Yawgoo Valley

Yawgoo Valley is located in Exeter, Rhode Island, just south of Providence, and is a real odd bird in a New England context. It is Rhode Island's only remaining ski slope, and also one of the southernmost resorts in the entire region. Yawgoo opened in the 1965/66 season and was then the state's first ski area with a chairlift, which gave it a big head start when other small slopes still ran T-bar.

The ski area is compact and easy to navigate, with 14 slopes that are accessible via two chairlifts. In terms of difficulty, it leans towards easier and intermediate skiing, but there are also some steeper options that require you to know the turns – even if it's not a big vertical drop or "alpine" expression.

Since Yawgoo is so far south, the artificial snow is absolutely crucial, and much of the operation is based on being able to produce snow when the temperatures allow. For families and mixed groups, there is also tubing with several courses, which is an important part of the overall experience here and a good reason to go here even if not everyone is skiing.