New England’s northern three states are full of ski resorts. Vermont is likely the most well known for skiing and snowboarding, with well over 20 resorts that tend to receive some solid snowfall throughout the year. Maine is probably a close second, with less major resorts but still plenty of large mountain options for getting on snow.
New Hampshire, despite its close proximity to the major population center of Boston, doesn’t exactly compete with the other two. It has plenty of large mountains, including the tallest in New England, with multiple high-elevation resorts, but it tends to be overlooked for ski vacations. Peak Rankings explored exactly why that is.
Many of New Hampshire’s ski resorts tend to receive much less natural snowfall than resorts in Vermont. Resorts like Stowe, Smuggler’s Notch, and Jay Peak can see nearly double the snowfall as New Hampshire resorts. At the same time, New Hampshire’s ski areas are fairly small. compared to those in Vermont and Maine. Additionally dense tree coverage limits skiable glades throughout the state, and many of New Hampshire’s resorts don’t stretch to the highest possible altitudes.
There are plenty of other factors that make it difficult for New Hampshire’s resorts to stand out, from troubles with expansion to lack of infrastructure. But don’t underestimate the state. For backcountry skiers or day-trippers from Boston, New Hampshire is often the best option. Just because its skiing isn’t as well known as Vermont or Maine doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of great ski areas and resorts worth a visit.
