Burke Mountain Ski Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Burke Mountain |
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| Location | East Burke, Vermont |
| Nearest city | Lyndonville |
| Coordinates | 44°34′12″N 71°53′42″W / 44.57°N 71.895°W |
| Vertical | 2,011 ft (613 m) |
| Top elevation | 3,267 ft (996 m) |
| Base elevation | 1,256 ft (383 m) |
| Skiable area | 260 acres (110 ha) |
| Runs | 55 |
| Longest run | 0.9 miles (1.4 km) |
| Lift system | 2 high-speed quads 1 J-bar (surface) 1 high-speed POMA (surface) |
| Terrain parks | Small Advanced Park (Large hits and Rails) Intermediate Park (Jumps, Rails, Boxes) on Dashney Mile (Lower Mtn.) Beginner Park (Small hits, Berms) on Bunker Hill (Lower Mtn.) |
| Snowfall | 217 in (550 cm) |
| Snowmaking | 200 acres (81 ha) |
| Website | skiburke.com |
Burke Mountain Ski Resort is a fun place for skiing and snowboarding. It is located in the beautiful "Northeast Kingdom" of Vermont. The resort sits on Burke Mountain. It is also home to Burke Mountain Academy, a special school for ski racers.
In 2012, the owners of Jay Peak Resort bought Burke Mountain Resort. They made big improvements to the resort's snowmaking system. Burke Mountain Resort has a hotel right on the slopes. This means you can ski or snowboard directly from your room! The hotel has 116 rooms and is open all year. Near the hotel is the Bear Den, a lodge with food and sometimes live music.
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Exploring Burke Mountain's Ski Trails
Burke Mountain has two main areas for skiing and snowboarding. These areas offer different types of trails for all skill levels.
The Lower Mountain: Great for Beginners
The "Lower Mountain" is perfect for new skiers and snowboarders. It has mostly easy trails. You can reach these trails using a fast high-speed quad chairlift. There is also a "Bunny Slope" with a J-bar lift. This lift helps beginners learn the basics. In 2010, a special carpet lift was added. This makes learning even easier for first-timers.
This part of the mountain also has a few terrain parks. You can find a beginner glade here called the Enchanted Forest. A glade is a trail through the trees. In warmer months, you can also go mountain biking here. The main Sherburne Base Lodge serves this area. It has a rental shop, restaurant, and cafeteria.
The Upper Mountain: For Intermediate and Advanced Skiers
The "Upper Mountain" has more challenging trails. These trails are mostly for intermediate and advanced skiers. You can get to the upper trails using two lifts. One is a Leitner-Poma platter lift. The other is a fast quad chairlift called the Mid-Burke Express. This lift was put in for the 2011–2012 ski season.
The trails on the upper mountain are varied. Some are wide and smooth, like Upper/Lower Dipper. Others are steep and ungroomed, like Doug's Drop. There are also exciting glades, such as Caveman and Throbulator. The trail called Upper/Lower Warren's Way is very important. It is used for training by Burke Mountain Academy.
The East Bowl trail is known for its "old New England style." This means it's long, narrow, and winding. There's also an easy way down the upper mountain. It's called "Deer Run." This trail used to be a beginner trail. Now it's considered intermediate because it crosses wider slopes. The Mid-Burke Lodge is located here. It has a bar and a cafeteria.
Fun Summer Activities at Burke Mountain
Burke Mountain is not just for winter fun! It offers many exciting activities in the summer too.
Mountain Biking Adventures
You can enjoy lift-served downhill mountain biking. There are 8 special trails with jumps and berms. The lower mountain trails are accessed by the Sherburne Express Quad lift. This lift takes you and your bike up the mountain.
The upper mountain also has expert mountain bike trails. You can reach these by driving or taking a shuttle up the toll road. These trails are not served by a lift.
Soaring High with Hang Gliding
Burke Mountain is a popular spot for hang gliding and Paragliding. When the weather conditions are right, you can see people soaring through the sky. It's an amazing sight!
