
Mount Sunapee
232 acres, 66 runs near Newbury. Epic Pass access, Vermont-quality skiing close to Boston.
Mount Sunapee's summit reaches 2,743 feet, dropping roughly 1,509 vertical feet to a base at 1,234 feet across 66 runs spread over 232 acres near Newbury, New Hampshire. Terrain splits 46 per cent intermediate, 30 per cent beginner, 13 per cent expert and 11 per cent advanced, with average annual snowfall of roughly 99 inches. The resort carries Epic Pass affiliation. Five lifts, including three quad chairs and two triple chairs, serve the mountain alongside three surface lifts.
Mount Sunapee occupies a distinctive place among New Hampshire ski areas as a state park property operated under private lease, a structure that has shaped its development for decades. Its terrain and snowmaking quality have earned it a reputation for offering skiing that feels closer to Vermont's larger resorts despite its New Hampshire location.
Surveys for a tram on Mount Sunapee date to 1940, and in 1941 New Hampshire passed the Mount Sunapee Tramway Bill, envisioning a tram for both sightseeing and skiing. A chairlift to the present-day North Peak was built instead after the Second World War, and the 1948-49 season marks the official inauguration of the Mount Sunapee ski area, which then operated as a state-run resort alongside Cannon Mountain for the next 40 years.
On 1 July 1998, Tim and Diane Mueller, owners of Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont, acquired the first lease ever granted by New Hampshire to operate Mount Sunapee, with the upfront lease payments funding a total upgrade of state-owned Cannon Mountain. Vail Resorts announced its acquisition of Mount Sunapee, alongside Okemo and Colorado's Crested Butte, in June 2018, purchasing the Muellers' Triple Peaks company for roughly 74 million US dollars in a deal that closed that September. Adult daily tickets run from 89 to 139 US dollars.
Mount Sunapee covers 232 acres (94 hectares) with 66 runs near Newbury, New Hampshire, inside a state park. It rises from about 1,230 ft (376 m) to 2,740 ft (836 m), a vertical of 1,510 ft (460 m). The split is 30% beginner, 46% intermediate, 11% advanced and 13% expert, an unusual shape with more expert than advanced terrain. Snowfall averages around 99 inches a year. The mountain is organised into five areas, each with a slightly different personality, from open cruisers to a separate learning zone.
The Main Face has intermediate cruisers, while Sunbowl, reached from the North Peak triple via Upper Cataract, adds lake views. North Peak holds most of the advanced terrain, and Spruce Peak is home to the terrain parks, including the Six O' Three Terrain Park. Lynx, Skyway, Goosebumps and Flying Goose are among the named runs, and South Peak is a separate beginner area. Sunapee suits families, intermediates and park riders, while experts looking for sustained steeps will find North Peak the best of a small supply.
The 2025-26 season at Mount Sunapee ran from 6 December 2025 to 5 April 2026, a roughly seventeen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 99 inches. Excellent snowmaking, a point of pride for the resort, supplements natural snowfall to maintain consistent, well-groomed conditions throughout the season.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to Mount Sunapee's intermediate-and-beginner-weighted terrain. As an Epic Pass resort within the Vail Resorts network, Mount Sunapee draws substantial visitation from Epic Pass holders, supported by its roughly 90-minute drive from Boston, one of the more accessible major resorts for that metropolitan area.
The resort's reputation for Vermont-quality conditions within New Hampshire continues to draw visitors seeking a shorter drive without sacrificing terrain or grooming quality. School holiday periods bring substantial family visitation given the resort's varied terrain and family-friendly amenities. Weekend crowds draw heavily from the greater Boston region.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Since Vail Resorts' 2018 acquisition, Mount Sunapee has continued operating under its distinctive state park lease structure, a model dating to the Mueller family's landmark 1998 agreement. The resort's blend of state park setting and private operation remains central to its identity each season.
Mount Sunapee sits within Mount Sunapee State Park near Newbury, New Hampshire, with a base elevation of 1,234 feet and a summit at 2,743 feet across a roughly 1,509-foot vertical drop over 232 acres. This setting places the resort within a well-established state park roughly 90 minutes from Boston.
Newbury and the broader Lake Sunapee region offer lodging, dining and additional lake-focused recreation within a short drive of the resort. The state park setting itself provides extensive additional outdoor recreation beyond the ski area's boundaries.
Interstate 89 provides convenient access to the resort from both the Boston metropolitan area and points further north in New Hampshire and Vermont. Winter driving conditions on the interstate can include snow and ice, though the well-travelled route is regularly maintained given its role as a major regional corridor. There is no direct public transport service to the mountain.
Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, within a reasonable drive, is among the nearer airports with commercial service, making Mount Sunapee a genuinely convenient option for visitors flying into the region. This combination of accessible highway and air access supports the resort's popularity with the greater Boston market.
Hotels and lodges near Mount Sunapee, powered by Stay22.

Vermont's season is slow to take shape. Stratton is tentatively targeting 18 November and Sugarbush 21 November, while Pico has Friday 11 December on the calendar. Killington never sets a date and opens when the snowmaking allows, and Vail Resorts has yet to name days for Stowe, Okemo and Mount Snow. The forecasts disagree about snow, and the main El Niño worry for the Green Mountains is warmth.

Less than four months out from the Crans-Montana 2027 World Championships, the man running the organising committee has stepped down. Claude-Alain Schmidhalter resigned as Swiss-Ski vice president and OC president after being indicted over a business dispute unrelated to skiing. He denies the allegations and faces court on October 27. Interim leaders are in place for the February 1-14 event.

Kelly Canyon had a rough 2025-26, and the Idaho resort has spent the summer making sure it doesn’t repeat. Snowmaking now reaches the top of Goldrush, the terrain park is doubling in size with a stereo system, lights and a snack shack, and the car park is getting bigger. Grooming is stepping up too. Target opening is December 4, conditions permitting.

Winter was meant to be winding down in Chile. Then Valle Nevado took 108 cm in 48 hours in early October, and the resort has pushed its closing date out to November 8 - its latest in 38 years of operation. That makes 143 days of skiing since opening day on June 19, with 690 cm banked for the season. Only part of the mountain is running while the storm settles, so check the mountain report before you plan a trip.

The Alps look a lot more like winter today, for a day or so. A cold front is moving west to east, dropping up to 35 cm on high glaciers and peaks, with snow levels falling to around 1,500-1,800 m at times. Don’t plan a trip around it: mid-elevation snow will be thin and wet, every area is closed bar a limited Sölden glacier opening tomorrow, and warmer weather returns by Monday.

Mammoth Mountain is first up in California, targeting Friday 13 November after a dusting of September snow. Heavenly and Northstar follow on 20 November, Palisades Tahoe on Wednesday 25 November and Sugar Bowl on 27 November, with Kirkwood on 4 December and June Mountain on 19 December. Plenty of smaller areas have no date yet. A super El Niño favours the Sierra, but a warmer storm track is the catch.

Arapahoe Basin, Keystone and Winter Park are all chasing an October start, though none has a firm date yet. The first dated openers are Breckenridge and Copper on Friday 6 November, then Vail on 13 November, with most of the rest bunched around US Thanksgiving. Hesperus did not open at all last season. A super El Niño offers hope but no guarantee, and forecasters say the southern mountains have the better odds.

Dolomiti Superski is spending around €100 million across its 12 areas before winter. Kronplatz gets a new 10-passenger gondola with a middle station, 3 Zinnen gets Helmissimo, and Val di Fassa swaps a chairlift for a gondola above Col Valvacin. New water-storage basins and upgraded snowmaking follow, and construction has started on the San Martino to Passo Rolle link. A peak adult day pass is €89.
Opening day for the winter 2026 - 2027 season is scheduled for Dec 4, 2026 (subject to change). Lift tickets at Mount Sunapee typically go on sale well before the start of the ski season.
Day passes start from US$69, with peak rates up to US$139.
Experience Mount Sunapee's family-friendly skiing just 90 minutes from Boston with 66 trails across 233 acres. This Epic Pass resort offers diverse terrain, dedicated learning areas, and beautiful lake views with warm, familiar New Hampshire hospitality.
Buy passYouth lift tickets at Mount Sunapee provide access to family-friendly Epic Pass resort skiing with 66 trails and excellent learning terrain. Perfect for young skiers and riders just 90 minutes from Boston in beautiful New Hampshire lake country.
Buy passChildren's lift tickets at Mount Sunapee offer access to New Hampshire's premier family Epic Pass resort. With dedicated South Peak learning area separate from main mountain, Mount Sunapee provides the perfect environment for children to learn skiing.
Buy passMount Sunapee Epic Pass provides unlimited access to Mount Sunapee plus 40+ Epic resorts worldwide including Vail, Whistler, and European destinations. Includes 20% off food, lodging, lessons, and rentals at all Epic resorts.
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