The cost of skiing and snowboarding can be eye-popping. Lift tickets aren’t as affordable as they used to be and the price of everything seems to have ridden a high-speed quad to the top.
But there’s still some great deals now.
First — You can save as much as $20 a day if you buy your one-day pass online before the day you go. Kids 5 and younger (or under 5) usually ski and ride free. Seniors 80+ are free at almost all resorts.
Active, retired and veteran military members and their dependents can also save big. Single ticket discounts range from $10 to 25% off. Including at King Pine, Cranmore, Loon and Gunstock and some resorts (such as Cranmore} include first responders, too.
Prices and options can change during the season, so periodically check resort websites. Deals are also posted at SkiNH.com/deals/ski-area-deals.
King Pine, Madison / Opening: Dec. 13
It’s hard to beat this early bird special: Anyone can ski all day for $4 on Thursday, Dec. 19, King Pine’s Founders Day.
Veterans plus active U.S. military personnel and their dependents can ski or ride free from Friday, Dec. 13, through Sunday, Dec. 22 (with military ID, tickets in person).
Starting in January, Tuesday night lift tickets (3:30-8 p.m.) cost $20 for all ages, except during February holiday weeks.
Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Nov. 29 to Dec. 2, you can buy three any day, any person lift tickets for $160.
McIntyre Ski Area, Manchester / Opening: Dec. 13
Ski or ride on Friday, Dec. 13, from 3 to 9 p.m. for $20 and on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14 and 15, for $25, from 9 a.m. to closing.
Regular prices for 2024-2025: full day weekend and holiday, $57 adults, $52 juniors; weekdays, $48 adults, $40 juniors. Seniors 65+ are free any day.
4-pack deals (4 any day tickets) available Nov. 29 through Dec. 24: $165 for adults, $156 for juniors. Snowtubing 4-packs: $105.
The One-Great-Rate package on Saturdays, which includes skiing, snowboarding, tubing, rentals, and lesson tips, starts at $58.
Cannon Mt., Franconia Notch State Park / Opening: Nov. 29
The state-owned ski resort has some serious bargains for New Hampshire residents.
If you’re 65 or older, with a N.H. driver’s license (utility and tax bills don’t count) and show proof at the ticket window, you can ski for free Monday through Friday. A midweek season pass for N.H. seniors costs $44.
Now through Dec. 14, N.H. residents only: Ages 30 to 64 pay $674 for a full season pass, 18 to 29 pay $461. Veterans 65+, with a military ID, $176. Active, former and retired military younger than 65: $299.
On Wednesdays, the day pass for N.H. residents age 13 to 64 is $54 if you buy online in advance, $74 the day you ski.
Through Nov. 30, a New Hampshire resident in college anywhere can buy the N.H. College Pass for $399, without blackout dates, good at Cannon, Gunstock, Waterville Valley and Cranmore. The price jumps to $449 on Dec.1.
Gunstock Mt. Resort, Gilford / Opening: Dec. 6
At Gunstock, owned by Belknap County, Belknap County residents pay $49 for a full-day ticket, Sunday through Friday.
Discounts for adults 60 to 69 who live anywhere: An any-day season pass for $695, no blackouts, and a midweek season pass (with blackouts) for $375.
A Winter Prime Pass with unlimited skiing for seniors 70+ costs $55. (You don’t have to live in Belknap County or even New Hampshire.)
Night skiing starts Dec. 13 and is on Fridays and Saturdays only, 3 to 9 pm: $69 for adults 30-59, $56 for young adults 18-29, and $52 for youth 6-17 and for seniors 60-69.
Ragged Mountain, Danbury / Tentative Opening: Dec. 6
4-packs of single-day lift tickets good for any day cost $259, now through Mon. Dec. 2.
Seniors 65 to 79 ski Monday through Thursday for $49 (online, in advance), $69 at the ticket window.
Season passes for college students and active duty military cost $399.
2024-2025 season passes for ages 6 to 79 cost $749, and include five complimentary non-holiday days at Vermont’s Jay Peak. Plus 50% off any day at Whaleback or Dartmouth Skiway, and 50% off midweek and 25% off on weekends at Pats Peak.
Pats Peak, Henniker / Tentative opening: Dec. 7
Pats Peak offers a $799 unlimited transferable season pass, one use per day, to share among employees, friends, family members, etc. — whoever you know who wants to ski that day.
Children 5 and under ski free Monday-Thursday, and for $20 on Fridays, weekends and holidays. A ticket just to the beginner lift and trail is free for anyone 6 and older, Monday-Thursday, non-holiday.
Lift tickets are sold for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 12:30 to 4 p.m., 12:30 p.m. to closing and 4 p.m. to closing, with prices ranging from $56 (juniors/seniors, midweek) to $99 (adults/weekend.) There’s a $3 discount for buying online.
Night skiing begins Dec. 26 — Monday-Thursday until 9 pm and Friday-Saturday until 10 pm.
Loon Mountain, Lincoln / Target opening: Nov. 30
Here’s a special deal for late risers and people who like to ski or ride in the afternoon: Tickets priced by the hour you start, from noon to 3 p.m., any day.
January through March, adults 19 to 64 who ski or ride from 1 to 4 p.m. can pay from $73 midweek to $102 on weekends. Seniors 65 to 79, during the same hours: $59 midweek to $80 weekends. In November and December, after-work skiers who want just a couple of runs can pay $17 to ski from 3 to 4 pm.
A Bronze New England Pass (full season) costs $749, ages 6 to 79, and is valid Monday-Friday at Loon, Sunday River and Sugarloaf.
Bretton Woods Ski Resort, Bretton Woods / Open now
Large ski area, large bargains:
Lift tickets for seniors age 65-79, Monday through Thursday, non-holiday, December through March cost $40 online, $45 in person.
A Sunday afternoon lift ticket (12 to 4 p.m.) for New Hampshire residents who live in Coos, Carroll, Grafton or Belknap counties costs $42 online, $49 in person. (N.H. driver license or car registration required).
A midweek Monday through Friday, non-holiday season pass at Bretton Woods runs $559 for ages 5 to 79. The Sun and Snow Pass includes Bretton Woods and Cranmore, Sunday through Friday, non-holidays, goes for $789 for ages 5 to 79.
Waterville Valley Ski Area, Waterville Valley / Opening: Nov. 30
Waterville lift tickets for ages 18 to 79 start at $74 a day from Saturday, Nov. 30 to Dec. 13.
Half-day tickets during the season, 12:30 to 4 p.m., cost $10 less than the full-day price, which is $139 for adults midweek.
A season pass for an adult 18 and up sells for $1,396 this year, but it includes a free junior season pass for one child age 6 to 12. Seniors 65-79 pay $876 for the season. Active duty military pay $609.
Cranmore Mountain Resort, North Conway
Cranmore is offering a limited number of $59 lift tickets on Sunday, Jan. 12, Feb. 9, and March 16 to folks who buy in advance.