How to Plan a Trip to Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire

"Jennifer Karnan, the director of marketing and sales, says the mountain "is renowned in the ski community for being a formidable mountain" and adds "It’s got that authenticity that people look for." The ski area is New Hampshire’s highest at 4,080 feet with 287 skiable acres and thigh-busting trails such as DJ’s Tramline, a run that traces an entire lift line and is regularly called one of the toughest in the East. Opened in 1933 under state stewardship and still owned and operated by the state, the mountain sits inside Franconia Notch State Park and is surrounded by the White Mountain National Forest, which together keep the area largely free of corporate development — no master-planned base village and no fancy slopeside bars. Typical season runs from late November/early December through mid-April, with February usually offering the deepest snow; March hosts signature events like '80s Day (leg warmers and neon encouraged) and BodeFest, an adaptive-skiing fundraiser hosted by local Olympian Bode Miller. The resort introduced peak/off-peak pricing for 2024–2025: most weekend dates from January through March are "peak," and weekend visitors looking for lower rates should consider December, early January, or April. Ticketing details include adult tickets starting at $99 for off-peak days and $114 for peak days, multi-day passes beginning at $199 for two days and $229 for three days (the three-day is offered only on weekdays), and season passes beginning at $899 for adults in 2024–2025 (with early-purchase discounts). Discounts are available for seniors, military, and — on Wednesdays only — New Hampshire residents. The mountain is part of the Indy Pass and the White Mountain Superpass. There are 98 trails (about 15% easier, 52% more difficult, 33% most difficult), though many advanced runs only open after significant snowfall. The lift system includes 10 lifts and the historic aerial tramway (opened in 1938; North America’s first and oldest aerial tram), from which "on a clear day, you can see mountains in four states and all the way to Canada." Onsite rentals are available at the Peabody Base Lodge; Village Ski & Sport in Lincoln (about 10 miles south) offers a larger off-mountain rental selection. Programming includes the Cannon Snowsports School (lessons for all ages), a beginner Tuckerbrook Family Area with its own standalone pass, and adaptive sports programs (some with scholarship funding)." - Travel + Leisure Editors