Loon Mountain - Mid-Week is Great, But Crowds Make Weekends Horrible
Written: Mar 01 '06 (Updated Nov 05 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: gondola ride, good snow conditions, variety of activities
Cons: crowds on weekends, expensive food in lodges
The Bottom Line: If you can swing a mid-week trip here, you'll be happy. Otherwise weekends mean overcrowding at this popular New Hampshire ski resort.
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| AliventiAsylum's Full Review: Loon |
In taking my kids skiing this winter we’ve been able to try a few new mountains. One of the places we’ve gone back to several times is Loon Mountain. They really enjoy going here to ski, and that is despite the huge crowds that surge in from Boston on weekends. We’ve managed to hit it a few times during the week and it’s much better then, but as the season wears on we’ve found the crowds thinning a bit. This hasn’t exactly been a stellar skiing season in New England.
LOCATION
Loon Mountain is located off of Interstate 93 at exit 32 in the small town of Lincoln, New Hampshire. It’s located right on Route 112, also knows as the Kancamagus Highway. It’s about a 2 ½ hour drive from Boston, and about 5 ½ from New York City. It’s one of the most easily accessible ski areas I’ve been to.
FACTS
Loon Mountain boasts 50 trails at the current time. I say that because there is a huge expansion planned on what they call the “South Peak Resort”. This is expected to almost double the number of trails at the mountain over the next few years.
This is good because these 50 trails are not nearly enough to handle the crowds. Because of it’s easy accessibility, Loon Mountain is an easy target for weekenders and day-trippers and the crowds - especially early in the season - can be a problem. We had snowboarders and skiers nearly plow into my daughter even on the green (beginner) terrain.
Most of the terrain at Loon Mountain is geared toward the intermediate skier. There are some terrific black diamond and double black diamond trails. The beginner slopes are great for the less confident skiers.
Ten lifts service Loon Mountain, including the gondola. This was a terrific novelty in the beginning of the season that lasted all the way through. Everyone really enjoyed being inside to go up to summit, elevation 3,050 feet. A couple of times the kids rode it up and down with my son, so it’s something nice to do.
There are five areas where trails go through the glades as well as five terrain parks. Night skiing is not available at Loon Mountain, so most days the last lift up is at 3:45.
Parking at Loon Mountain basically stinks unless you are there early or willing to fork over $20 for valet parking. On our last trip I had to park over the bridge at the “beach parking lot”. There are shuttles that make the rounds, but it’s hard to figure out what they actually service. I watched a shuttle marked Beach Parking Lot go right by me.
CONDITIONS
Most of the trails on Loon Mountain have a northern exposure. This means they don’t lose snow as fast during the day, even with mild weather. This can also mean it’s pretty cold while you’re skiing. Snowmaking can be done for nearly all of the trails, so even during an unusually mild winter like the one we’ve experienced this year, the trails tend to stay open.
We’ve experienced pretty good conditions. Some places near the top tend to get icy because of the winds, but it’s not bad overall. Every night the groomers are out on the mountain, going over a good portion of the terrain.
Although my daughters have skied black diamond trails at King Pine Ski Resort and Mount Cranmore, they find the trails at Loon Mountain to be more on the difficult side. Add to this the crowds that frequently occur, and it can be intimidating for some skiers who aren’t sure of themselves. That’s not saying they aren’t capable of riding the trails, it just can be intimidating when so many other people are flying down them.
The area which will eventually be between the “South Peak Resort” and the “North Peak” is called the Gov. Adams Base Lodge. This services the Learning Center where the ski lessons are held and where the beginner hill is. The is a really long hike from the gondola area located in the Octagon Base Lodge. In season, a steam train runs between the two. it’s a nice ride and fun for the kids. However, when the trains aren’t running, it’s hard for a group to be split up and for skiers to move back and forth between the terrain locations.
RATES
Our party all has what is knows as Threedom Passes which includes Loon Mountain, Mount Cranmore, and Waterville Valley ski areas. This is a great value for the season if you are going to be frequently skiing at any and all of these resorts. Purchasing these passes before November 1st usually means a nice sized discount as well.
Regular adult lift tickets will currently run you $65 on weekends, $58 during the week. As more consecutive days are purchased, the overall cost per day goes down. For a complete rate schedule, see http://www.loonmtn.com/info/winter/rates_tickets.asp
Adult group lessons are available at $35 each which is a decent price. There are introductory packages which are guaranteed to have you up and skiing on beginner terrain starting at $99 for the first day including lesson, lift ticket, and equipment rental.
Kids camps are also available beginning at age three through age 12 for skiers or snowboarders. Full day and half-day programs are available. Private lessons are also available.
MISCELLANEOUS
If you’re not into skiing or snowboarding, there’s still plenty to do at Loon Mountain. Snow tubing is available on a per hour basis. This can run into significant money - however, it is the only part of their mountain that’s open at night so at least there is some activity available. There are also snow skates, snow cycles, and snow scoots available for rental.
The Equestrian Center at Loon Mountain stays open in the winter as well, giving horseback rides on a leisurely winter walk along the Pemigewasset River. My daughter did it once and though she really longs for a faster ride through the woods and along the trails, she did enjoy this unique experience. Children must be at least 8 years old to ride.
Cross-Country skiing on a variety of trails is available at Loon Mountain. A total of 35 km of trails winds along the river and through the woods. At the Adventure Center you can rent equipment, if needed. Snow-shoeing, ice-skating and an indoor climbing wall are also here for those who get their activity somewhere other than the slopes.
The food in the lodges is decent, but expensive as is the case with most of the ski resorts we’ve visited. There are two lodges on the mountain - one at the summit and one at the base of the North Peak that are also great resting places and often less crowded than the two main base lodges.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Loon Mountain is a great place to go ---- except on weekends. The mountain is a favorite of those from Boston and Manchester and draws considerable crowds. There are many trailside condominiums which draw in vacationers, weekenders, and the second-home crowd, leading to the crowding conditions. Hopefully with the additional terrain opening over the next few years the situation will become alleviated somewhat. There are plenty of rentals available in the area, although the price gets a bit steep - often about $200 a night in season.
My family enjoys skiing here, if only for the unique experience of traveling up the mountain in the 4-person gondolas. The trails cover every ability. On weekdays when it’s less crowded, we’ve had pleasant experiences here. The staff has always been very helpful and considerate, even when it was just my kids wanting to take my son for a ride up and down in the gondola - over and over again.
Website: http://www.loonmtn.com
Contact information:
RR1, Box 41
Kancamagus Hwy.
Lincoln, NH 03251
603-745-8111
info@loonmtn.com
Other sites to see in New Hampshire:
Attitash Bear Peak Ski Resort ~ Bretton Woods Ski Resort ~ Canobie Lake Park ~ Cranmore Mountain Ski Resort ~ Franconia Notch State Park ~ Kancamagus Highway ~ King Pine Ski Resort ~ Madison Boulder Natural Area ~ Mount Washington Cog Railway ~ North Conway, NH ~ Polar Express Event ~ Shawnee Peak, Bridgeton ME ~ Six Gun City ~ Story Land ~ Whale's Tale Waterpark ~ White Lake State Park ~ White Mountain National Forest ~ Wildcat Mountain
Some places to stay in New Hampshire:
Attitash Mountain Village - Bartlett NH ~ Comfort Inn & Suites - North Conway NH ~ Hampton Inn - Concord/Bow NH ~ Yankee Clipper Motel
Places to eat in New Hampshire:
Bea's Cafe, Conway NH ~ Cafe Noche, Conway NH ~ Decades Steakhouse, North Conway NH ~ Delaney‘s Hole in the Wall, North Conway NH ~ Harts Turkey Farm, Meredith NH ~ May Kelly's Cottage, North Conway NH ~ Merlino's Steakhouse, North Conway NH ~ Moat Mountain Smokehouse, North Conway NH ~ Muddy Moose, North Conway NH ~ Peach's Restauran, North Conway NH ~ Red Parka Steakhouse & Pub, Glen NH ~ Yankee Smokehouse, West Ossipee NH
Books about the area:
Appalachian Mountain Club White Mountain Guide ~ 50 Hikes in the White Mountains
© 2006 Patti Aliventi
Recommended:
Yes
Level of Experience Needed: All
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Member: Patti Aliventi
Location: Mount Washington Valley, New Hampshire
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Now writing reviews to pay for the "out of network" costs of our health insurance...
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