Waterville Valley, New Hampshire — Waterville Valley’s planned base-to-ski-resort gondola has cleared a big hurdle.
Last week, the U.S. Forest Service issued its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Waterville Valley’s expansion project. The approval process for this proposal began last year. Some of the potential impacts analyzed include wildlife, soils, and the local watershed.
As part of the DEIS, three alternatives were analyzed. Alternative 1 would be no action, while Alternative 2 would be approving the expansion without modifications. In response to internal and external analyses, the U.S. Forest Service developed a new alternative (3) that includes the expansion while also making adjustments to the original vision. At this point, I would predict that approval of Alternative 3 is the most likely route.
Waterville’s proposal calls for a two-stage gondola/chondola that will connect the base village to Green Peak, a terrain expansion, and new facilities.
The Gondola/Chondola
The gondola would start next to the Waterville Ice Arena in the base village. The lift would feature 10-person gondola cabins or a mix of gondolas and chairs (a chondola), with a ride time of 10-15 minutes (depending on which station you go to). There would also be a mid-station at the base of a new terrain pod. If the chondola option is chosen, the first stage would consist exclusively of gondola cabins, while the second stage would feature a mix of chairs and cabins.
A terrain expansion around the gondola is also planned. Off the existing Green Peak terrain pod, a mix of beginner and intermediate trails will lead to the new mid-station base area. All of these trails would feature snowmaking capabilities. Between these new runs would be approximately 200 acres of glades, something that Waterville currently doesn’t have much of. The SUP (Special Use Permit) boundary expansion would allow the ski resort to potentially add more terrain in the future.
Some of the modifications listed in Alternative 3 include the lift’s alignment, reducing the gladed terrain from around 200 to 168 acres, rerouting three of the proposed trails, reducing Green Peak Restaurant’s size, and lessening Waterville’s existing SUP (see upper right of maps below).
New Facilities
As part of the development, two new on-mountain facilities would be added. The first would be situated at the mid-station. The 20,000-square-foot facility would have two floors. The first would include a space for gondola cabins and chairs, as well as a room for ski patrollers. The second floor would have a dining outlet, seating, and restrooms. The mid-station would also be home to roughly 80 parking spaces available to guests.
Next to the top station would be the Green Peak Restaurant. The two-floor, 30,000-square-foot facility would feature a restaurant with approximately 250 seats, restrooms, and a ski patrol facility. If Alternative 3 is approved, it would be a maximum of 25,000 square feet. This lodge would help the Waterville Valley ski resort be a four-season destination. Currently, Waterville has its summer operations at Snow’s Mountain, so adding this area would help keep the ski resort busy during the summer and fall.
We reached out to Tim Smith, the General Manager of Waterville Valley, for a statement regarding the project. Here’s what he said:
“Waterville Valley Resort is pleased that the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) has been released and that the public now has the opportunity to review the proposal and provide feedback.
The Green Peak Gondola project represents a long-term vision to improve public access to the White Mountain National Forest while strengthening the connection between the Town of Waterville Valley and the surrounding public lands. The proposal includes year-round transportation, expanded recreational opportunities, improved accessibility, and investments designed to enhance the visitor experience. This concept has been discussed and envisioned by community members and stakeholders for decades, and we are proud to be one step closer to making that vision a reality for residents and guests alike.
We appreciate the extensive work completed by the U.S. Forest Service and its partners throughout the environmental review process. The DEIS is an important step in ensuring that potential impacts are carefully evaluated and that the public has a meaningful opportunity to participate in the process.
We encourage interested individuals to review the DEIS and submit comments. Waterville Valley Resort remains committed to working collaboratively with the U.S. Forest Service, the Town of Waterville Valley, stakeholders, and the public as the project moves forward.
Our goal is to create a world-class, independently owned New Hampshire mountain destination where families, friends, and our community can connect with the outdoors, expand recreational opportunities, support the local economy, and provide lasting public benefits while respecting the natural resources that make the White Mountains so special.”
You can learn more about the proposal here. Comments on the plans can be submitted here. If you prefer writing your thoughts out with a pen and paper, written comments can be sent to Derek Ibarguen, Forest Supervisor, c/o Justin Preisendorfer, Eastern Winter Sports Team Leader, 71 White Mountain Drive, Campton, NH 03223.
A decision could come in 2027.
Image/Video Credits: Waterville Valley Resort, U.S. Forest Service
