Mount Sunapee Resort is southern New Hampshire’s largest ski area and the closest “big mountain” skiing to Boston. This family-friendly resort has something for all ages and abilities, with a large beginner’s area, several terrain parks, long cruising runs, challenging glades, and the highest vertical in southern New Hampshire.
Mount Sunapee stands at 2,743 feet and is located in the town of Newbury. The resort has been open for more than 70 years. The land is owned by the state of New Hampshire and is part of Mount Sunapee State Park, but it has been leased and operated by Vail Resorts since 2018.
What makes Mount Sunapee so popular is that is offers something for all ability levels. For starters, beginners get their own mountain. The South Peak Learning Area is a mini-mountain dedicated entirely to beginners. Here, rookies can hone their ski and snowboard skills on easy, forgiving trails, as well as more challenging runs.
Over on the big mountain, visitors can enjoy easy trails like Toboggan Chute and Lower Ridge, or more challenging trails all the way up to adrenaline-pumping double black diamond runs like Hawes Hideout, Summit Glades and Goosebumps. In all, Sunapee features 67 trails and slopes covering 233 skiable acres and 18 miles of terrain. Among the trails, 18 are considered easy, 32 are intermediate, and 17 are advanced.
Mount Sunapee also features four terrain parks. The Six O’ Three Terrain Park is the resort’s main park, and where experienced skiers and riders can push their limits on rails, boxes, jumps, and other features. Eastside is an intermediate terrain park, with rollers, jumps, and spines to play on.
For beginners, Calypso, on South Peak, is great for those looking to take their skills to the next level. It features rollers, spines, and other elements beginners may find in bigger parks. South Park is another terrain park for beginners located on South Peak. This is where first-timers are introduced to rails and jumps designed for freestyle. It’s set up for safety, with rails built close to the snow surface to give novices more confidence.
You’ll likely work up an appetite with all that skiing and riding. Thankfully, Sunapee has plenty of dining options. The resort has three cafes where you can grab a quick bite to eat. For a sit-down meal, stop by the Goosefeathers Pub, on the second floor of Spruce Lodge. It’s one of the locations at Mount Sunapee that serves alcoholic beverages, and it offers table service for lunch and an après-ski menu.
Mount Sunapee is close enough to cities like Boston, Providence, and Worcester to make for an easy day trip, but you can also spend a week or weekend enjoying the slopes from one of the area’s many fine bed-and-breakfasts, inns, or hotels.
