Gunstock
227 acres, 48 runs in the Lakes Region. County-owned resort, Lake Winnipesaukee views, night skiing.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
4 Dec 2026
Closes
3 Apr 2027
Days open
120
Annual snow
97in
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Gunstock's summit reaches 2,300 feet, dropping roughly 1,400 vertical feet to a base at 899 feet across 48 runs spread over 227 acres in Gilford, New Hampshire, overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee. Terrain splits 52 per cent intermediate, 31 per cent advanced, 15 per cent beginner and 2 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 97 inches. Five lifts, including three quad chairs and two triple chairs, serve the mountain alongside one surface lift and one t-bar.
Gunstock occupies a genuinely distinctive place among New Hampshire ski areas as a publicly owned recreation complex, operated for the benefit of the surrounding county community. Its panoramic views over Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire's largest lake, give the resort a scenic backdrop uncommon among the region's mountains.
The resort traces its origins to the Winnipesaukee Ski Club, formed in 1918, whose members cut early trails on Gunstock, Belknap and Piper Mountains. The Works Progress Administration constructed what was then known as the Belknap Mountain Recreation Area, completing the project in time for its official opening on 28 February 1937 with a ski jumping event. The ambitious development, championed by the Belknap County Legislative Delegation, included a chairlift, four rope tows, cross-country trails, camping facilities and a substantial main lodge, and the resort claimed the first chairlift in the eastern United States.
Gunstock has remained under Belknap County ownership throughout its history, managed since 1959 by the five-member Gunstock Area Commission established by state statute. This public ownership structure distinguishes Gunstock from the great majority of New England's privately operated ski areas. Adult daily tickets run from 75 to 95 US dollars, with substantial discounts for seniors aged 70 and over.
1,401ft
Vertical
48
Runs
227 acres
Skiable
97in
Annual snow
The Terrain
48 runs across 227 acres skiable
Gunstock is a lakeside mountain in Gilford, New Hampshire, with 48 runs over 227 acres (92 hectares) and views over Lake Winnipesaukee. The vertical is 1,400 ft (427 m), from a base at about 900 ft (274 m) to a 2,300 ft (701 m) summit. Intermediate skiing dominates at 52%, with 31% advanced, 15% beginner and 2% expert. Snowfall averages around 97 inches a year. The terrain is mostly cruisers with a few black pitches, and plenty of it is lit after dark, so it works as well for evening laps as for a full day.
The Panorama Express is the only high-speed lift, with five distinct ways down: Gunsmoke and Flintlock are continuous blue runs, while Recoil and Hot Shot include black sections. The Pistol triple serves parks, glades and intermediate runs, including the Blundersmoke Terrain Park and Parallax Glades. Night skiing covers around 22 trails, plus two lit park lines. Gunstock suits intermediates, families and park riders who like a lively evening session after a day on the snow, though experts will likely run out of new lines after a couple of days.
Terrain split
48
runs
48 runs across 4 grades
Beginner7 runs · 15%
Intermediate25 runs · 52%
Advanced15 runs · 31%
Expert1 run · 2%
Time it right
When to visit Gunstock
The 2025-26 season at Gunstock ran from 6 December 2025 to 5 April 2026, a roughly seventeen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 97 inches. Extensive night skiing extends the useful ski day considerably for visitors from the surrounding Lakes Region throughout the season.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to Gunstock's intermediate-and-advanced-weighted terrain overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee. As a publicly owned Belknap County resort, Gunstock draws heavily from the surrounding Lakes Region community alongside visitors specifically seeking its panoramic lake views and public-access mission.
Substantial senior discounts, including reduced pricing for skiers aged 70 and over, reflect the resort's community-focused, publicly accountable pricing philosophy. School holiday periods bring increased family visitation given the resort's varied terrain and accessible pricing structure relative to privately operated competitors nearby.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations and night skiing is not confirmed in available resort information. Under continuous Belknap County ownership since the resort's 1937 founding as the Belknap Mountain Recreation Area, and management by the Gunstock Area Commission since 1959, the resort continues serving its original public recreation mission each season. Gunstock's Lake Winnipesaukee views remain a defining seasonal backdrop for visitors.
Season 2026 - 2027
4 Dec 2026
Opens
3 Apr 2027
Closes
120
Days open
97 in
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Gunstock, and where to stay
Gunstock sits in Gilford, New Hampshire, overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee, with a base elevation of 899 feet and a summit at 2,300 feet across a roughly 1,400-foot vertical drop over 227 acres. This Lakes Region setting gives the resort panoramic views over New Hampshire's largest lake.
Gilford and the broader Lakes Region, including nearby Laconia, offer extensive lodging, dining and lake-focused recreation within a short drive of the resort. This combination of mountain and lake amenities gives the surrounding area a genuinely varied appeal across both winter and summer seasons.
New Hampshire State Route 11A and Interstate 93 provide access to the resort from the broader Lakes Region and beyond. Winter driving conditions on regional roads can include snow and ice, though the well-travelled routes are regularly maintained given the area's popularity as a year-round recreation destination. There is no direct public transport service to the mountain.
Specific nearest commercial airport details are not confirmed in available resort information, though Gunstock's Lakes Region location keeps it within a reasonable drive of the greater Manchester and Boston metropolitan areas for visitors travelling from further afield.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Gunstock, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
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30 Oct 2026
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30 Oct 2026
Keystone Resort Opens for 2026/27 With More Than Two Miles of Skiing
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29 Oct 2026
Beaver Creek Installs 16 Automated Snow Guns on Birds of Prey Ahead of Record World Cup
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29 Oct 2026
Arapahoe Basin Opens First for North America’s 2026/27 Ski Season
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28 Oct 2026
Gunstock Lift System
Gunstock runs five lifts: three quad chairs and two triple chairs, serving 48 runs across 227 acres in Gilford, alongside one surface lift and one t-bar. This network traces its origins to the resort's remarkable claim as the site of the first chairlift built anywhere in the eastern United States.
That pioneering lift formed part of the original Works Progress Administration-constructed infrastructure completed for the resort's 28 February 1937 opening as the Belknap Mountain Recreation Area, alongside four rope tows and extensive supporting facilities. This ambitious public infrastructure project, backed by the Belknap County Legislative Delegation, established Gunstock's lift-served skiing well ahead of many regional competitors.
The current three quad chairs and two triple chairs distribute skiers across Gunstock's intermediate-and-advanced-weighted terrain, a network that has grown considerably from the original 1937 rope-tow-and-chairlift configuration. The single surface lift and t-bar support beginner and learning areas near the base.
Under continuous Belknap County ownership, managed since 1959 by the five-member Gunstock Area Commission, investment in the resort's lift infrastructure has continued to serve the public recreation mission established at its 1937 founding. Specific recent individual lift replacement projects are not confirmed in available resort information. Gunstock's historic first-in-the-East chairlift claim remains a distinctive point of pride in its ongoing public operation.
7lifts across 4 types
3
Quad Chairs
2
Triple Chairs
1
T-Bar
1
Surface Lift
Gunstock lift system
Gunstock is served by 7 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 Gunstock intelligence: trail map, snow report, webcams, resort overview.