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    New Hampshire, USA

    Gunstock

    227 acres, 48 runs in the Lakes Region. County-owned resort, Lake Winnipesaukee views, night skiing.

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    Live Gunstock conditions, webcams & maps. Opens straight here.

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    Live Gunstock conditions, webcams & maps. Opens straight here.

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    Season 2026 - 2027
    Opens
    4 Dec 2026
    Closes
    3 Apr 2027
    Days open
    120
    Annual snow
    97in
    The Overview
    MF
    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
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    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%
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    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.

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    Gunstock Trail Map

    Downloadable Gunstock trail map

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    Live Gunstock conditions, webcams & maps. Opens straight here.

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    Gunstock trail map↓ Download PDF
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    Terrain split
    48
    runs
    Beginner15%
    Intermediate52%
    Advanced31%
    Expert2%
    227 acres skiable92 hectares
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    Resort Stats
    Elevation
    Base899ft
    Summit2,300ft
    Annual snowfall
    97in
    Season
    2026 - 2027
    4 Dec 2026 - 3 Apr 2027
    Trail coverage
    48 runs
    227 acres (92 ha)
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    About Gunstock's trail map

    Explore Gunstock's full trail map with 48 runs across the mountain, colour-coded by difficulty and shown alongside the terrain split. Use it to plan a day that matches your ability, find lift-served pockets of your favourite grade, and see how the resort links together. Download the piste map (PDF) ↗

    More Gunstock intelligence: snow report, lift system, webcams, resort overview.