Pats Peak
115 acres, 28 runs near Henniker. Family-owned since 1963, night skiing, learn-to-ski focus.
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
Search all stays →Stays map loads when you scroll here
Hotels and lodges near Pats Peak, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Val Gardena to Alpe di Siusi Lift Link Back in Play After Court Ruling
The Val Gardena-Alpe di Siusi lift link isn’t dead after all. A South Tyrol court has overturned Santa Cristina’s rejection of the new Monte Pana-Saltria link on procedural grounds, after the council skipped required public information sessions. Opponents want the missing sessions held and a fresh vote, and nothing has been approved. For now it’s still a bus between the two, but a plan first floated in 2017 is back in the conversation.
8 Nov 2026
Whistler Blackcomb Rockslide Zone Stays Closed Through 2026-27 Season
A section of Whistler Peak terrain will stay closed all 2026-27 season, Vail Resorts has confirmed, with rockslide mitigation work continuing into summer 2027. Peak Express is still expected to run this winter, but locals are already arguing about what’s actually off limits, whether the Whistler Bowl is gone, and why the news landed after pass sales wound down. Here’s where things stand.
7 Nov 2026
Loveland Ski Area Opens for 2026-27 and Marks 60 Years of Snowmaking
Loveland is open. The Colorado ski area started Chet’s Dream turning on Saturday 7 November to kick off 2026-27, with $60 adult lift tickets to mark 60 years of snowmaking. Expect three runs, nearly 1,000 vertical feet (about 300 metres) of top-to-bottom skiing, live music on the Basin Patio and no beginner terrain yet. Here’s what’s open, what it costs and when Loveland Valley follows.
7 Nov 2026
KFC Is Coming to the Slopes at Cortina and Madonna di Campiglio
Fried chicken is heading up the Dolomites. From 5 December KFC will run two restaurants on the slopes - one at 2,123 metres at Cortina, one at 1,700 metres at Madonna di Campiglio - and the polenta-and-canederli crowd has opinions. Local politicians, conservation groups and plenty of Facebook commenters are calling it a step too far, while others just want a cheaper lunch. Here’s what’s on the menu and what’s the fuss.
5 Nov 2026
Mt Rose Aims to Open First in Tahoe on November 6
Mt Rose is going for the first-in-Tahoe title, with the Lakeview Express due to spin at 9 a.m. on Friday, November 6. One main lift, three runs and plenty of snowmaking, sitting on the highest base elevation in the region at 8,260 ft. Here is what is open, what is not (sorry, tubing fans), and how the early North American openings are stacking up.
4 Nov 2026
Europe Snow Forecast: Serre Chevalier Leads With 82 cm Over the Next 10 Days
Europe has had a quiet start to November, but our 10-day forecast has Serre Chevalier on 82 cm and Les 2 Alpes on 71 cm. Two pushes are lined up: a western Alps top-up from Friday, then a bigger, wider system on Thursday, November 12 and Friday, November 13 that reaches Italy and Switzerland. Full leaderboard inside.
4 Nov 2026
Mammoth Mountain Opens Early on November 5 With Up to 33 Inches of Snow in the Forecast
Mammoth just moved opening day forward to Thursday, November 5, eight days ahead of schedule. A snowy weekend and cold snowmaking nights did the work, and our forecast shows up to 33 inches more landing on November 13 and 14. Here is what opens, what the weather looks like and where Mammoth sits among the early Ikon Pass openers.
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
Pats Peak Lift System
Pats Peak runs six lifts: three double chairs and three triple chairs, serving 28 runs across 115 acres near Henniker, alongside two surface lifts and three t-bars. This substantial lift count relative to the resort's compact acreage reflects more than six decades of steady, family-funded investment.
The lift network has grown considerably since the four Patenaude brothers built the original ski mountain by hand in 1962 and 1963, hand-fashioning the resort's lodges from lumber cut on the mountain and hewn at their family sawmill. This resourceful, hands-on founding approach set the tone for the resort's development in the decades that followed.
The double chairs and triple chairs distribute skiers across Pats Peak's beginner-weighted terrain, while the three t-bars and two surface lifts provide extensive additional capacity for the resort's substantial learn-to-ski programming. This combination of lift types reflects the resort's long-standing focus on accessible, entry-level skiing.
Under continuous Patenaude family ownership since 1963, most recently following the death of founding brother Wayne Patenaude in December 2025, investment has continued to support this six-lift network. Specific recent individual lift replacement projects are not confirmed in available resort information. Pats Peak's lift infrastructure remains a testament to more than six decades of hands-on family stewardship.
11lifts across 4 types
3
Triple Chairs
3
Double Chairs
3
T-Bars
2
Surface Lifts
Pats Peak lift system
Pats Peak is served by 11 lifts, listed here by type. Check which lifts are turning against the live conditions before you plan your first laps - early lifts and high-speed chairs get you to the best snow fastest.
More Pats Peak intelligence: trail map, snow report, webcams, resort overview.