Best of New Hampshire
Best Ski Resorts in New Hampshire 2026/27: Largest, Highest & for Beginners
By Book & Ski · Sources checked
The short answer
By mapped runs, the biggest ski areas in New Hampshire are Loon Mountain Resort (46 km), Bretton Woods Ski Area (41 km) and Attitash Mountain Resort (39 km). The highest is Cannon Mountain, with runs from 1,232 m (4,042 ft); the biggest vertical is at Cannon Mountain (671 m); and Bretton Woods Ski Area has the largest share of easy terrain (31%).
| Resort | Top elevation | Vertical | Mapped runs | Easy terrain | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loon Mountain Resort | 929 m | 667 m | 46 km | 24% | source |
| Bretton Woods Ski Area | 912 m | 425 m | 41 km | 31% | source |
| Attitash Mountain Resort | 696 m | 507 m | 39 km | 22% | source |
| Cannon Mountain | 1,232 m | 671 m | 39 km | 15% | source |
| Waterville Valley Resort | 1,163 m | 607 m | 31 km | 14% | source |
| Mount Sunapee | 830 m | 448 m | 31 km | 23% | source |
| Gunstock Recreation Area | 684 m | 423 m | 26 km | 10% | source |
| Cranmore Mountain Resort | 510 m | 343 m | 24 km | 27% | source |
Highest ski resorts in New Hampshire
Higher resorts generally hold snow longer into spring. These have the highest mapped runs in New Hampshire.
Cannon Mountain: 1,232 m (4,042 ft) →Waterville Valley Resort: 1,163 m (3,816 ft) →Loon Mountain Resort: 929 m (3,048 ft) →Bretton Woods Ski Area: 912 m (2,992 ft) →Mount Sunapee: 830 m (2,723 ft) →Biggest vertical drop
Vertical is the height difference between the highest and lowest mapped runs: a guide to how long the longest descents can be.
Cannon Mountain: 671 m vertical →Loon Mountain Resort: 667 m vertical →Waterville Valley Resort: 607 m vertical →Attitash Mountain Resort: 507 m vertical →Mount Sunapee: 448 m vertical →Best for beginners (most easy terrain)
Ranked by the share of mapped run length graded novice or easy. A big share of gentle runs gives beginners more room to progress; also check where the ski school meets.
Bretton Woods Ski Area: 31% easy (41 km total) →Cranmore Mountain Resort: 27% easy (24 km total) →Loon Mountain Resort: 24% easy (46 km total) →Mount Sunapee: 23% easy (31 km total) →Attitash Mountain Resort: 22% easy (39 km total) →How we chose
“Best” here means measurable: size (km of mapped downhill runs), top elevation, vertical drop and the share of easy terrain, across the 8 ski areas with at least 20 km of runs and five lifts in New Hampshire. Figures come from OpenStreetMap via OpenSkiMap, retrieved 2026-10-01, and can differ from resorts’ own published numbers.
All ski resorts in New Hampshire →Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest ski resort in New Hampshire?
By mapped runs, Loon Mountain Resort, with about 46 km and 12 lifts.
What is the highest ski resort in New Hampshire?
Cannon Mountain, with mapped runs starting at about 1,232 m (4,042 ft).
Which New Hampshire ski resort is best for beginners?
By share of easy terrain, Bretton Woods Ski Area (31% of runs graded novice or easy). Also consider ski school locations and lift access.
Official sources
Checked on . Prices and timetables change; confirm with the operator before you pay. How we research.