Tips on how to Plan a Journey to Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire

For hundreds of years, the rock formation often known as “The Outdated Man of the Mountain” was New Hampshire’s most well-known pure landmark. The face-shaped outcropping crumbled off its cliffside in 2003, however the mountain it was hooked up to stays one of many state’s most vital. 

Cannon Mountain, moreover being the one-time dwelling of the Outdated Man, hosts an eponymous ski space that’s identified for difficult riders from throughout the nation. 

“​​Cannon is famend within the ski neighborhood for being a formidable mountain,” says Jennifer Karnan, Cannon’s director of selling and gross sales. “We’ve numerous difficult terrain, and we’ve got numerous various terrain.”

The ski space is New Hampshire’s highest at 4,080 ft, and its 287 skiable acres embody thigh-busting trails like DJ’s Tramline, which traces a complete raise line and is often referred to as one of many hardest runs within the East. 

However there are many mountains the place yow will discover superior terrain. So, what actually units Cannon aside is its historical past.

The resort opened in 1933 underneath the stewardship of the state of New Hampshire and stays underneath state possession immediately. The mountain is positioned in Franconia Notch State Park and is surrounded by the White Mountain Nationwide Forest, a protected land double whammy that insulates the world nearly utterly from company growth. Cannon has no master-planned base village and no fancy slopeside bars. 

“That’s a part of what makes it particular,” Karnan says. “It’s received that authenticity that folks search for.”

The one draw back of Cannon’s remoteness is that you simply’ll need to journey a methods for off-mountain actions. Fortunately, although, the city of Littleton lies simply 13 miles north. It’s certainly one of New Hampshire’s finest small cities, with a delightful mixture of old-school appeal (sure, there’s a coated bridge) and new-school facilities like stylish bars and eating places. 

Mix the complicated using at Cannon with Littleton’s base camp bona fides, and also you’ve received certainly one of New England’s finest ski journeys. 

When to Go 

Cannon sometimes opens in late November or early December and closes someday in mid-April. Just like the behemoth Mt. Washington just a few miles to the east, “Cannon is understood for having nearly its personal ecosystem,” Karnan notes — which means you’ll be able to’t essentially use situations elsewhere within the area to foretell what the climate might be like on the mountain. Normally, although, February has the deepest snow. 

March is the perfect month for signature occasions like ’80s Day (leg heaters and neon inspired) and BodeFest, an adaptive snowboarding fundraiser hosted by native Olympian Bode Miller. 

Whereas the later months of the season are likely to have superior snowfall, observe that, beginning this 12 months, they are often dearer. Cannon launched peak and off-peak pricing within the 2024-2025 season, and most weekend dates from January by March are thought-about “peak.” If you happen to plan a weekend go to, strive December, early January, or April to lock in off-peak charges. 

The place to Keep 

Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa: With no onsite lodging at Cannon, in a single day guests must do some driving — and the half-hour trek to the Mountain View Grand is definitely worth the miles. This historic grand lodge gives luxurious rooms and suites, high-end eating, and a top-floor spa with gorgeous mountain views.

The Beal Home: Simply off of Littleton’s major drag, The Beal Home describes itself as a “New England rooming home and restaurant.” The 2 rooms and 4 suites listed below are completely beautiful, however the true draw is the meals: Chef Adam Alderin’s hearty mountain delicacies is a few of the area’s finest.

Thayers Inn: Although the rooms listed below are comparatively easy, Thayers Inn is important for its historical past. The lodge has been a staple of downtown Littleton since 1850 and has hosted 5 presidents, from Ulysses S. Grant to George H.W. Bush. 

The place to Eat 

Schilling Beer Co.: The favored Schilling Beer Co. opened in Littleton in 2013 and has since expanded to a buzzy downtown “campus” unfold throughout a number of buildings. Take pleasure in European-style lagers on the smooth retailer and taproom or wood-fired pizzas on the brewpub and kitchen — each provide views of the Ammonoosuc River.

Chang Thai Cafe: Because of Bangkok-born chef (and “Chopped” alumna) Emshika Alberini, Littleton has what few New England mountain cities can declare: a genuinely nice Thai restaurant. Chang Thai Cafe occupies a well-appointed downtown area good for warming up with curry and a cocktail after a protracted day on the slopes. 

Cafe 4080’: If easy, on-mountain eating is all you’re after, Cafe 4080’ will do the trick. This eatery on the summit of Cannon’s tramway gives cafeteria meals, grab-and-go choices, and, most notably, the highest-elevation beer faucets within the state of New Hampshire. 

The place to Apres Ski

Cannonball Pub: Positioned inside Cannon’s Peabody Base Lodge, the Cannonball Pub is the mountain’s main apres-ski spot. There’s nothing fancy right here, however there’s pleasant service, stay music on Saturdays, and loads of beers — all you want for a no-frills apres befitting a famously no-frills mountain. 

Peaks Pub: A number of miles west of Cannon on the Franconia Inn, Peaks Pub gives après festivities each Saturday. Come for fireplace pub grub and weekly “faucet takeovers” by breweries from round New England.

Rek’-Lis Brewing Firm: Other than Schilling, Rek’-Lis is the buzziest brewery on this a part of the White Mountains. Its taproom within the little city of Bethlehem is a well-liked apres spot for the encompassing ski resorts, particularly for the youthful, barely rowdier crowd.

Off-mountain Actions 

Given its small footprint and lack of company resort facilities, Cannon is an ideal ski space for individuals who wish to spend as a lot time without work the mountain as on it. The encompassing area gives many non-skiing actions, which might be divided into two classes: indoor enjoyable and out of doors actions.

Littleton gives the proper dwelling base for guests desirous to spend their off-slope time in civilization. The city has not too long ago develop into often known as a stylish haven for mountain-loving millennials, and also you’ll see that demographic represented at small companies just like the Loading Dock music venue and the house retailer Maison Bohème. However the historic neighborhood additionally gives old school delights — it’s the birthplace of the storybook character Pollyanna, and the downtown candy store Chutters has a 112-foot sweet counter believed to be the world’s longest. 

Lovers of out of doors recreation, in the meantime, are in luck: Franconia Notch State Park, which Cannon is part of, is without doubt one of the finest in New Hampshire. The terrain in and close to the park might be difficult in winter — critical ice climbers and winter hikers flock right here for the steep cliffs and technical ascents — however loads of native guides are prepared to assist much less skilled adventurers. All-level actions within the space vary from snowshoeing and fat-tire biking to charming horse-drawn sleigh rides.

Tips on how to Journey 

Tickets: Grownup tickets begin at $99 for off-peak days and $114 for peak days, with reductions for seniors, navy personnel, and (on Wednesdays solely) New Hampshire residents. Multi-day passes begin at $199 for 2 days of using and $229 for 3 days, although the latter is obtainable solely on weekdays. 

The Tuckerbrook Household Space, constructed for households and rookies, additionally gives a standalone go for guests who don’t plan to depart the bunny slopes. The go costs start at $54 for adults and $34 for kids. 

Season passes start at $899 for adults in 2024-2025 (or barely much less if you happen to purchase them a number of months upfront).

Cannon can also be a part of the Indy Go, and for riders with plans to do numerous snowboarding in New Hampshire, there’s the White Mountain Superpass, providing entry to Cannon and three different resorts across the area.  

Leases: Cannon has onsite leases accessible on the Peabody Base Lodge. Off-mountain rental choices are restricted, however Village Ski & Sport in Lincoln gives a wide selection 10 miles south of Cannon. 

If you happen to’re available in the market to purchase gear as a substitute of renting, don’t miss Lahout’s. This legendary clothes shop claims to be the oldest ski store in America, and its flagship location in Littleton occupies the identical area the Lahout household has operated in since opening their doorways in 1920. 

Snowboarding and Snowboarding Information 

Cannon has 98 trails in whole, of which 15 % are rated “simpler,” 52 % are “tougher,” and 33 % are “most tough.” Observe, although, that most of the superior trails don’t open till or except an excessive amount of snow falls — so, relying on once you go to, the accessible runs could skew in favor of extra newbie terrain. 

The resort has 10 lifts, together with the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway, which opened in 1938 and is North America’s first and oldest aerial tram. (And, as Cannon notes, on a transparent day, you’ll be able to see mountains in 4 states and all the best way to Canada on the experience up.)

Programming 

The Cannon Snowsports Faculty gives snowboarding and snowboarding classes for learners of all ages. Impartial newbies can benefit from the Tuckerbrook Household Space, a newbie zone hooked up on to the bottom complicated. The mountain additionally gives adaptive sports activities packages, a few of which have scholarship funding accessible.