New Hampshire, Usa · Epic
Mount Sunapee
232 acres, 66 runs near Newbury. Epic Pass access, Vermont-quality skiing close to Boston.
Season 2025 - 2026
Opens
6 Dec 2025
Closes
5 Apr 2026
Days open
120
Annual snow
8ft
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
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.
1,509ft
Vertical
66
Runs
232 acres
Skiable
8ft
Annual snow
Epic
Pass
The Terrain
66 runs across 232 acres skiable
Mount Sunapee spreads 66 runs across 232 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 46%, with 20 beginner runs to find your feet and 16 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
66
runs
66 runs across 4 grades
Beginner20 runs · 30%
Intermediate30 runs · 46%
Advanced7 runs · 11%
Expert9 runs · 13%
Time it right
When to visit Mount Sunapee
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.
Season 2025 - 2026
6 Dec 2025
Opens
5 Apr 2026
Closes
120
Days open
8 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Mount Sunapee, and where to stay
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.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Mount Sunapee, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028
Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.
31 Aug 2026
Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured
An aerial tram carrying around fifty passengers struck the boom of a construction crane on the route to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday morning, injuring 23 people, three seriously. The cabin tipped on impact before the operator reversed it to right the car. Most of the injured were treated on site, with five taken to hospital in Grenoble, including a pregnant woman assessed as a precaution.
28 Aug 2026
Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do
A deadly flood on the Nepal-China border, a decade-old tragedy on Italy's Marmolada, and an unstable glacier right now above a village near Zermatt - three very different mountain ranges, the same underlying story. Warming ice is destabilising terrain that was considered settled for generations, and the results range from catastrophic floods to slow-motion monitoring situations that could go either way.
27 Aug 2026
Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September
Tyrol's highest ski area is gearing up to open a full month ahead of most of the Alps. The Pitztal Glacier is scheduled to start its 2026/27 season on Saturday 26 September, running through to 2 May 2027, with the lower-altitude Rifflsee area following in December. High-altitude terrain up to 3,440 metres gives the glacier a head start on snow, though as always, the actual opening extent will depend on how September's weather plays out. Early online ski pass bookings can save up to 30%.
26 Aug 2026
Unstable Glacier Above Randa Puts Zermatt-Area Village on Alert
A hanging glacier above the Swiss village of Randa, just south of Zermatt, has been shedding large chunks of ice for weeks, with authorities warning more break-offs are likely. A danger zone has been closed off since June, though officials say the village's 479 residents aren't at risk. It's a familiar pattern for this glacier - it's done this before, in 1819, 1972 and 1973 - but a reminder of how closely Alpine authorities now watch terrain once considered stable.
26 Aug 2026
Thredbo Is 'On the Table' as EVT Reviews Its Whole Business
Thredbo is officially 'on the table.' EVT Limited, owner of Australia's most decorated ski resort, has hired Rothschild & Co to review its entire corporate structure - and confirmed Thredbo isn't off limits, even as it books a stronger year of earnings. The resort's own valuation has nearly halved after a brutal 2026 season, and speculation is already running toward Vail Resorts, Alterra, or a New Zealand operator picking it up. Here's what EVT actually said, and who could buy it.
25 Aug 2026
Ski-E-O! Is the Ski Resort Tycoon Game We Didn't Know We Needed
I'm not a gamer. I'm a skier and snowboarder who happens to have a laptop. So when a ski resort management game called Ski-E-O! landed on Steam, I wasn't expecting to lose an afternoon to it - but here we are. Real mountain terrain, a full weather system, storms that roll in and wreck your snow base, avalanche danger, and enough depth to make RollerCoaster Tycoon feel simple by comparison. Early access lands in November. Here's what a few hours in the free demo actually looks like.
23 Aug 2026
Sugar Bowl, California, Rebuilds Its Historic Village Gondola
The rumours are true: Sugar Bowl is tearing out its Emerald gondola, in place since 1983, and replacing it with a new 8-person Doppelmayr system - nearly doubling uphill capacity to 1,800 people an hour. It's the fourth generation of a gondola line that dates back to 1953, when Sugar Bowl became the first resort on the West Coast to run one at all, and it's just one piece of a $100 million overhaul touching lodges, parking and snowmaking. Here's what's changing, and what's staying the same.
23 Aug 2026
Mount Sunapee Lift Tickets
Mount Sunapee lift tickets & passes
The 2025 - 2026 season at Mount Sunapee closed on Apr 5, 2026. Check back for next season's opening date and ticket pricing.
Day passes start from US$69, with peak rates up to US$139.
Epic4 pass options
Single-day passes
Adult 18–64
Adult Daily Ticket
US$89up to US$139 peak
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 13–17
Youth Daily Ticket
US$79up to US$119 peak
Youth 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 passChild 6–12
Child Daily Ticket
US$69up to US$99 peak
Children'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 passSeason passes
Adult 13–99
Epic Pass
US$979up to US$1,079 peak
Mount 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.
Buy passLift tickets FAQ
How much does a Mount Sunapee day pass cost?
Mount Sunapee day passes range from US$69 to US$139 depending on the date and advance booking.
Can I buy Mount Sunapee lift tickets online?
Yes, you can purchase tickets directly from the resort website or at the resort ticket office.
Are there discounts for multi-day passes?
Yes, multi-day packages typically offer significant savings compared to individual day passes. The per-day cost decreases with longer stays.
What is included with a Mount Sunapee lift ticket?
Full access to all lifts and trails at Mount Sunapee, including mountain safety and patrol services.
What is the difference between Mount Sunapee lift tickets and ski passes?
"Lift tickets" and "ski passes" refer to the same thing at Mount Sunapee - your access to the mountain's lifts and trails for your chosen duration.
When should I buy Mount Sunapee lift tickets for the best price?
Purchase tickets at least 7 days in advance for the best rates, and consider weekday visits for further savings over weekend rates.
Does Mount Sunapee offer group discounts on lift tickets?
Group discounts are typically available for parties of 10 or more. Contact Mount Sunapee directly for group booking information and rates.
How can I check current conditions before buying tickets?
Before purchasing, check the live snow report and mountain webcams to see current weather, snow conditions, and lift operations at Mount Sunapee.
More Mount Sunapee intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.