Q Burke Mountain

Q Burke is a medium sized ski resort located off of SR114 in northeastern Vermont. Q Burke is most famous for the Burke Academy, a ski school that has turned out numerous Olympians, including Mikaela Shiffrin. While it only has 250 acres of skiable territory with 52 named trails, Burke has more than enough mountain and trails to keep anyone busy. Burke has a difficulty mix that is definitely skewed toward intermediate to expert skiers at 10 percent novice, 46 percent intermediate, 31 percent advanced, and 13 percent expert. Numbers-wise, that’s 5 novice, 24 intermediate, 16 single black diamond, and 7 double black runs. The main base lodge is located at 1210 feet with the summit towering above at 3267 feet. That gives the mountain an impressive 2011-foot vertical, which is possible to ski all in one run (Take the intermediate cruiser Upper to Lower Willoughby and then hit the cutoff to the novice Bunker Hill to the base).

The Lifts and Trails

Q Burke has four lifts and one J-bar to serve the mountain. The mountain is broken up into Lower and Upper Burke, with Lower Burke home to the novice runs and the three terrain parks. This section of the mountain has the Sherburne Express, which ferries skiers up to the Mid-Burke Lodge. From here, skiers can hit one of two quads that zip them up to the peak, or take Poma up about 3/4 of the way up the slopes. Upper Burke is where advanced skiers go to play, hitting the double black diamond glades or the serious incline of Fox’s Folly. There are also a lot of intermediate groomers and tree lined cruisers to play with, from the twists and turns of Flaming Eddie’s to the gentler (but still intense) Big Dipper run.  For skiers after an archetypical New England run, hit the East Bowl for some winding fast runs.

Bottom Line

Après-ski is in fine form at Burke. If you’re in the mood for something warm and filling, hit the Bear Den at the Mid-Burke Lodge where hot soups and chili are always on the stove and cold Vermont local brews are on tap. Live music performs throughout the season, with local and regional acts headlining. For something a little rowdier, the Tamarack Sports Bar & Grille has 9 big screen televisions, foosball tables, pool tables, and darts to entertain. There’s something for everyone at Burke at both the base and mid lodges.

If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, Q Burke offers cross country skiing, fat biking, and snow shoeing as alternates to skiing. The Hotel also has the Willoughby’s Restaurant for fine dining and the Gap Pub for something a little jauntier. No matter if you’re a couple on a weekend getaway or a family on a long vacation, Q Burke will keep you entertained and happy.