Guide to White Mountains Skiing | Where to Go

Some of the best skiing in New England can be found in the beautiful White Mountains of New Hampshire, where summits rise high, snow is abundant, and views go on forever. It’s no surprise, then, that you’ll find plenty of ski mountains and resorts throughout the region, from small establishments to large year-round-adventure operations. Whether you’re looking for a mountain close to Boston, a full-service resort with on-site lodging and food, or even a bit of Nordic skiing, let our guide to White Mountains skiing steer you in the right direction. The mountains are listed from smallest to largest, and all are in or near New Hampshire’s White Mountains.

9 Places for White Mountains Skiing | Alpine Skiing

King Pine at Purity Spring Resort | Madison, New Hampshire

Size: 17 trails, five lifts, 55 acres
Terrain park(s): Yes
Nordic ski trails: 22 km (14 miles)
Distance from Boston: 2 hours, 35 minutes
Food and drink: Trail’s End Tavern

ABOUT: This little mountain is great for beginners, city dwellers looking for a quick trip, and visitors eager to take advantage of the full menu of adventure at Purity Spring Resort — which includes snowshoeing, ice skating, sleigh rides, and snow tubing in addition to alpine and Nordic skiing.

Black Mountain | Jackson, New Hampshire

Size: 45 trails, four lifts, 140 acres
Terrain park(s): None
Nordic ski trails: None
Distance from Boston: 3 hours, 20 minutes
Food and drink: Lostbo Pub

ABOUT: Escape the crowds or learn to ski at this smaller ski mountain in beautiful Jackson. It’s the perfect place for the whole family, with a full range of meticulously groomed trails for all ability levels.

Cranmore Mountain Resort | North Conway, New Hampshire

Size: 56 trails, seven lifts, 170 acres
Terrain park(s): Yes
Nordic ski trails: None
Distance from Boston: 3 hours
Food and drink: Legends, KandaBar, Red Sled Burritos, Sliders Cafe & Bar, Zip’s Pub & Grill, the Meister Hut

ABOUT: This mountain is, in a word, fun. Cranmore Mountain offers expert snowmaking and a range of trails — plus great off-slope activities such as snow tubing, mountain coaster rides, giant swing rides, and the Soaring Eagle zipline — just a few miles from downtown North Conway.

Wildcat Mountain | Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire

Size: 48 trails, five lifts, 225 acres
Terrain park(s): No
Nordic ski trails: 18 km (11 miles)
Distance from Boston: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Food and drink: Wildcat Cafeteria, Wildcat Pub

ABOUT: Twenty minutes north of its sister mountain, Attitash, Wildcat Mountain features some of the best views in the White Mountains, with Mount Washington and the Presidential Range directly opposite. It offers challenging runs and varied terrain, while beginners have plentiful options for learning, including the longest beginner trail in New Hampshire (Polecat). Get to the summit quickly (just under seven minutes) aboard the high-speed quad.

Waterville Valley Resort | Waterville Valley, New Hampshire

Size: 62 trails, 12 lifts, 265 acres
Terrain park(s): Yes
Nordic ski trails: 74 km (46 miles)
Distance from Boston: 2 hours, 35 minutes
Food and drink: The Marketplace; Schwendi Hutte; Sunnyside Timberlodge; T-Bars; Buckets, Bones & Brews; Waffle Cabin

ABOUT: This easily accessible year-round White Mountains destination will satisfy all your winter needs. Alpine-ski the 265 acres of terrain, hike up Mount Tecumseh from the trailhead next to the mountain, explore the large network of Nordic trails, or shop, eat, and relax in the Town Square.

Cannon Mountain | Franconia, New Hampshire

Size: 97 trails, 11 lifts, 285 acres
Terrain park(s): Yes
Nordic ski trails: None
Distance from Boston: 2 hours, 40 minutes
Food and drink: Lafayette Food Court, Notchview Café, Café 4080, Tramway Country Store, Cannonball Pub

ABOUT: If you’re after a thrill, Cannon features the highest ski area summit in New Hampshire, at 4,080 feet, and the longest vertical drop in New Hampshire, at 2,180 feet. Ride the iconic Tram to the summit or take part in one of the special events (like ’80s Day) scheduled throughout the season.

Attitash Mountain Resort | Bartlett, New Hampshire

Size: 68 trails, 10 lifts, 311 acres
Terrain park(s): Yes
Nordic ski trails: None
Distance from Boston: 3 hours, 15 minutes
Food and drink: Attitash Cafeteria, the Cantina, Frostbites, Crawford’s Pub, Black Diamond Grill, Ptarmigan’s Pub, Bear Peak Cafeteria, Waffle Cabin at Bear Peak, the Den

ABOUT: Attitash’s two big, interconnected mountains have wide-open trails for cruising, glades and challenging terrain, and freestyle terrain parks. The Attitash Grand Summit Hotel is located slopeside, so if you get chilly, a steaming hot tub is just a quick ski away.

Loon Mountain Resort | Lincoln, New Hampshire

Size: 61 trails, 11 lifts, 370 acres
Terrain park(s): Yes
Nordic ski trails: 20 km (12.5 miles)
Distance from Boston: 2 hours, 35 minutes
Food and drink: Summit Café, Camp III, Octagon Lodge, Slopeside Deli, Governor Adams Lodge, Pemigewasset Base Camp, Waffle Cabin, Seasons Restaurant, Black Diamond Pub

ABOUT: This mountain is a favorite among New Englanders for a number of reasons: It’s easily accessible, it gets plenty of snow, it has well-groomed trails for all ability levels, and it offers a large selection of dining and apres-ski options, plus Nordic skiing, a winter zipline, tubing, ice skating, snowshoeing, and an adventure center.

Bretton Woods | Bretton Woods, New Hampshire

Size: 97 trails, 10 lifts, 464 acres
Terrain park(s): Yes
Nordic ski trails: 100 km (62 miles)
Distance from Boston: 3 hours
Food and drink: Latitude 44, Slopeside Restaurant & Pub, Lucy Crawford’s Food Court, Mount Stickney Cabin

ABOUT: The Bretton Woods ski area at the Omni Mount Washington Resort is New Hampshire’s largest destination for alpine skiing and is well known for its impeccable grooming. The high-speed lifts get you up the mountain quickly, and with nearly 100 trails to choose from, it’s impossible to get bored. You might even want to plan a whole weekend (or hey, a whole week) of skiing here.

3 More Places for White Mountains Skiing | Nordic Skiing

Great Glen Trails | Gorham, New Hampshire

Trails: 45 km (28 miles)
Food and drink: Great Glen Base Lodge, Glen View Cafe
Rentals and lessons: Yes
Skiing available: Skate, classic, backcountry, double tracks

ABOUT: Great Glen offers daily grooming and great scenery on its cross-country skiing trails in Gorham. With a ski school that includes group, private, and semiprivate lesson options, it’s an ideal spot for Nordic beginners. And while you’re there, try out snowshoeing, tubing, or fat biking.

Bear Notch Ski Touring Center | Bartlett, New Hampshire

Trails: 65+ km (40+ miles)
Food and drink: Warming Hut
Rentals and lessons: Yes
Skiing available: Skate, classic, backcountry, tracks

ABOUT: A cross-country skiing destination you might not know about, but should, Bear Notch offers flat meadows, riverside views, rolling and advanced hills, and trips out to lovely, pristine waterfalls. Its trail system winds around forests, Bartlett Village, and down along the Saco River toward Attitash Mountain. And even when the weather makes it seem unlikely, the Touring Center is often open for business — a nod to northern New Hampshire snowfall and quality grooming.

Jackson XC | Jackson, New Hampshire

Size: 150 km (93 miles)
Food and drink: Base Lodge, Christmas Farm Inn Restaurant, J-Town Deli, Red Fox Bar & Grille, Shannon Door Pub, Highfields Restaurant & Eagle Landing Tavern, Backcountry Bakery & Café, Wildcat Inn & Tavern, Yesterdays
Rentals and lessons: Yes
Skiing available: Skate, classic, backcountry, tracks, race

ABOUT: Jackson is one of New England’s best towns for all things winter recreation, and that certainly includes cross-country skiing. The network of trails maintained by the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation provides some of the finest skiing in the East, thanks to state-of-the-art grooming and an ideal geographical location. All the trails are within the charming village of Jackson, and they lead to destinations such as the warming hut, the Cocoa Café, and other pub, restaurant, and lodging options. Visitors can ski in classic style through the forest or kick it up a notch (or two) and skate ski the international race course.

This post was first published in 2018 and has been updated. 

SEE MORE:
Ski New England | Unique Ski Mountain Experiences
17 Ways to Have Fun in New Hampshire This Winter
Best Alpine Trails in New England