Pats Peak
115 acres, 28 runs near Henniker. Family-owned since 1963, night skiing, learn-to-ski focus.
Current Conditions→
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
5 Dec 2026
Closes
28 Mar 2027
Days open
113
Annual snow
80in
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Pats Peak's summit reaches 1,460 feet, dropping roughly 771 vertical feet to a base at 689 feet across 28 runs spread over 115 acres near Henniker, New Hampshire. Terrain splits 50 per cent beginner, 21 per cent intermediate, 18 per cent expert and 11 per cent advanced, with average annual snowfall of roughly 80 inches. The resort carries Indy Pass affiliation. Six lifts, including three double chairs and three triple chairs, serve the mountain alongside two surface lifts and three t-bars.
Pats Peak stands out among New England ski areas as one of the very few still owned by the family that founded it, a genuinely rare continuity in an industry increasingly dominated by large corporate operators. The resort's substantial beginner terrain and extensive night skiing reflect a deliberate, decades-long focus on learn-to-ski accessibility.
In 1962, four Patenaude brothers, Joe, David, Wayne and Stuart, tired of standing in lift lines elsewhere, decided to build their own ski mountain on land owned by their father, Merle Patenaude, on Craney Hill in Henniker. The brothers combined Yankee ingenuity with resources from their family's various businesses, hand-fashioning the resort's lodges from lumber cut on the mountain itself and hewn at the family sawmill, with beams reaching 30 feet in length. Pats Peak opened for skiing on 5 January 1963 after the brothers purchased the original 200-acre plot from their father.
The resort has remained continuously in Patenaude family hands since its 1963 opening, with three of the original four brothers eventually selling their shares to the fourth, keeping ownership consolidated within the family. Wayne Patenaude, one of the founding brothers, passed away in December 2025, marking the end of an era, though the resort remains in the family's hands. Adult daily tickets run from 65 to 85 US dollars.
771ft
Vertical
28
Runs
115 acres
Skiable
80in
Annual snow
Indy
Pass
The Terrain
28 runs across 115 acres skiable
Pats Peak is a compact hill at Henniker, New Hampshire, with 28 runs across 115 acres (47 hectares). The vertical is 770 ft (235 m), from a 690 ft (210 m) base to a 1,460 ft (445 m) summit. Half the terrain is beginner at 50%, with 21% intermediate, 11% advanced and 18% expert, a lopsided mix with a surprisingly steep end. Snowfall averages around 80 inches a year. Short runs and a large learning area make it a natural pick for first-timers and families, and the main mountain runs under lights at night.
Most trails are named after winds, including Cyclone, Hurricane, Twister, Tornado and Duster. Hurricane is one of the steeper runs in the region and counts as expert terrain. Beginners get the only novice run in New Hampshire that stays open both day and night. Terrain parks include Turbulence Park, with jumps, rails and boxes that change through the season, and Microburst Park for beginners. Pats Peak suits learners, families and night skiers, while strong skiers get a steep pitch or two but only a short vertical.
Terrain split
28
runs
28 runs across 4 grades
Beginner14 runs · 50%
Intermediate6 runs · 21%
Advanced3 runs · 11%
Expert5 runs · 18%
Time it right
When to visit Pats Peak
The 2025-26 season at Pats Peak ran from 13 December 2025 to 22 March 2026, a roughly fourteen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 80 inches. Extensive night skiing extends the useful ski day considerably for visitors from the surrounding southern New Hampshire region throughout the season.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to Pats Peak's beginner-weighted terrain. As an Indy Pass resort, Pats Peak draws some visiting skiers holding that multi-resort pass alongside its core southern New Hampshire visitor base drawn to the mountain's family-friendly, accessible character.
The resort's substantial night-skiing programme and award-winning learning terrain make it a particular favourite for beginners and families throughout the season. School holiday periods bring substantial family visitation given this deliberate focus on learn-to-ski accessibility. Weekend crowds draw heavily from the greater Concord and southern New Hampshire region.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations and night skiing is not confirmed in available resort information. Following the December 2025 death of founding brother Wayne Patenaude, Pats Peak remains in the Patenaude family's hands, continuing more than six decades of continuous family ownership dating to the resort's 1963 opening. This rare family continuity remains central to the resort's identity each season.
Season 2026 - 2027
5 Dec 2026
Opens
28 Mar 2027
Closes
113
Days open
80 in
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Pats Peak, and where to stay
Pats Peak sits near Henniker, New Hampshire, on Craney Hill, with a base elevation of 689 feet and a summit at 1,460 feet across a roughly 771-foot vertical drop over 115 acres. This central New Hampshire setting places the resort within a genuinely rural, community-oriented part of the state.
Henniker, home to New England College, provides local lodging, dining and services within a short drive of the resort. Concord, New Hampshire's state capital, lies within a reasonable drive as well, providing a larger regional population base for the resort's visitor draw.
Local roads and New Hampshire State Route 114 connect Henniker to the resort, with Interstate 89 and Interstate 93 providing broader regional access from the Concord and Manchester areas. Winter driving conditions on regional roads can include snow and ice, though the well-travelled routes are regularly maintained given the resort's popularity with the southern New Hampshire market. 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 Pats Peak accessible for visitors flying into the region, though the resort's visitor base is overwhelmingly drawn from nearby communities rather than fly-in travellers.
Where to stay
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Hotels and lodges near Pats Peak, powered by Stay22.
Good to know
Frequently asked
When is Pats Peak's ski season?
Pats Peak's 2026 - 2027 season typically runs from December 5 through March 28. That window is roughly 113 calendar days, though daily operations depend on snow cover, weather, and lift maintenance.
Resorts in New Hampshire, Usa often announce firm dates closer to winter; check the live snow report before you travel if you are planning around opening weekend or spring closure.
How much skiable terrain does Pats Peak have?
Pats Peak lists about 115 acres skiable of marked terrain spread across 28 named runs (47 hectares alongside 115 acres skiable). That footprint is what most riders experience on a lift-served day. Side-country or hike-to terrain may sit outside these published numbers.
Use the trail map to see how the mountain is laid out and where the longest fall-line runs connect back to base.
What is the terrain like at Pats Peak?
Trail grading at Pats Peak breaks down roughly as 50% beginner, 21% intermediate, 11% advanced, 18% expert. The mix is balanced enough for mixed-ability groups, so learners can stay on marked green/blue (Green/Blue) terrain while stronger skiers peel off to steeper pitches.
Percentages describe the resort's published piste mix, not vertical feet. A mountain with modest "expert" stats can still feel demanding if the steep terrain is long or exposed. Read the trail map alongside these numbers when planning your route.
How many lifts does Pats Peak have?
Pats Peak operates 11 lifts across 4 lift types. The fleet includes 3 triple chairs, 3 double chairs, 3 t-bars, and 2 surface lifts.
Lift mix affects how quickly you can lap your favourite zones. Gondolas and trams move big crowds to mid-mountain, while shorter chairs and surface lifts often serve learning areas or local pods. Check the live snow report on ski days for real-time open/closed status.
What is the elevation and vertical drop at Pats Peak?
Base elevation at Pats Peak is about 689 ft (210 m), with the summit around 1,460 ft (445 m), giving roughly 771 ft (235 m) of vertical from base to top.
Higher start heights usually mean colder, drier snow holding longer into spring, but also thinner air and faster weather changes. Pack layers if you are riding from village level to summit lifts in one day.
How much snow does Pats Peak get each season?
Pats Peak averages about 80 inches (203 cm) of natural snowfall per season. That is a long-term climate figure. Any single winter can run well above or below it depending on storm track and temperature.
For trip planning, pair this baseline with the live snow report and webcams: fresh cycles show up in overnight totals and summit cameras long before season averages tell you much about today's surface.
Does Pats Peak accept the Indy?
Pats Peak is affiliated with the Indy. Pass holders should confirm current season benefits, blackout dates, and reservation rules on the pass issuer's site. Policies change year to year and can differ between international and domestic products.
If you are not on Indy, day tickets and multi-day bundles are still available; see the lift tickets page for published rates and purchase links.
Where can I buy Pats Peak lift tickets and how much do they cost?
Published single-day adult pricing on SnowStash currently spans US$39 to US$85, depending on date band and whether you are buying peak or regular windows. Multi-day products (season passes) usually lower the per-day cost if you are staying several days. Tickets can be bought online through the resort's official checkout (linked from our lift tickets page) or at on-mountain ticket windows, subject to availability.
Buying ahead of peak holidays and weekends generally saves money and guarantees access on sold-out days. Before you commit, scan the snow report and webcams so you are paying for conditions that match your expectations.
How can I check snow and mountain conditions at Pats Peak before I go?
SnowStash pulls together 2 live mountain webcams, a downloadable piste map, and the daily snow report for Pats Peak so you can plan from home. Webcams refresh on a short interval and are the fastest way to judge visibility, wind exposure, and whether storm snow is still falling.
The snow report adds structured totals, base depth where available, and lift/trail status when the resort publishes it. Use both together: cameras show what it looks like right now, and the report summarises numbers your group can compare day to day.
Does Pats Peak have a trail map?
Yes. The downloadable PDF/image map is better for offline planning, marking meeting points, and understanding the full mountain layout at a glance.
Both versions are on the trail map page for Pats Peak. If you are navigating with kids or meeting friends across separate lifts, screenshot or print the static map and keep the live map open on your phone for operational updates.
Where is Pats Peak located?
Pats Peak sits in New Hampshire, Usa. That regional context matters for travel planning: airport transfers, snow tyres, and typical storm patterns all follow geography as much as resort marketing.
Browse nearby accommodation from the resort page if you are comparing village-base vs valley-base stays; where you sleep changes your first lift of the day more than most trail stats do.
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