Loon Mountain Ski Resort has enough variety to keep a group of very different skiers happy. Beginners have dedicated terrain to learn on, intermediates can spend the day on long groomed runs, and advanced skiers and riders have steeper trails, glades, and terrain parks to explore. It’s also one of the most accessible major ski areas in the White Mountains and about 30 minutes from Sugar Hill Inn, making it an easy addition to a winter getaway.
Skiing is only part of a winter stay up here, too. Between days at Loon, you can go snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or explore more of our favorite things to do in the White Mountains in winter.
Loon Mountain by the Numbers
Loon sits in Lincoln, New Hampshire, within the White Mountain National Forest. The mountain has 403 skiable acres and 73 trails spread across three connected peaks: North Peak, Loon Peak, and South Peak. Its 2,190-foot vertical drop is currently the largest published vertical drop at a New Hampshire ski resort.
Loon operates 13 lifts, more than any ski area in New Hampshire. The headliner is Kancamagus 8, the first eight-person chairlift in the eastern United States. Its heated seats and tinted weather-blocking bubble are particularly welcome on cold or windy days, while an adjustable loading carpet makes boarding easier for younger and less experienced skiers. The White Mountain Express Gondola is another Loon fixture, carrying skiers in enclosed four-person cabins to the summit of Loon Peak.
Terrain for Every Ability
Beginners now have a dedicated learning area at South Peak. The Timbertown Quad offers 11 beginner-friendly trails with wide, gentle slopes that give new skiers and snowboarders room to practice stopping, turning, and linking runs without immediately mixing with more advanced terrain.
Intermediates have the greatest share of Loon’s terrain to explore. The resort classifies 53% of its trails as “more difficult,” with plenty of sustained cruising across the mountain. That’s one reason Loon works so well for skiers who have moved beyond beginner terrain but aren’t looking for the steepest run on the trail map.
Advanced skiers can head for Loon’s steeper trails and glades. Twenty-eight percent of the mountain is classified as most difficult, giving stronger skiers enough terrain to explore while less experienced members of the group spend their day elsewhere on the mountain.
Park riders have six terrain parks with a progression that ranges from approachable features for riders learning their first jumps and jibs to the larger features in Loon Mountain Park. Terrain parks have long been an important part of Loon’s identity, making the resort a great choice when freestyle skiing or snowboarding is high on someone’s list.
Tips for Your Loon Mountain Day
- Go early or go midweek. Loon’s convenient location near I-93 makes it popular, especially on weekends and holidays.
- Buy tickets online before you go. Check with Loon Mountain for current ticket availability and rates. Loon uses reusable GO Cards for lift access, which you can reload online for future visits.
- Don’t assume everyone has to ski the same terrain. One of Loon’s biggest advantages is its range. Beginners can spend time at South Peak while stronger skiers explore more difficult trails and terrain parks elsewhere on the mountain.
Wondering whether Loon is the right mountain for your group? See how Loon stacks up against Cannon and Bretton Woods, or browse our roundup of New Hampshire ski resorts.
Make Sugar Hill Inn Your Base for Loon
Staying at Sugar Hill Inn gives you easy access to more than one mountain. Loon Mountain Ski Resort is about 30 minutes away, Cannon Mountain is even closer, and Bretton Woods is also within easy driving distance. That gives you the option to ski Loon one day and choose a completely different mountain the next.
Our New Hampshire Bed and Breakfast also gives you a comfortable place to return to after the lifts close. Each stay includes a full country breakfast in the morning and afternoon small bites at the inn. Our individually designed guest rooms and cottages offer their own amenities, with select accommodations featuring fireplaces and whirlpool tubs and all cottages featuring gas fireplaces and private baths.
After skiing, settle into the Tavern by its wood-burning fireplace for a cocktail, beer, or glass of wine, or arrange an in-house massage for tired legs. Dinner is served at the inn’s restaurant on select evenings, so you can finish the day without another drive once you’re back at Sugar Hill.
Book your ski getaway and make Sugar Hill Inn your home base for skiing Loon and the rest of the White Mountains.