Although many think of the West when they think of skiing in the United States, the Appalachians in the East have many skiing experiences awaiting eager winter enthusiasts. The White Mountain Trail and Kancamagus Scenic Byway in New Hampshire welcome explorers of ski resorts, cross-country trails, and backcountry opportunities offered along these byways.
When you picture your family on a skiing adventure, do you picture cross-country skiing or gliding down the slopes of your favorite ski resort? Whatever your family prefers, the White Mountain Trail and Kancamagus Scenic Byway offer many choices of ski resorts, making it easy to find one that fits your family’s style. For anyone who is a beginner or lower-intermediate skier or snowboarder, Cannon Mountain, just off of the I-93 section of the White Mountain Trail in Franconia Notch State Park, offers a family area consisting of thirteen trails that are ideal for learning and skill development. For more family fun, Cranmore, located in North Conway towards the eastern end of the White Mountain Trail, has been entertaining families for over 70 years with fun and festive winter activities. If you’re looking to get more "bang for your buck," try Black Mountain, which is about 16 miles north of Conway, the eastern intersection of both byways. You’ll find some of the lowest individual lift ticket prices around, with even better deals on family passports. For teens and the young-at-heart, Attitash, located where both sections of the White Mountain Trail meet in Bartlett, boasts a well-known terrain park with the longest superpipe in New Hampshire.
If you’re not sure whether your family prefers strictly downhill or cross-country skiing, why not try a resort that offers both? You’ll find an impressive variety of downhill, cross-country, and dog sledding trails at Bretton Woods, known as New Hampshire’s largest ski area, near the middle of the White Mountain Trail. Or, you can take a ride on New England’s most powerful quad chairlift on Wildcat Mountain, located north of the eastern part of the White Mountain Trail along Route 16 in Pinkham Notch. At Wildcat, you’ll also find what some consider the best scenery in North America, with not a condo in sight. King Pine, about 15 miles south of Conway where the byways meet, has been known by locals and visitors alike for its family-friendly atmosphere and affordability. Lift tickets include complimentary cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice-skating. At Loon Mountain, only two-and-a-half miles from Lincoln where the Kancamagus Scenic Byway begins, take your family on New Hampshire’s longest gondola skyride, then take a run down one of the resort’s intermediate trails, which make up 67 percent of the resort’s downhill ski trails.
If your family favors cross-country skiing adventures, the White Mountains National Forest provides a large selection of trails and trail systems for free! If you prefer more highly groomed trails and you’re willing to pay a fee, consider a resort. The Franconia Village Center, near Cannon Mountain and close to Franconia Notch State Park, invites you to enjoy its one-lane, intimate, scenic trails as it winds through the hushed beauty of the surrounding woods, water, and meadows. In Bartlett, NC, you’ll find full-service cross-country skiing at the Bear Notch Ski Touring Center. Admire the preservation of the center’s 200-year-old farmhouse base lodge, then pack a lunch or some snacks and embark on an adventure, stopping at a trailside picnic table to admire the solitude of the White Mountains while you eat. If you’d like to visit a whole New England Village dedicated to Nordic skiing, visit Jackson, New Hampshire. You’ll find over 90 miles of trails weaving in and out of quaint Jackson, Black Mountain ski area, and throughout the White Mountains National Forest. If you’re looking for a day of family fun, try Great Glen Trails, located about 12.5 miles north of Glen along Route 16. The Trails Total Ticket includes cross-country skiing and snowshoeing and rentals, all-day access to the tubing hill, a session on the climbing wall and a tour on the one-of-a-kind SnowCoach up Mt. Washington. With such a selection of individualistic places to ski, you’re bound to find something you’re comfortable with, or something new to venture out and try if you’re up for a family adventure.
Backcountry skiing in the most heavily used backcountry area in the White Mountain National Forest, Cutler River Drainage, is sure to give an adrenaline rush to any skier or snowboarder who braves avalanche danger to ride its harsh mountain peaks. This is no spur-of-the-moment activity--proper preparation is vital. Once you’ve got an avalanche survival class under your belt and proper gear in your backpack, check the avalanche and weather report, grab a buddy, tell your neighbor your plans, and set out for an unprecedented experience. Cutler River Drainage, located north of North Conway on the eastern end of the White Mountain Trail on a turnoff of US-16, consists of Tuckerman and Huntington Ravine. Before you descend the mountain, you must ascend it first with proper gear, including an ice axe, crampons, and avalanche equipment. The ‘hike’ to the top is more like a mountaineering experience. Once you’ve reached the top, take the John Sherburne Ski Trail back to the parking lot at Pinkham Notch Visitor Center. Begin the “Sherbie” at the base of the Little Headwall along this descent route from Tuckerman Ravine that has been a favorite for more than 70 years. The trail's difficulty roughly equates to an intermediate run at a ski resort, with the added factor that it is an ungroomed backcountry trail. The trail has several steep pitches, with added challenge coming from water, ice, wind-scoured sections, exposed rocks, and waterbars. Conditions change quickly, so be prepared for anything. Backcountry skiing is definitely not for the faint-of-heart!
When the first solitary snowflakes of winter start to fall, skiers and snowboarders alike let their imagination take them to groomed slopes, cross-country skiing, or backcountry riding. Let your imagination transform into a memorable experience as you join family and friends for adventure on the White Mountain Trail or Kancamagus Scenic Byway, where winter thrills and chills will keep you coming back every year.
Vivid Color on the Kancamagus Highway
Hiking "The Whites"
Kancamagus Scenic Byway Overview