From weekend getaways to enjoying the sport on a regular basis, skiing is a staple in New Hampshire and Vermont. Check out these editor’s picks for our top 10 areas to experience the mountain breeze in 2014.
Mount Sunapee – Newbury, NH
Driving Distances
Hanover – 42 minutes, or 32 miles
Concord – 41 minutes, or 38 miles
Woodstock – 1 hour, 19 minutes, or 66 miles
Website: mountsunapee.com
66 trails and slopes covering 233 skiable acres (18 miles of terrain); 17 easier trails, 32 more difficult trails, 17 most difficult trails; Summit elevation: 2,743 feet; Vertical drop: 1,510 feet (highest in southern New Hampshire); Longest trail: Two miles (The Ridge Trail); Three terrain parks, four mogul runs, nine glades.
Okemo Mountain Resort – Ludlow, VT
Driving Distances
Hanover – 54 minutes, or 45 miles
Concord – 1 hour, 47 minutes, or 103 miles
Woodstock – 2 hours, or 99 miles
Website: okemo.com
According to its website: “Rising above the village of Ludlow, in south-central Vermont, Okemo Mountain Resort is a four-season playground that built its reputation for quality and superior guest service as a winter retreat for skiers and snowboarders. Originally a small, community-run ski hill, Okemo began to blossom in 1982 when Tim and Diane Mueller purchased the ski area and transformed it into a popular, world-class resort destination. It consistently receives accolades and wins awards for snow quality, grooming, terrain parks, family programs, slopeside lodging, resort dining and its friendly, professional staff. OnTheSnow.com visitors named Okemo Mountain Resort their favorite family ski resort, granting it top honors in the Best Family Resort category in this year’s Visitors’ Choice Awards. And Okemo offers so much more than skiing. Alternative activities abound for every member of the family.”
Killington Resort – Killington, VT
Driving Distances
Hanover – 1 hour, or 44 miles
Concord – 1 hour, 53 minutes, or 102 miles
Woodstock – 2 hours, 7 minutes, or 98 miles
Website: killington.com
According to its website: “Seven mountain areas make up Killington Resort and our sister resort, Pico Mountain. While Pico Mountain is not connected via our network of lifts, it is just 5 miles away and convenient shuttle service is offered daily between the two resorts.”
| Killington Peak (Summit) | 4,241′ (1,293m) |
| Skye Peak | 3,800′ |
| Ramshead Peak | 3,610′ |
| Snowdon Peak | 3,592′ |
| Bear Mountain Peak | 3,262′ |
| Sunrise Mountain Peak | 2,456′ |
| Pico Mountain Peak | 3,967′ |
| Base Elevation (Skyeship) | 1,165′ (325m) |
| Vertical Drop | 3,050′ (957m) |
Stowe Mountain Resort – Stowe, VT
Driving Distances
Hanover – 1 hour, 27 minutes, or 84 miles
Concord – 2 hours, 20 minutes, or 142 miles
Woodstock – 1 hour, 59 minutes, or 100 miles
Website: stowe.com
Mount Mansfield Summit Elevation – 4,395′ Highest Skiing Elevation – 3,625′ Vertical Drop – 2,360′ Average Annual Snowfall – 314″ Total Number of Trails – 116 Skiable Acres – 485 Total Miles – 40 Percentages – Beginner 16%, Intermediate 56%, Expert 28% Snowmaking Coverage – 80% Total Lifts – 13 / More mile long lifts than any other resort in the East 1 Inter-Mountain Transfer Gondola, 1 high-speed summit Gondola, 3 high-speed Quads, 2 Triples, 4 doubles, 2 surface lifts Total hourly lift capacity -15,516 passengers – See more at: stowe.com/explore/facts/#sthash.M7kFpDYB.dpuf
Sugarbush Resort – Warren, VT
Driving Distances
Hanover – 1 hour, 24 minutes, or 66 miles
Concord – 2 hours, 11 minutes, or 122 miles
Woodstock – 2 hours, 6 minutes, or 92 miles
Website: sugarbush.com
| Total Acres | 4,000+ |
| Skiable Acres | 578 |
| Miles of Trails | 53 |
| Wooded Areas | 20 |
| Summit Elevation | 4,083′ |
| Base Elevation | 1,483′ |
| Vertical Drop | 2,600′ |
| Avg. Annual Snowfall | 269″ |
See more at: sugarbush.com/about-vermont-resort/ski-mountain-statistics#sthash.ZVEIxULk.dpuf
Jay Peak – Jay, VT
Driving Distances
Hanover – 1 hour, 54 minutes, or 112 miles
Concord – 2 hours, 35 minutes, or 159 miles
Woodstock – 1 hour, 45 minutes, or 101 miles
Website: jaypeakresort.com
TERRAIN 385 acres
GLADED TERRAIN 100+ acres
SUMMIT ELEVATION 3,968 feet (1,209 meters)
BASE ELEVATION 1,815 feet (553 meters)
VERTICAL DROP 2,153 feet (656 meters)
LIFTS 9 (1 Tram, 4 Quads, 1 triple, 1 double and 2 surface lifts)
NATURAL SNOWFALL 377” (950 centimeters)
MANMADE SNOWFALL 80% coverage
SEASON Mid-November to Mid-May
SKIABLE TERRAIN 385+ acres, 50 miles of trails
TRAILS 78 – 20% Novice, 40% Intermediate, 40% Advanced
LONGEST TRAIL Ullr’s Dream at 3 miles
POPULAR ADVANCED TRAILS The Jet, Upper Exhibition, Upper River Quai
POPULAR ADVANCED GLADES Beaver Pond, Timbuktu, Valhalla
POPULAR NOVICE GLADES Moon Walk Woods, Bushwacker, Kokomo
POPULAR SCENIC TRAIL Vermonter
PARKS 4 (The 180, The 360, The 720, Playtime Riglet Park)
VERMONT’S ONLY AERIAL TRAM Transports up to 60 people from the Tramside base to the 3,968-foot (1,209 meter) summit in 7 minutes
RESORT LIFT CAPACITY 12,820 people per hour
Suicide Six Ski Area – South Pomfret, VT
Driving Distances
Hanover – 34 minutes, or 21 miles
Concord – 1 hour, 25 minutes, or 82 miles
Woodstock – 1 hour, 39 minutes, or 78 miles
Website: suicide6.com
TRAILS:
- EASY: 7
- INTERMEDIATE: 9
- ADVANCED/EXPERT: 7
- GLADES: 1
- TERRAIN PARKS: 1
- HALF PIPE: No
STATS:
- SKIABLE ACRES: 100
- VERTICAL DROP: 650
- SNOWMAKING: 50
- SNOWMAKING ACRES:
- AVG. ANNUAL SNOWFALL: 10
Mt. Snow – West Dover, VT
Driving Distances
Hanover – 1 hour, 28 minutes, or 78 miles
Concord – 1 hour, 48 minutes, or 89 miles
Woodstock – 2 hours, 35 minutes, or 133 miles
Website: mountsnow.com
According to its website: “Mount Snow is a premier four season resort located in the Green Mountains of Southern Vermont featuring four mountain faces of downhill skiing and snowboarding – including one of the East’s best terrain parks, Carinthia – slopeside lodging and golf at the acclaimed Mount Snow Golf Club as well as flexible wedding and conference facilities. Other activities include snow tubing, ski & snowboard lessons, downhill mountain biking and a full schedule of festivals and events. Mount Snow is a member of the Peak Resorts family.”
Waterville Valley Resort – Waterville Valley, NH
Driving Distances
Hanover – 1 hour, 21 minutes, or 66 miles
Concord – 58 minutes, or 59 miles
Woodstock – 24 minutes, or 20 miles
Website: waterville.com
- Mountain Name: Mount Tecumseh
- Total Acres: 500
- Skiable Acres: 220
- Longest Run : 1.9 mi.
- Summit Elevation: 4,004 ft.
- Vertical Drop 2,020 ft.
Loon Mountain – Lincoln, NH
Driving Distances
Hanover – 1 hour, 18 minutes, or 57 miles
Concord – 1 hour, or 65 miles
Woodstock – 11 minutes, or 8 miles
Website: loonmtn.com/
Base Elevation: 950 ft.
Summit Elevation: 3,050 ft.
Vertical Drop: 2,100 ft.
Slope Exposure: Northeast
Number of Trails: 61
Tree Skiing Areas: 8
Snowmaking Acreage: 322
Expert Trails: 20%
Intermediate Trails: 60%
Novice Trails: 20%
Total Miles of Trails: 28 mi.
Longest Trail: Bear Claw: 2.5 mi.
Skiable Acres: 370
Snowmaking Trail Coverage: 99%
2012-13 Snowfall: 163 inches
Uphill Lift Capacity 15,152 skiers/hr.
BONUS: More Local Options
Is your favorite ski spot not on our list? Tell us your favorites and share your pics in the comments below.