Mount Sunapee
232 acres, 66 runs near Newbury. Epic Pass access, Vermont-quality skiing close to Boston.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
4 Dec 2026
Closes
4 Apr 2027
Days open
121
Annual snow
99in
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
99in
Annual snow
Epic
Pass
The Terrain
66 runs across 232 acres skiable
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.
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 2026 - 2027
4 Dec 2026
Opens
4 Apr 2027
Closes
121
Days open
99 in
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Mount Sunapee
Daily snow reports at Mount Sunapee go back to 2025, 2 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
14 in
Snowiest day
26 Jan 2026
1 in
This winter · 2026-27
so far
35 in
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
in
Past wintersThis winter
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
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Hotels and lodges near Mount Sunapee, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
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4 Nov 2026
Mammoth Mountain Opens Early on November 5 With Up to 33 Inches of Snow in the Forecast
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3 Nov 2026
Utah Snow Storm Builds Early-Season Base Ahead of November Openings
Rain down low, snow up high, and a snow report full of zeros that mostly means ‘not updated yet’. Utah’s first proper storm of 2026-27 is rolling through the Wasatch, Snowbird’s snow stake is closing in on 10 inches, and Brian Head is five days from opening day. Early November snow rarely looks like much, but it is the layer every November opening date is built on. Here is where it stands.
1 Nov 2026
Mount Sunapee Snow Report
Snow Report
Updated 14 Nov 2026
2,743ft
summit
+1in
new snow · last 24 hours
Mainly Clear28°F / 34°F · NW 14mph
Snowfall
24 hours
1in
48 hours
1in
7 days
1in
Base depth
0in
Season total
1in
Typical winter 35in
Total lifts8
Live open status isn’t available right now.
4 Dec 2026 - 4 Apr 2027
Hour by Hour
Next 45 hours· Updated Nov 14, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo
7-Day Outlook
2,441 ftUpdated Nov 14, 2026 at 3:02 PMOpen-Meteo
Days 1–7
0.0"
Days 8–14
0.0"
Sun, Nov 15
Foggy
Temp34° / 28°°F
Snow0.0"(3%)
Wind14 mph NW
Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.
Understanding the Mount Sunapee snow report
Planning a day at Mount Sunapee? Our snow report combines official mountain data with live weather so you know exactly what conditions look like right now, from the 376m base to the 836m summit.
Snow measurements
Snow depth at Mount Sunapee is tracked at both the base and summit, since the two elevations often see different totals — roughly a 460m difference here. We report fresh snowfall over the last 24 hours and 7 days alongside the running season total, in both metric and imperial units.
Weather conditions
Current weather conditions affect snow quality. Cold temperatures with low wind typically preserve snow quality, while warm temperatures or rain can impact conditions negatively — something worth watching closely at Mount Sunapee's 376m base elevation, where temperatures run milder than the summit.
Data sources
Mount Sunapee snow data is collected through a combination of on-mountain reports and weather forecasting services, giving you both official resort updates and independent forecast data in one place. The mountain is served by 8 lifts, including 3 quad chairlifts.
When to check
Snow reports are typically updated early morning and late afternoon. For the most current conditions, check back regularly, especially if a winter storm is approaching.