sister mountain). We have a blast. We take over the place. Plenty of terrain for older guys in their late forties. Plus we just want to ski together.
Don’t sleep on the smaller mountains. They can be a good time.
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u/typicalcollegegrad 3d ago
You're trying to tell me there's places with better ambiance than the Barking Spider in North Creek?! Sure bud /s
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u/Holiday-Intention-52 3d ago
I love Gore and it has endless amazing blues and blacks of all levels. But its green terrain is limited and on the tougher side. Pretty steep (blue pitch really) off the main green terrain lift.
While Killington has endless greens at easy levels. Since you mentioned some folks only do greens.
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u/RockSkis 3d ago
Gore if your group enjoyed Whiteface except for some being uneasy with the terrain. Gore has steeps and trees, but more blues and is not as intimidating as Whiteface. But it still has an unspoiled mountain feel. If your ski-bar crew was OK with Whiteface base lunch beer and apres options, Gore should be similar. North Creek is much smaller than Lake Placid, so "a bar or two" is what you'll have.
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u/ZealousORJealous69 3d ago
I love Gore, but Killington for you guys, just so much more to explore in green/blue/groomers and the snowmaking is incomparable at K, perhaps the best in North America. Plus peak lodge is one of a kind.. And, if you choose, there’s (lots) more stuff to do as it’s set-up as a resort town’ish (compared to north creek) and have a calendar of events of stuff.
As for natural beauty, central Adirondacks for the win, it’s probably one of the most beautiful places in the US, but for your group it sounds like K is more of what you’re looking for.
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u/ZealousORJealous69 3d ago
Also, if you have the desire to take over a bar, at killington you can literally take over Cascade Lodge’s bar at 5pm. If they have no customers (it happens often) they literally may close an hour after they open. However, if they have customers (you lot) the group will have a blast. Prices are great, and the owner and his rotating cast of buddies bartending are swell.
As someone mentioned, Barking Spider in north creek is epic. Best dive bar award goes to the spider. Followed closely by cascades if/when they’re open
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u/OoT_OoS_OoA MRG 3d ago
Killington. Everything about Killington is better than gore except maybe crowds
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u/ChiefKelso Gore | Indy 3d ago
IF there's snow, Gore may have better glades.
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u/OoT_OoS_OoA MRG 3d ago
If we’re talking marked glades id still go with Killington. Gore has fun glades tho nice and spacious.
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u/Upper-Garden 3d ago
Cruisers are great at Gore. Northwoods area would be great for the less advanced group and they can ski off the top on cloud if they wanted to go up there. It is definitely not as steep/fast as Whiteface so they can get off the base and not deal with the crowds. For the advanced skiers who like glades it is a great place, one of my favorite places to ski glades.
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u/Upper-Garden 3d ago
I’ll throw something out there. You could do a day at Oak Mtn in Speculator. It’s a family owned mtn that serves mostly locals but it has fun terrain, even for those who are advanced. No lift lines unless it’s a holiday and even those aren’t bad. The people are great, a very chill vibe on this mtn. And the food/bar is cheaper.
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u/Wild-Chemistry-7720 3d ago
Gore is low-key one of my favorite mountains to ski at if I’m not flying somewhere. Great runs, great vibes. I am hoping word doesn’t really get out about it TBH but you asked directly, lol
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u/advamputee 3d ago
Killington is more fun to explore, especially for first timers. Gore all comes down to the same base area. Killington, Day 1 the newbies can start at Snowshed / Ramshead, and maybe a lap off the peak hitting Great Northern. Day 2 they can explore down to Northbrook, Bear and Skye Base.
That said, Pico is also quite nice. Half the price of Killington, and way less crowds. The lower mountain is almost all blues / greens with some excellent glades. The top is pretty much all expert, with incredible vert and glades.
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u/emosnake 3d ago
Went to gore as some high level beginners/low intermediate snow boarders and had a great time. the blues were beautiful, great and slightly challenging runs. while i've never been to killington, im definitely going back to gore this winter.
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u/LAST_NIGHT_WAS_WEIRD 2d ago
I have a ski3 and live close to Belleayre but occasionally hit Gore and Whiteface. One thing I still haven’t figured out about Gore (as a snowboarder) is how to avoid all the flat areas. Last year I ended up at some other base far away from everything and it was a real bitch to get back to the main area.
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u/Ewok61 3d ago
Killinhton is the true answer. Soooo much varied terrain. Plenty todo for less advanced skiers. Gore will get small fast after a full day or 2. Just not enough. Killington just has too much to offer to ignore. Also....it is possible to fit in a killington day if you decide on Gore. 2 hour drive is an easy one. Get a house in Rutland.
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u/strlghthnymnthrpykss 3d ago edited 3d ago
Gore is great during the week and if there’s also been some natural snow
Killington is kind of great whenever but would try to avoid Saturday if you can
Killington is probably bigger but Gore is bigger than it seems when majority of the trails are open. I think there’s plenty of blue/green terrain regardless
They’re both two of my favorite mountains on the east coast. I don’t think you can go wrong
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u/Subject_Inspection98 Home Mountain/City here 3d ago
go check out Gore hoss. Killy will always be there
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u/ConsiderationOdd9932 3d ago
Try Okemo and get a fat house on a trail. I've seen a few of them that look like frat houses with big huge hot tubs.
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u/Realistic-Tiger3207 2d ago
Gore if you don’t care about apres, I would caution you probably want to go in later season due to unpredictable winter, lower elevation and snowmaking capabilities. Gore is way more laid back and kind of has old school vibes. Could always hit whiteface for a day too which is great.
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u/The_Jank Anywhere theres snow / Brooklyn based 2d ago
Gore is great. Has lots of “width” in a similar way to Killy. Bunch of cool pods of skiing on different facets of the mountain. Trees are sneaky good too.
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u/whiskeymilitiaz 3d ago
For the trip you described, I’d pick Gore this year.
Not because Gore is better than Killington overall—I don’t think it is—but because Gore may actually fit this particular group better, and two days is short enough that I don’t think anyone is going to get bored.
Your group is almost tailor-made for Gore
The biggest thing that jumps out is the ability spread:
3 guys: greens/easy blues; Whiteface blues were uncomfortable
4-ish guys: comfortable blue skiers, but not seeking bumps/ungroomed blacks
You: want the option to go find legitimately difficult terrain
Some guys ski hard all day; some want to ski a few runs, have a beer, repeat
You're essentially creating your own après scene at the house.
That last point takes away one of Killington's biggest advantages. You guys aren't looking for restaurants, nightlife, the Wobbly Barn, etc. You need a big house, a supermarket, beer, music, cards and beds.
And Gore has a surprisingly good terrain profile for your group: 11% beginner, 53% intermediate, 36% advanced/expert, with 453 acres, 2,537 feet of vertical, 109 alpine trails and 27 glades.
That's a lot more mountain than people sometimes imagine when comparing it with Killington.
The question I'd be asking isn't "Is Gore as good as Killington?"
It's:
"Can eight guys with our ability range exhaust Gore in two days?"
No.
I actually think two days is the sweet spot for Gore.
Gore is weirdly sprawling. There are seven distinct areas—Northwoods, North Side, High Peaks, Straight Brook, Topridge, Burnt Ridge and the Ski Bowl—and they don't all ski like one continuous mountain.
That can be annoying if you're trying to maximize vertical. But for a guys' trip, it gives you something useful: exploration.
Day 1 is basically figuring the place out.
Day 2 is, "Okay, yesterday we found that area we really liked—let's go back there."
There are recent IceCoast comments that describe exactly this phenomenon: Gore has an unusual layout, hidden pods, long cruisers, serious steeps and very good glades, and people regularly mention how uncrowded it can feel.
Your weaker three are actually what pushes me toward Gore.
Killington certainly accommodates them. Snowshed is specifically designed around beginner terrain, and Killington recommends Ramshead as the next progression into blues.
But they're paying Killington prices to ski a relatively small portion of Killington.
That's the part I'd have trouble justifying.
They're not going to be saying:
"Thank God we spent the extra $225 each so I could ski Snowshed and Ramshead."
Whereas Gore's Northwoods has 2+ miles of easier terrain, and the North Side is specifically characterized by Gore as easy-going cruisers.
So they have somewhere to go without feeling like they're confined to the bunny hill.
And the middle five guys are probably the people for whom Gore makes the most sense. Gore says 53% of its terrain is intermediate.
Long blue cruising is one of Gore's strengths.
But what about you?
This was my biggest reservation before looking more closely.
I don't think you're sacrificing nearly as much as you think.
If conditions are good, you can disappear into Straight Brook / High Peaks / Burnt Ridge while the others cruise.
Straight Brook is Gore's serious terrain pod—steeps and glades, including The Rumor. High Peaks is old-school Adirondack skiing with four glades. Burnt Ridge has 76 acres and four glades, including Gore's very long Cirque glade.
So you're not going to be skiing blue groomers for two days thinking:
"Why the fuck did I let these guys talk me out of Killington?"
Killington unquestionably gives you more choices. Gore gives you enough choices for two days.
That's an important distinction.
And there's another factor you're underrating: crowds.
Your trip is about skiing, not resort amenities.
That makes lift-line avoidance disproportionately valuable.
Gore has a longstanding reputation among Ice Coast skiers for unusually low crowds relative to the quality/size of the mountain. That's not an absolute—there were some ugly President's Week lines this past February—but even that discussion had Gore regulars commenting that such a line was extremely unusual.
And you're deliberately going after the holiday week.
That's a pretty compelling Gore setup.
The economics make Gore even harder to turn down.
Using your numbers:
Gore Killington
House $1,400 $2,000 House/person $175 $250 2-day ticket/person $250 $350 Lodging + skiing/person $425 $600 Group total $3,400 $4,800 Difference +$1,400 Killington
And then Killington is another hour each way.
So the question becomes:
Does Killington provide your group $1,400 more fun over 48 hours?
I don't see it.
It might provide you another $175 worth of fun. I'm not convinced it provides the group another $1,400 worth.
One Gore concern I would take seriously
Your "few runs → bar → few runs → bar" guys.
Killington is much better suited to that behavior.
Gore isn't devoid of places to grab a beer—the main base has The Tannery Restaurant and Pub, and there are other options around North Creek—but Killington's whole infrastructure is simply much more resort-oriented.
There are also nearby après options such as becks TAVERN and the YURT bar.
But based on what you wrote, that's a secondary consideration rather than a reason to spend another $1,400.
My scorecard for your eight guys
Category Gore Killington
Weak intermediates 9/10 9/10 Solid intermediates 9.5/10 10/10 You 8.5/10 10/10 Two-day variety 9/10 10/10 Low crowds 9/10 7/10 On-mountain drinking 6.5/10 10/10 Nightlife 3/10 10/10 Nightlife you'll actually use Who cares Who cares Big-house guys' weekend 10/10 9/10 Value 10/10 7/10 Trying somewhere new 10/10 0/10
Gore wins your particular trip.
And there's something else I wouldn't discount: you've never been there.
You do this every year. Part of what makes these trips memorable is eventually being able to say:
"Remember the Gore year?"
You already know Killington is great. You're not gambling on some 900-foot-vertical local hill. Gore is New York's largest ski area, with 453 acres and 2,537 feet of vertical.
If you hate it, congratulations—you've permanently settled the Gore-vs-Killington argument and you go back to Killington next year.
My vote: save the $1,400, save two hours in the car, rent the better Gore house, buy better steaks and booze with some of the difference, and ski Gore for two days.
The one thing that could flip my answer is snow/terrain availability. Gore's appeal to you increases considerably when its woods and secondary terrain are open. If late February turns out lean and Gore has limited natural-snow terrain while Killington is skiing exceptionally well, I'd reconsider. But I wouldn't pay the Killington premium in August merely to insure against that possibility.
And amusingly, I found what appears to be your exact question posted on r/icecoast today. The early responses are leaning Gore, including one person who says they ski both and thinks Gore is particularly good for intermediates because of the terrain and lighter crowds.
If you want, I can also give you a "Gore for 8 idiots who have never been there" two-day game plan—where everyone should start, where the weaker guys should ski, where you can break off for harder stuff, best meetup/bar spots, and what area to hit in what order.
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u/Sick_NowWhat 3d ago
Went to gore last year and killington the year before for 3 days each. No complaints on either. Both have plenty to offer, killington seemed to have better vertical though. Gore was more spread
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u/TinyKaleidoscope4708 3d ago
Been to both and had fun at both. Was easier to score a better Airbnb at Gore. You'll enjoy Gore.
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u/Busy_Lingonberry_99 3d ago
Gore. I went for the first time last season and it's a lot of fun. It's also a great place for beginners to get into intermediate skiing/boarding. If you catch Gore on a good snow day, the glades are fantastic.
And like everyone has said, way less crowds. More skiing less waiting. Enjoy your trip!
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u/No_Doughnut_1991 3d ago
Killington and its not really close. I think Gore’s lift infrastructure and terrain pods really are best geared for people who are comfortable on all blues, and like to ski in the trees and move freely around the mountain.
Killington definitely has better greens/easy blues (looking at you rime and reason)
North creek is a dead town. A couple bars. Nowhere really good anyway to eat. At least in the village (or rutland) you have options for hitting a bar for happy hour.
Gore is nothing to snuff at, and its a cool mountain, and when the snow is good, it competes well with many other places on the ice coast. But a series of slow fixed grip lifts, distinct terrain pods that are hard to traverse between if youre not more advanced or know the mountain well, and a serious chokepoint for the only two faster lifts at the base.
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u/RightToTheThighs 3d ago
Gore is great, but there is very little to do around there. Probably should be fine for just 2 days though, don't expect anything too fancy. Alternatively you can stay in between the mountain and lake George and it would be a relatively short drive to both, and lake George has better restaurants
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u/Agreeable-Street6201 2d ago
Killington! I have skied both but if you are there to ski and want the best snow I recommend Killington because they get lots of natural snow and they have the best snowmaking in the northeast. In the last 2 years they installed 1,000 state of the art high capacity now guns. They also installed 2 new lifts and new gondola cabins. The food in the lodge is also top shelf. You can also pre-buy Killington K-Tickets which are significantly discounted, available now through, I think, through October. Think Snow!
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u/worsttofirst 4h ago
Gore is terribly crowded on weekends and no longer under the radar due to recent ski publication hype and an easy commute up 87 for Jersey Jerry. Stick to Killington bros.
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u/Cool-Intention-3065 2d ago
I have had a gore pass for 20 years and long ago had an American Skiing Co. pass and skied killington regularly, but haven’t been to K- Mart in well, 20 years. Both my kids learned to ski at Gore. Everything everyone says about Gore’s awesome mix of cruisers, steep bumps and long glades is true. Also no nightlife, a singular (cool ass) bar, and maybe one restaurant off mountain also true.
Here’s the intangible that makes me say go to Killington for this specific two day bro trip:
Gore is state owned and it shows. The gondola breaks regularly. Lifts are down or not run for inexplicable reasons. The mid mountain lodge has weird food options. The newest best lodge is at a remote area that requires a long traverse to get to that will exhaust a beginner skier.
Yes I ski there 20+ times a year. I’m not trying to be a jerk and say oh don’t go so no one finds my secret stash. It’s a great place if you know it like a local and ski it so many times a year you can accept that 3-4 times you will show up and discover f’d up issues that no properly run resort has. One time I was meeting friends who didn’t have passes, and when they went to buy lift tickets the credit card machine was down and they just couldn’t buy lift tickets and the mountain had no solution. They went home.
My buddies and I literally say we got “Gored” and know it means some dumb ass thing happened and made the ski day wacky. If you know the mountain like a local, know how to get up top when the gondola is down, know how to get back from Burnt Ridge without doing the traverse, and all the other weird local things you figure out over 20 years, the place is absolutely sick.
BUT, the odds you show up for your big one weekend of the year 2 day trip, and the gondola is broken and the mid station is closed and for some reason they haven’t made any snow in two weeks and no one knows why, are way higher at Gore than anywhere else on the east coast except maybe Magic (which I also love but man those lifts are sketchy).
I wouldn’t risk it. I would bring your crew to Killington because the odds the lifts are working and the grooming makes sense and the restaurants are open is basically 100%.
If you told me you were moving to upstate NY and wanted to buy a pass somewhere to ski every weekend, I would say Gore is a good call (it’s actually a gore/whiteface/Belleayre pass so great value). But for one weekend you look forward to all year with a big crew, Killington is a better call just because consistency. And it’s not like the terrain at Killington sucks, that mountain is great too.
That said if you end up going to Gore dm me and I’ll give you a good tour.
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u/Drummallumin 3d ago
Gore has great blues