The right way to Plan a Journey to Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire

For hundreds of years, the rock formation often called “The Previous 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, in addition to being the one-time dwelling of the Previous Man, hosts an eponymous ski space that’s recognized for difficult riders from throughout the nation. 

“​​Cannon is famend within the ski group for being a formidable mountain,” says Jennifer Karnan, Cannon’s director of selling and gross sales. “We’ve a variety of difficult terrain, and we have now a variety of diversified terrain.”

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

However there are many mountains the place you could find superior terrain. So, what actually units Cannon aside is its historical past.

The resort opened in 1933 below the stewardship of the state of New Hampshire and stays below state possession right this moment. The mountain is situated in Franconia Notch State Park and is surrounded by the White Mountain Nationwide Forest, a protected land double whammy that insulates the world virtually fully 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 bought that authenticity that individuals search for.”

The one draw back of Cannon’s remoteness is that you just’ll must 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 greatest small cities, with a delightful mixture of old-school attraction (sure, there’s a coated bridge) and new-school facilities like stylish bars and eating places. 

Mix the advanced using at Cannon with Littleton’s base camp bona fides, and also you’ve bought certainly one of New England’s greatest 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 thought for having virtually its personal ecosystem,” Karnan notes — which means you may’t essentially use situations elsewhere within the area to foretell what the climate will likely be like on the mountain. Normally, although, February has the deepest snow. 

March is the very best 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 inclined to have superior snowfall, observe that, beginning this 12 months, they are often costlier. Cannon launched peak and off-peak pricing within the 2024-2025 season, and most weekend dates from January by March are thought of “peak.” If you happen to plan a weekend go to, attempt 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 resort presents luxurious rooms and suites, high-end eating, and a top-floor spa with gorgeous mountain views.

The Beal Home: Simply off of Littleton’s principal drag, The Beal House describes itself as a “New England rooming home and restaurant.” The 2 rooms and 4 suites listed here are completely pretty, however the actual draw is the meals: Chef Adam Alderin’s hearty mountain delicacies is a number of the area’s greatest.

Thayers Inn: Although the rooms listed here are comparatively easy, Thayers Inn is critical for its historical past. The resort 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 modern 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 house excellent 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 presents 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: Situated 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, reside music on Saturdays, and loads of beers — all you want for a no-frills apres befitting a famously no-frills mountain. 

Peaks Pub: Just a few miles west of Cannon on the Franconia Inn, Peaks Pub presents après festivities each Saturday. Come for hearth 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 break day the mountain as on it. The encompassing area presents many non-skiing actions, which could be divided into two classes: indoor enjoyable and outside actions.

Littleton presents the proper dwelling base for guests eager to spend their off-slope time in civilization. The city has lately develop into often called 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 group additionally presents old style 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 outside recreation, in the meantime, are in luck: Franconia Notch State Park, which Cannon is part of, is likely one of the greatest in New Hampshire. The terrain in and close to the park could be difficult in winter — severe 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.

The right way to Experience 

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 novices, additionally presents a standalone move for guests who don’t plan to go away the bunny slopes. The move costs start at $54 for adults and $34 for youngsters. 

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

Cannon can also be a part of the Indy Pass, and for riders with plans to do a number of 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 rentals obtainable on the Peabody Base Lodge. Off-mountain rental choices are restricted, however Village Ski & Sport in Lincoln presents a wide selection 10 miles south of Cannon. 

If you happen to’re out there to purchase gear as a substitute of renting, don’t miss Lahout’s. This legendary clothing store claims to be the oldest ski store in America, and its flagship location in Littleton occupies the identical house 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 until an excessive amount of snow falls — so, relying on whenever you go to, the obtainable runs might 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 may see mountains in 4 states and all the way in which to Canada on the experience up.)

Programming 

The Cannon Snowsports School presents snowboarding and snowboarding classes for learners of all ages. Unbiased newbies can benefit from the Tuckerbrook Family Area, a newbie zone hooked up on to the bottom advanced. The mountain additionally presents adaptive sports programs, a few of which have scholarship funding obtainable.