New Hampshire is a small state, but it still has some pretty good opportunities for snowboarders to take advantage of on the east coast. With enough snowfall and decent conditions, you can have a ton of fun on the slopes here.
I’ve been snowboarding for most of my life and take every opportunity I can to get out in the snow and ride. To develop this article, I spoke to a few friends with experience riding in New Hampshire.
This post will highlight the best places to snowboard in New Hampshire. I’ll give you a brief description of each location and tell you what each spot is best known for, along with some other helpful information.
Let’s jump in.
Contents
1. Loon Mountain
- Official Website: https://www.loonmtn.com/
- Opening Date: November 20 (Average)
- Closing Date: April 10 (Average)
- Best Known For: Easy to access, high-speed chairlifts
Loon Mountain is one of the best locations to go snowboarding in New Hampshire. It’s also one of the easiest to access, located only a few minutes from the interstate. That makes it a top destination for people who live in the state or are visiting during the winter.
It’s a relatively large resort for the east, and a good vertical drop gives you plenty of time to enjoy all of the trails on the mountain. With over 60 to choose from, there is plenty of room for riders to spread out and explore.
Loon Mountain also has an awesome snowmaking system, so there is good coverage on the ground all season long, even if there hasn’t been any fresh snow recently. That’s a good trait for the east coast.
Being easily accessible, this spot can get really crowded on weekends and holidays. Plan ahead and book reservations if you want to stay nearby. But if you get a room, the on-slope lodge is pretty sweet and affordable.
2. Cranmore Mountain
- Official Website: https://www.cranmore.com/
- Opening Date: December 5 (Average)
- Closing Date: March 21 (Average)
- Best Known For: Historical past, many dining and shopping options
If you are looking for plenty of other things to do other than snowboard at a resort in New Hampshire, Cranmore Mountain is well-worth checking out. This location has a storied past and has been a resort for nearly 100 years.
The resort features several hundred acres of ridable terrain, with a variety of different trails for riders of all ability levels to take advantage of. Nine chairlifts give you access to all of this, and it’s a beautiful location to enjoy.
On top of all the excellent snowboarding, Cranmore Mountain is also well-known for offering a lot of solid dining and shopping right nearby the resort. There are a collection of outlet stores nearby that people of all kinds like to visit.
It’s not the largest resort in the area and can get a little crowded with that in mind. But it’s still worth checking out and has a great atmosphere with plenty of fun runs to bomb down, no matter what type of rider you are.
3. Bretton Woods
- Official Website: https://www.brettonwoods.com/
- Opening Date: November 20 (Average)
- Closing Date: April 10 (Average)
- Best Known For: Good annual snowfall, larger size
Bretton Woods is another one of the top places to snowboard in New Hampshire. This is one of the larger resorts in the state and boasts nearly 500 acres of rideable terrain. It also gets good annual snowfall, meaning you can expect quality snow almost all season long.
Another awesome aspect of Bretton Woods is that it has been updated with modern chairlifts and other amenities. This helps speed up the crowds and get more riders up on the slopes rather than waiting in line at the bottom.
During the height of winter, you can also go night skiing on the weekends and take advantage of the fewer crowds after the sun goes down. The gondola is another great amenity that gets you to the top of the mountain in a hurry.
Bretton Woods has a variety of lodging options near the resort. It’s an Omni resort, and there are several Omni hotels right nearby with pretty affordable rates. You’ll still want to book ahead of time to get the best deal possible.
4. Cannon Mountain
- Official Website: https://www.cannonmt.com/
- Opening Date: November 25 (Average)
- Closing Date: April 10 (Average)
- Best Known For: Advanced-level terrain, good snowfall
Cannon Mountain is one of the best locations in New Hampshire for snowboarders with higher-end skills who want to chase challenging terrain. It has a number of very steep and technical runs that are a lot of fun to ride if you have the skills to handle them.
The area also has a higher elevation than many of the other resorts in the state, allowing for excellent snowfall all season long. This means that conditions stay good, even when the rest of the region doesn’t have a lot of fresh snow.
It’s not the best beginner’s mountain, even though there still are plenty of beginner and intermediate runs. And if you want to make an extended visit out of your trip, you might need to look for accommodations a ways from the resort.
5. Mount Sunapee
- Official Website: https://www.skinh.com/resorts/mount-sunapee-resort
- Opening Date: November 25 (Average)
- Closing Date: April 4 (Average)
- Best Known For: Close to Boston, fun terrain park
Mount Sunapee is one of the closest New Hampshire snowboarding destinations to the city of Boston, making it a popular destination for people living there. It also has a good variety of terrain and conditions, providing many areas to explore.
The resort has ten different chair lifts giving you access to the mountain. And there are two main areas, one with more intermediate terrain and another with beginner access. Getting between the two is really easy.
The terrain park at Mount Sunapee is fantastic, so it’s a good location for freestyle riders who want to work on their tricks and skills. There are also a few tasty spots to eat on the mountain if you want to grab a bite during your day.
There aren’t many lodging options nearby, but with the resort being so close to a major city, it’s still an easy day trip from the surrounding areas.
6. King Pine
- Official Website: https://www.kingpine.com/
- Opening Date: December 16 (Average)
- Closing Date: March 25 (Average)
- Best Known For: Family-friendly, variety of different terrain
Kind Pine is a fun and family-friendly New-Hampshire resort that is another top destination in the state. There isn’t a lot of vertical drop here, but there is still a variety of terrain to explore for riders of all abilities.
The snowmaking capabilities are excellent, meaning that there will be good snow coverage on every run all season long. There is also good access to tree skiing and some really steep runs for advanced riders.
You can also take advantage of nearby dining and lodging options if you want to make your visit a family winter vacation. Be sure to book ahead of time in case things get crowded.
FAQs
Here are a few quick answers to some of the most commonly asked questions relating to snowboarding in New Hampshire.
Is snowboarding in New Hampshire good?
New Hampshire has plenty of good snowboarding opportunities. From high-quality resorts with great snow to lesser-known destinations, this is one of the premier locations on the east coast to chase snow during the winter months.
How much does it cost to go snowboarding in New Hampshire?
The cost of snowboarding in New Hampshire varies from mountain to mountain, but you can expect to pay anywhere from $80 to $120 for a lift ticket at most resorts. The cost of renting gear can range from $50 to $100.
Is Cannon Mountain good for beginners?
Cannon Mountain is more well-known for its advanced and expert-level terrain. But it still has options for snowboarders of all ability levels, including beginners. It’s always good to check out a trail map and stick to runs you are comfortable with, no matter where you ride.
Final Thoughts
New Hampshire is one of the top snowboarding destinations on the East Coast. All of the resorts listed here are worth exploring whether you live in the area or are just visiting. There is something for riders of all ability levels at each of them.
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