Cannon Mountain
285 acres, 97 runs in Franconia Notch. NH's only aerial tram, challenging terrain, Indy Pass access.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
27 Nov 2026
Closes
11 Apr 2027
Days open
135
Annual snow
130in
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Cannon Mountain's summit reaches 4,081 feet, dropping 2,180 vertical feet to a base at 1,900 feet across 97 runs spread over 285 acres within Franconia Notch State Park, New Hampshire. Terrain splits 53 per cent intermediate and 33 per cent advanced, with no expert-rated runs and 14 per cent beginner terrain, and average annual snowfall of roughly 130 inches. The resort carries Indy Pass affiliation. Eleven lifts, including one aerial tram and three quad chairs, serve the mountain alongside one double chair, three triple chairs, one surface lift and two t-bars.
Cannon Mountain operates as a state-owned ski area, one of just two such resorts in New Hampshire, and is home to the state's only aerial tramway, a genuinely historic piece of engineering that remains central to the mountain's identity. Its challenging, largely intermediate-and-advanced terrain has earned Cannon a reputation among serious Northeast skiers as one of the region's more demanding mountains.
The concept for an aerial tramway at Cannon originated in 1933, when Alexander Bright of the Franconia Ski Club proposed the idea after experiencing similar systems in Europe. In June 1937, the New Hampshire legislature passed a bill authorising a 250,000 US dollar bond issue to finance the tramway's construction, an engineering feat completed almost entirely by hand, involving 32 carloads of cement, 232 tons of steel and four miles of cable. On 28 June 1938, North America's first aerial tramway was dedicated at Cannon, quickly becoming a major tourist attraction that carried 163,000 passengers in its first year alone.
Cannon has remained under New Hampshire state ownership throughout its history, distinguishing it from the majority of the region's privately operated resorts. Adult daily tickets run from 79 to 99 US dollars, with a discounted rate available for New Hampshire residents.
2,182ft
Vertical
97
Runs
285 acres
Skiable
130in
Annual snow
Indy
Pass
The Terrain
97 runs across 285 acres skiable
Cannon Mountain stands inside Franconia Notch State Park in New Hampshire, with 97 runs over 285 acres (115 hectares). A vertical of 2,180 ft (665 m) runs from a 1,900 ft (579 m) base to a 4,080 ft (1,244 m) summit, a substantial drop by New England standards. The mix is 14% beginner, 53% intermediate and 33% advanced, so the mountain asks more of its skiers than the percentages first suggest. Snowfall averages around 130 inches a year. An aerial tram carries skiers to the top, and the trails fall away steeply from there.
The Peabody Slopes at the bottom hold four long beginner runs - Lower Cannon, Parkway, Gremlin and Turnpike - reached from the Peabody base area. Higher up, the Front Five are the steep trails that built Cannon's reputation, and the Zoomer complex brings intermediate and expert terrain, with bumps stacking up on Paulies Folly under the lift. Mittersill, managed by Cannon since 2009, adds 86 acres of natural terrain, linked by the Taft Trail from the summit. Cannon suits confident intermediates and advanced skiers, while beginners are best kept on the Peabody runs.
Terrain split
97
runs
97 runs across 4 grades
Beginner14 runs · 14%
Intermediate51 runs · 53%
Advanced32 runs · 33%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit Cannon Mountain
The 2025-26 season at Cannon Mountain ran from 6 December 2025 to 12 April 2026, a roughly nineteen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 130 inches. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather within Franconia Notch.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to Cannon's intermediate-and-advanced-weighted terrain, among the more challenging in the Northeast. As an Indy Pass resort, Cannon draws some visiting skiers holding that multi-resort pass alongside its core regional visitor base drawn to the mountain's demanding reputation and historic aerial tram.
As one of New Hampshire's two state-owned ski areas, alongside Mount Sunapee's state park lease arrangement, Cannon benefits from a discounted resident-pricing structure that supports strong local New Hampshire visitation throughout the season. School holiday periods bring some family visitation, though the resort's terrain profile skews toward more experienced skiers.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations and the aerial tram's tourist appeal is not confirmed in available resort information. Cannon's continuous state ownership throughout its history, dating to the tramway's 1938 dedication, continues to shape its public-access mission each season. The mountain's genuinely challenging terrain and historic tram remain central to its seasonal identity.
Season 2026 - 2027
27 Nov 2026
Opens
11 Apr 2027
Closes
135
Days open
130 in
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Cannon Mountain, and where to stay
Cannon Mountain sits within Franconia Notch State Park in New Hampshire's White Mountains, with a base elevation of 1,900 feet and a summit at 4,081 feet across a 2,180-foot vertical drop over 285 acres. This dramatic mountain pass setting places Cannon within one of the most scenic protected landscapes in the Northeast.
Franconia and the broader Franconia Notch region offer lodging, dining and additional attractions within the state park itself and nearby towns. The White Mountains region surrounds the resort with extensive further outdoor recreation, from hiking trails to other nearby ski areas.
Interstate 93 runs directly through Franconia Notch, providing convenient access to Cannon Mountain from both the north and south. Winter driving conditions through the notch can include snow and ice, though the well-travelled interstate is regularly maintained given its role as a major regional corridor. There is no direct public transport service to the mountain.
Specific nearest commercial airport details are not confirmed in available resort information, though Cannon's location along Interstate 93 keeps it within a reasonable drive of the greater Boston metropolitan area's major airports for visitors travelling from further afield.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Cannon Mountain, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
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Cannon Mountain Lift System
Cannon Mountain runs eleven lifts: one aerial tram, one double chair, three quad chairs, three triple chairs, one surface lift and two t-bars, serving 97 runs across 285 acres within Franconia Notch State Park. The aerial tram, New Hampshire's only such lift, remains the mountain's signature piece of infrastructure.
That tram, dedicated on 28 June 1938 as North America's first aerial tramway, followed a 1937 New Hampshire legislature bond issue of 250,000 US dollars and nine months of largely hand-built construction, an engineering achievement considered outstanding for its era. It carried 163,000 passengers in its first year, cementing Cannon's place in American ski lift history.
The quad chairs and triple chairs distribute the bulk of skier traffic across Cannon's intermediate-and-advanced-weighted terrain, complementing the tram's summit access. The double chair, surface lift and t-bars serve additional terrain and beginner areas around the base.
As a state-owned ski area, lift investment decisions at Cannon reflect New Hampshire's ongoing commitment to public recreation access within Franconia Notch State Park. Specific recent individual lift replacement projects beyond the historic tramway are not confirmed in available resort information. Cannon's eleven-lift network, anchored by its landmark tram, remains one of the more distinctive lift systems in the Northeast.
11lifts across 6 types
1
Aerial Tram
3
Quad Chairs
3
Triple Chairs
1
Double Chair
2
T-Bars
1
Surface Lift
Cannon Mountain lift system
Cannon Mountain is served by 11 lifts, listed here by type. Check which lifts are turning against the live conditions before you plan your first laps - early lifts and high-speed chairs get you to the best snow fastest.
More Cannon Mountain intelligence: trail map, snow report, webcams, resort overview.