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
FIS Weighs Holding World Championships in Almost Every Winter, Starting 2032
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation is looking at a major shake-up to its title events calendar. From 2032, World Championships could run not just in odd-numbered years but in every non-Olympic winter too, effectively putting a global title event on the calendar almost every season. The FIS Council has approved the concept following a feasibility study, though an accelerated rollout as early as 2028 is also under consideration.
4 Sept 2026
Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026
Mount Buller closes out its 2026 season this Sunday, joining Falls Creek, Hotham and Charlotte Pass in a cluster of closures landing almost simultaneously and roughly a month ahead of schedule. The culprit is stark: Spencers Creek's benchmark snow depth hit 31.2cm on 3 September, just 18% of the 73-year average and an all-time low for this point in the season. Six of Victoria and NSW's best-known resorts will have shut their lifts early within a span of about two and a half weeks.
4 Sept 2026
Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.
2 Sept 2026
Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6
We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.
1 Sept 2026
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
Mount Sunapee Webcams
3 live angles across the mountain. Tap any camera to go full-screen.
About Mount Sunapee's live webcams
Check live conditions across Mount Sunapee with 3 real-time webcams showing snow, weather, and lift operations, updated every 10 minutes. Check high-elevation cams for powder visibility and base-area cams for crowd levels before you head up.
Camera guide
- Summit Camera2,713ft
- Experience breathtaking Lake Sunapee vistas through this commanding Mount Sunapee webcam positioned at the summit at 827 meters elevation. This Mount Sunapee live cam offers spectacular panoramic views across the pristine lake and surrounding New Hampshire countryside, providing essential visibility updates for navigating the mountain's diverse terrain. Perfect for assessing weather conditions and snow quality, this live snow cam helps skiers plan their descent at this scenic southern New Hampshire resort, showcasing the unique water-and-mountain beauty that defines Mount Sunapee's character.
- Express Lift2,001ft
- Monitor mid-mountain operations through this strategic Mount Sunapee webcam positioned at the Express Lift terminal at 610 meters elevation. This Mount Sunapee live cam captures high-speed quad chair operations and trail conditions across popular intermediate terrain. Essential for planning your route and assessing lift queues, this Mount Sunapee web cam provides real-time updates on snow coverage and skier traffic at this family-friendly New Hampshire destination, helping guests maximize their time on the mountain's 1,510 vertical feet.
- Spruce Lodge1,001ft
- Discover the welcoming atmosphere at Mount Sunapee's main hub through this essential Mount Sunapee webcam at Spruce Lodge at 305 meters elevation. This Mount Sunapee live cam provides real-time views of base area activity, guest arrivals, and current conditions where your mountain adventure begins. Perfect for checking parking availability and crowd levels, this live snow cam helps families plan their visit to this accessible southern New Hampshire resort, offering instant visibility into weather conditions and operational status at this Lake Sunapee skiing destination.
Mount Sunapee snow cams FAQ
How often do Mount Sunapee snow cams update?
All Mount Sunapee snow cams and webcams update every 10 minutes with fresh images showing current mountain conditions. This frequent update schedule ensures you have access to near real-time conditions for planning your ski day at Mount Sunapee.
Which Mount Sunapee webcam shows the best powder conditions?
The high-elevation Summit Camera webcam at 827m provides the clearest view of powder conditions and snowfall. These Mount Sunapee webcams capture fresh snow accumulation and visibility better than base area cameras.
Can I see Mount Sunapee lift queues on the webcams?
Yes. Multiple Mount Sunapee snow cams specifically show lift queue areas and chairlift operations, helping you time your arrival and avoid peak queue periods.
When is the best time to check Mount Sunapee snow cams?
Check Mount Sunapee webcams early morning (7-8am) for overnight snowfall assessment, and mid-afternoon for current crowd levels and weather. The live cams are most useful after storm events to assess fresh powder.
How can I check current conditions before buying Mount Sunapee lift tickets?
Use our Mount Sunapee webcams alongside the live snow report to assess conditions before purchasing lift tickets. The webcams show real-time visibility, snow quality, and operational status.
Do Mount Sunapee webcams work on mobile devices?
Yes. All Mount Sunapee snow cams and webcams are optimized for mobile viewing, so you can check live conditions from anywhere using your phone or tablet.
More Mount Sunapee intelligence: snow report, lift tickets, trail map, resort overview.