Where to Ski Near Boston

Going stir-crazy with the winter cold weather? Why not take an impromptu ski or snowboard trip up to one of the closest mountains to Boston? I’ll tell you where to ski near Boston–two of my favorite mountains that you can take an easy day-trip to.

Where to Ski Near Boston: Loon Mountain

Loon Mountain is approximately 135 miles north of Boston, so while it’s not the actual closest mountain to Boston, it definitely rewards you for driving a few extra miles. The payoff comes in the form of the sheer number of trails (61), lifts (12) and acreage (370). Unlike the closest mountain to Boston (Wachusett), Loon Mountain can feel downright empty at times, with skiers and snowboarders spread out over the three peaks.

Tip: Visit the weekend before or after a long-weekend (like the one in-between New Year’s Eve and Martin Luther King Day) for even less crowds.

Loon does a fantastic job with snowmaking and grooming—they have over 650 new super-efficient, low-energy snow guns that produce fake snow that’s basically indistinguishable from the real stuff.

A photo posted by Caroline Morse (@travelwithcaroline) on Jan 7, 2017 at 2:59pm PST

You can save money by buying your lift ticket online ahead of time, as this is always a better deal than getting a walk-up ticket.

Since Loon is one of the closest mountains to Boston, you can easily do a day trip here, with an quick drive up and back (about 2.5 hours). Staying overnight won’t break the bank, either–there are ski and stay packages available for as low as $99 per person. If you do choose to spend the night, I recommend booking a suite at the brand-new River Walk Resort. The suites have fully-equipped kitchens, so you can cook a meal or two (to save money and calories), plus there is a complimentary shuttle to and from the mountain, so you don’t have to worry about fighting for parking.

Where to Ski Near Boston: Cannon Mountain

Cannon Mountain is conveniently located off of I-93, and will take you about 2.5 hours to get to from Boston (assuming traffic is on your side). This season, Cannon upped their overall snowmaking capacity by an impressive 50 percent (thanks to over 440 new snow guns), so you can expect a good chunk (if not all) of their 95 trails to be open, no matter what the weather.

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Got some non-skiers in the group? They can ride up the mega-80-passenger aerial tramway with you to the top of the mountain, where they can take in the view while sipping a beer or hot drink at Cafe 4,080, a restaurant at the summit that boasts the highest taps in New England. They can also spend some time in the cool (and free) New England Ski Museum, which is located at the base of the tramway.

Meanwhile, skiers and boarders can play on the 24 miles of trails that Cannon has to offer. One of the best things about this mountain is that there are some seriously long runs, with the longest clocking in at 2.3 miles. Although Cannon is known for its challenging trails (52 percent are intermediate and 33 percent are expert), there are still plenty of tracks for beginners to learn on.

A photo posted by Caroline Morse (@travelwithcaroline) on Jan 8, 2017 at 11:59am PST

Cannon is also one of the closest mountains to Boston, so if you want to ski near Boston and go home the same day, you definitely can.

If you’re tempted to make a weekend out of it, you should stay at the Woodstock Inn, Station and Brewery, which has everything you need in one spot: there’s a comfortable and cozy inn for sleeping, a brewery for sampling, and a lively restaurant and bar that serves as the local hangout spot on weekend nights.

More from SmarterTravel:

• Boston Travel Guide
• 10 Best Hotels in Boston
• 10 Best Cheap Hotels in Boston
• 10 Great Hotels Near Fenway Park in Boston
• 10 Fun Things to Do in Boston
• 10 Must-See Boston Attractions
• 10 Best Day Trips from Boston
• 10 Best Cheap Eats in Boston
• 9 Best Italian Restaurants in Boston
• The 10 Best Boston Food Trucks
• What to Wear in Boston
• What to Pack for Boston

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Caroline Morse was hosted by the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development on her trip to New Hampshire.  Follow her on Instagram TravelWithCaroline and on Twitter @CarolineMorse1 for photos from the slopes.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2017. It has been updated to reflect the most current information.