Massachusetts — The Merrimack Valley used to be home to various ski areas. As of 2025, only two remain open: Ski Bradford and Nashoba Valley. The others have been lost to time.
In a 2018 feature by HC Media, the Haverhill Journal traveled around the region to explore what remains of the closed ski areas of the Merrimack Valley. Some of the stops included Atlantic Forests/Powwow Hill, Boston Hills, Methuen Ski Area, and Thunderhead.
The most famous of the bunch is probably Boston Hills. Situated in North Andover, it operated from the late 1940s to the early 1990s. Boston Hills had a vertical drop of 320 feet, which was serviced by a chairlift and some surface lifts. In the summertime, they diversified their business by offering activities like alpine slides and synthetic ski slopes.
Unfortunately, warming winters led to its closure in the 1990s. The base area is now home to a senior living center, while the slopes are maintained by the town of North Andover for hiking and mountain biking. I do wonder if any of the seniors try to go rogue and take their wheelchairs on a joy ride up and down the slopes.
The sole remaining ski area in Essex County is Ski Bradford. Situated in Haverhill, the Massachusetts ski area features fifteen trails, ten lifts, and a vertical drop of 248 feet.
The other remaining ski area in Merrimack Valley is Nashoba Valley. The Massachusetts ski area has 17 trails, 10 lifts, and a vertical drop of 240 feet. It’s also well known for its large snow tubing park, which is situated at a separate location that’s near the ski area. Nashoba and Ski Bradford are two of the most important feeder hills in New England, which means it’s the first place skiers and riders go to learn before heading to the bigger mountains (for Massachusetts residents, that means Loon).
Image/Video Credits: HC Media, Skimap.org, Ski Bradford, Nashoba Valley
