Cannon is a properly challenging mountain with a wide spread of terrain. The runs cover a full range, from broad, rolling cruisers to narrow trails threading through the trees and on to steep, technical pitches and glades that have tested skiers for years. Trails here are cut to follow the natural shape of the granite mountain rather than graded smooth, which gives the skiing a characterful, hand-built feel. Its north-facing aspect and high, exposed summit help keep snow in good condition, and the upper mountain holds onto cold, wintry weather that keeps the surface fresh.

Getting around the mountain is easy enough. The summit is served by the Cannonball Express, a high-speed quad, while Peabody Express and several fixed-grip chairs open up the rest of the mountain. Cannon's signature lift, and a piece of skiing history, is its aerial tramway, the first ever built in North America. The mountain’s compact layout lets you work through a full range of terrain in a day without long traverses, and the longest run carries you 3.7km from top to base. Beyond the main face, the connected Mittersill area adds ungroomed glades and quiet trails for strong skiers willing to seek them out.

Important for international visitors: North American resorts grade their runs differently from Europe, which is worth getting straight before you set off. Green circles are the easiest beginner runs, much like European greens. Blue squares are intermediate, though they cover a wider range than European blues, and some ski closer to a European red. Black diamonds are advanced and steep, and double black diamonds are expert only. Cannon grades its trails relative to its own terrain, which runs steep, so it's worth treating a new black or double-black with respect until you've got the measure of the run.

Skiing for beginners in Cannon Mountain

Cannon leans towards intermediate and advanced skiing, so its beginner terrain is fairly limited, but there's a proper place to learn. The Tuckerbrook area at the base is the mountain's dedicated learning zone, with its own chairlifts and a set of gentle green runs that are well graded for finding your feet at your own pace.

Once you've found your balance, you can move on to a handful of longer green runs higher up the mountain, winding through birch and spruce forest with the views opening up as you climb. It's a satisfying first taste of the wider mountain, and a natural step up before you start looking at blues.

WeSki insider tip: When you've outgrown the Tuckerbrook lifts, the Eagle Cliff Triple from the Peabody base opens up Cannon's longest green runs, Lower Cannon, Parkway, Gremlin, and Turnpike. Linking them gives you a long, continuous descent to build on before you move up to steeper terrain.

Intermediate skiing in Cannon Mountain

Intermediates have the run of the mountain at Cannon, with more than 50 blue runs ranging from wide, well-groomed cruisers to narrow trails winding through the forest. The best of them sit high on the mountain, with Vista Way, the Ravine trails, and Middle Cannon rolling down from the summit through the trees at a steady, satisfying pitch. Lower down, Rocket and Gary's give you some of the most enjoyable cruising on the hill. Cannon's blues do tend to ski a little firmer and steeper than the grade might suggest, so even confident intermediates will get their technique working.

When you reach the summit, you’ll see what makes Cannon stand out for intermediates. From up top, you can link blue runs all the way to the base for a continuous descent of around 664m, with long views over the notch on the way down. The skiing here rewards adaptability, too. North-facing trails hold their snow well while the more exposed runs firm up over the course of the day, so you get a real feel for reading the mountain and adjusting as you go.

WeSki insider tip: Use the Cannonball Express quad to lap the summit blues. It gets you back to the top quickly so you can run the same trails continuously. It's also the easiest way to keep returning to Ravine, which is a long, flowing blue run that’s best taken from top to bottom down the full height of the mountain.

Advanced and expert skiing in Cannon Mountain

Cannon's reputation among serious East Coast skiers rests on its expert terrain, and it's well earned. The front face has sustained black-diamond pitches, narrow trails cut through dense forest, and moguls that build to a real size as the season goes on. Its Front Five runs, among them Avalanche, Paulie's Folly, and Zoomer, drop in a direct fall line towards the base, while Profile and Skylight come off the summit with long views to match the gradient. The signature run is DJ's Tramline, a steep, boulder-strewn line beneath the old tram cables and often called the toughest trail in the East, though it only opens after a proper dump of natural snow. Cannon's exposed setting and firm, fast conditions are part of the test, and skiing it well takes real commitment.

Cannon also has some excellent lift-served glade skiing. The tree runs are thinned to leave natural lines through the forest, giving them a backcountry character within the resort boundary. Kinsman Glade is the one to know, among the longest gladed runs in the East, dropping steeply through the woods beside DJ's Tramline. Over on Cannon's north side, the historic Mittersill area has an old-school feel, with minimal grooming and lift-accessed terrain that you reach by chair but that skis like true backcountry. Its steep, sweeping Baron's Run sits alongside ungroomed glades and mogul lines for skiers who like to explore.

WeSki insider tip: To reach Mittersill from the main mountain, take Taft Slalom along the ridge from the summit. A short hike at the end drops you straight into Mittersill's glades and ungroomed runs, and saves the longer loop down and back up via the Tuckerbrook quad.

Snowboarding in Cannon Mountain

Cannon is, at heart, a skiers' mountain, and its snowboarding scene is smaller than its skiing one. That said, it's a rewarding place to ride for anyone who likes natural terrain. Long tree runs, steep black-diamond pitches, and gladed lines all reward a confident rider, and the snow conditions shift across the day to keep things varied.

One thing worth knowing is that some of the narrow, flat connecting trails can leave you unclipping and pushing, which comes with riding an older New England mountain. For freestyle, Cannon runs three terrain parks set up as a progression. Huckerbrook, in the Tuckerbrook area, has the smallest features for first attempts; Parkway steps things up with small-to-medium jumps and rails that flow top to bottom; and Tossup holds the biggest kickers and a rail garden for experienced riders.

Off-piste skiing

Cannon's glades are the main off-piste draw, and for many regulars the tree runs between the marked trails are where the best skiing of the day happens. Several designated tree-skiing areas offer natural lines through the forest, rewarding skiers who like to pick their own way down. Mittersill adds to this with ungroomed trails that have a real backcountry character, variable snow, natural features, and a wild, remote feel that keeps experienced skiers coming back. Beyond the resort boundary, the wider White Mountains open up touring for those with the right equipment and avalanche awareness, though conditions in the region can be firm and change quickly, so it pays to go prepared.

Cannon Mountain ski school and lessons

The Cannon Mountain Snowsports School runs group and private lessons for all abilities, from complete first-timers in the Tuckerbrook learning area to advanced skiers refining their technique on the upper mountain. It's a PSIA/AASI-certified school, and private lessons can be tailored to your goals, whether you want to get moving for the first time or work on bumps and glades.

There's a good range of adult instruction beyond the standard lessons. First-time group clinics give beginners a structured, low-pressure start, while seasonal adult programmes, including dedicated women's-only and men's-only groups, run roughly every fortnight from January to early March for intermediate and advanced skiers who want to sharpen their technique. Cannon also offers adaptive lessons through a partnership with Adaptive Sports Partners, with specialist instructors and equipment for skiers and riders with disabilities. Booking ahead is worth doing for weekend and holiday-period lessons.

Cannon Mountain terrain parks

Cannon's terrain parks work best as part of a day of all-mountain skiing, somewhere to drop into a few features between runs as you explore the rest of the hill. Three parks form a progression, from small jumps and rails for first attempts, through mid-sized features, up to large kickers and rail garden on Tossup for more experienced freestylers. The features are reshaped through the season as conditions allow.

Where Cannon really comes into its own for freestyle, though, is its natural terrain. Drops, rollers, and tree hits are scattered across the trail network, so a confident rider can find side hits and playful lines almost anywhere on the mountain. That fits the way most people ride here, weaving freestyle into a full day on the hill.

1. Cannon Mountain Family ski holiday
2. Things to do in Cannon Mountain
3. Planning your trip in Cannon Mountain
4. How to get to Cannon Mountain
5. Cannon Mountain FAQs

Cannon Mountain family ski holiday

Cannon makes an easy, enjoyable mountain for a family holiday. Its manageable size is a big part of the appeal, with a layout that's simple to get around, so you can regroup easily through the day and let more confident children explore while you ski elsewhere on the hill. Families tend to base themselves in the nearby towns of Franconia and Lincoln, where the lodging runs from friendly motels and inns to rental condos well used to hosting ski families. The atmosphere is relaxed and down-to-earth, and the setting in Franconia Notch, ringed by forest and high peaks, gives the week a memorable backdrop. With terrain for every level and a dedicated learning area at the base, there's something for everyone, whether you ski together or split off by ability.

The Tuckerbrook area at the base gives younger children and first-timers their own space to learn, and it connects directly to the main base, so handing over to a lesson and meeting back up is straightforward. Cannon runs well-structured, welcoming children's programmes, so you can head to the upper mountain knowing they're in good hands. Children and teenagers who already have some experience will find plenty to stretch them on the blue and black trails, and its natural tree skiing adds a sense of adventure that children love once they've found their confidence.

There's plenty for families to do off the slopes too. Right at the base, the New England Ski Museum is a lovely, low-key stop, with exhibits on the history of the sport and Bode Miller's Olympic medals on display (and it's free to visit). Franconia Notch's recreation trail runs through the valley for easygoing snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, and you'll find ice skating and horse-drawn sleigh rides in the area too. Cannon's aerial tramway is an experience in its own right, carrying non-skiers up to the summit for long views over the notch. For meals, the base lodge has straightforward cafeteria dining on the mountain, while the nearby towns add a good range of family-friendly restaurants.

Things to do in Cannon Mountain

Cannon Mountain sits inside Franconia Notch State Park, and that setting is half the appeal. The glacial valleys, frozen waterfalls and snow-covered peaks that make this one of New England's most striking corners also lace the area with trails to snowshoe, ridges to hike and quiet woods to ski through at your own pace. Add the small-town character of nearby Franconia and Lincoln, where breweries, museums and heritage sites cluster within easy reach, and the days off the slopes fill themselves. Here are some of our favourite ways to spend them.

Snow activities

• Snowshoeing in Franconia Notch: The state park's trails wind through hushed, snow-covered forest with the Franconia Range rising on either side. It's the gentlest way to get deep into the Notch on foot.
• Cross-country skiing: Groomed trails for classic and skate skiing thread the meadows and woods around Franconia, with the Franconia Inn's network the main local hub.
• Scenic viewpoint hikes: For big views without clipping into skis, the short but steepish climb to Artist's Bluff and Bald Mountain opens up the whole sweep of Franconia Notch with Echo Lake below.
• Ice skating: Seasonal outdoor rinks around Lincoln make for an easy, low-key afternoon on the ice.
• Tubing: There's a popular tubing park a short drive south in Lincoln, with lanes for all ages and a lift to spare you the climb back up.
• Winter hiking: Lower-elevation trails around the Notch, including stretches of the Appalachian Trail, stay walkable with proper winter footwear and traction.
• Frozen waterfall viewing: Over winter the Notch's waterfalls set into pale columns and sheets of ice, a quiet kind of spectacle along the roadsides and trails.
• Ice Castles (North Woodstock): A hand-built world of ice towers, tunnels, slides and LED-lit caverns just down the road, glowing after dark. It runs on a short winter season that shifts with the cold each year, so check current dates before planning around it.
• Horse-drawn sleigh rides: A classic Notch outing, gliding through snowy meadows under blankets with the mountains all around. The Franconia Inn is the usual starting point.

Non-snow activities

• Local history and heritage: The region wears its early-American past openly, in white-steepled villages and small museums scattered across Franconia, Sugar Hill and Littleton.
• New England Ski Museum (Franconia): Right by the Cannon base, this free little museum traces the roots of New England skiing through old gear, photographs and film. A warm, characterful stop on a cold afternoon.
• North Conway day trip: About an hour east, North Conway makes a full day off the mountain, pairing outlet shopping and a good spread of restaurants with the Conway Scenic Railroad, whose Snow Train and Winter Mountaineer run on select winter weekends and holidays.
• Spa and wellness: Several hotels around Lincoln and Franconia open their spas, pools and saunas to visitors, ideal for easing tired legs after a few days on snow.
• Covered bridges: New Hampshire has dozens of historic covered bridges, several within a short drive of the Notch and especially photogenic under snow.
• Local craft breweries: The White Mountains' craft beer scene keeps growing, with welcoming taprooms in Lincoln, Franconia and Littleton to settle into after a day out.
• Maple sugaring: Late winter is sugaring season, when local sugarhouses fire up and the sap starts to run. Producers like Fadden's in North Woodstock, making syrup since the 1800s, open up for tastings and a look at how it's done.

Cannon Mountain restaurants

The food around Cannon is hearty, seasonal, and unfussy, the kind of cooking the White Mountains do well. On the mountain itself, the base lodge cafeteria covers the essentials, but the standout spots are in the nearby towns of Franconia, Lincoln, and Littleton, all within about 15 to 25 minutes. New Hampshire's larder shapes a lot of it, from local maple syrup and aged cheddar from nearby farms to big country breakfasts, alongside a strong craft-beer scene built on independent breweries. Expect generous portions, classic diners, and brewpubs over anything formal.

• The Woodstock Inn Station & Brewery (North Woodstock): A lively brewpub in a converted railway station, with craft ales and hearty American cooking.
• Schilling Beer Company (Littleton): A European-style brewery in a riverside former mill, known for its lagers, farmhouse ales, and wood-fired food.
• The Common Man (Lincoln): A New England favourite, known for generous comfort-food portions and a warm, welcoming dining room.
• Gordi's Fish & Steak House (Lincoln): A long-running local spot for steaks and seafood, and a good choice for a proper sit-down dinner.
• Gypsy Café (Lincoln):A lively, characterful place serving eclectic dishes drawn from around the world.
• Sunny Day Diner (Lincoln): A classic roadside diner doing big, satisfying breakfasts.

WeSki insider tip: Whatever else you eat, seek out the local maple syrup, ideally poured over pancakes or French toast at one of the area's diners. It's a New Hampshire staple, and the real thing is a world away from what comes in a bottle at home. Many country stores sell it by the jug, along with the region's aged cheddar, if you want to take a taste back with you.

Cannon Mountain après-ski

Après-ski at Cannon is relaxed and sociable, built around a good beer and hearty food after a day on the hill. It's a friendly, down-to-earth scene, the kind where skiers gather in a warm lodge or a local pub to wind down among the regulars. The natural first stop is the Cannonball Pub in the base lodge, where you can settle in with a cold drink and views across Franconia Notch once you're off the snow.

There are more options in the nearby towns. Lincoln has the liveliest evening scene, with a cluster of pubs, breweries, and restaurants, and basing yourself there means you can walk between most of them. Littleton, a little further north, is a charming small town with a good crop of breweries and an easygoing social scene. The simplest way to enjoy an evening out is to stay in Lincoln, where much of the scene is within walking distance, and for anywhere further afield, local taxi services cover the area.

Après-ski spots to know:

• Cannonball Pub (Cannon Mountain base lodge): The first stop after last chair, with a full bar, pub food, and views across Franconia Notch.
• The Woodstock Inn Station & Brewery (North Woodstock): Craft ales brewed on site in a converted railway station, with live music at weekends.
• Schilling Beer Company (Littleton): An atmospheric former mill turning out European-style beers, with a wood-fired menu and a fireplace to settle in beside.
• The Black Mountain Burger Co. (Lincoln): A casual, relaxed spot for burgers, wings, and local beers.
• Seven Birches Winery (Lincoln): A New Hampshire winery at the RiverWalk Resort, pouring its own wines and ciders, an easy change of pace from the beer scene.

Planning your trip to Cannon Mountain

Cannon Mountain accommodation

Cannon doesn't have a slopeside village or a hotel at its base, so most visitors stay in the surrounding towns and villages, each with its own feel. Franconia is the closest, a few minutes from the base, with characterful inns, B&Bs, and small hotels that have a classic New England warmth to them. About fifteen minutes south, Lincoln and neighbouring North Woodstock have the widest choice, from motels and condominium resorts with pools and fireplaces to self-catering rental homes and cabins with room for groups. Closest of all to the snow is the Mittersill Alpine Village, a small cluster of Austrian-styled condos and rooms beside the Mittersill lift, a nod to the area's Tyrolean roots.

Where you base yourself shapes the trip. Lincoln is the liveliest of the towns, with a walkable Main Street of shops, restaurants, and bars, plenty for families to do off the snow, and easy reach of both Cannon and nearby Loon. Franconia is quieter and more scenic, the closest to the mountain and to the natural sights of the notch, and a relaxed place to base yourself. Most places sit along Route 3 or Route 112, an easy drive to the mountain. There's no public ski shuttle, so a car is the most practical way to get around, though some accommodations run their own shuttles to Cannon, worth checking when you book.

Cannon Mountain ski pass

Cannon keeps its lift tickets simple. A single ticket covers the whole mountain, every lift across both the main Cannon trails and the connected Mittersill terrain, so there's nothing extra to buy to ski the full area. You can choose single-day or afternoon tickets, with multi-day options for longer stays, and season passes for anyone planning to ski Cannon regularly through the winter.

When you book your Cannon ski holiday through WeSki, we can help you find the lift ticket or pass that best fits your trip.

Equipment hire

Cannon Mountain's rental shop operates from the Peabody Base Lodge, with ski and snowboard packages for adults and children on a fleet of current-season Head skis and Rossignol boards. The gear is safety-checked and tuned daily, and the staff are used to fitting skiers and riders of every level. Booking online ahead of your visit is worth doing, especially over holidays and weekends, so your kit is ready when you arrive. There are also several well-established independent shops in nearby Lincoln, including Lahout's, America's oldest ski shop, where you can hire equipment and, handily, collect it the evening before so you're set for an early start.

Getting around Cannon Mountain

Cannon's layout is compact, with the main base area and Peabody Lodge acting as the central hub. From there you can reach every lift and trail on skis, and because the Mittersill terrain links back to the main mountain on snow, you can ski between the two areas without any shuttle. Around the base itself, everything is close together and easy to cover on foot.

Off the mountain, a car is the most practical way to get around, since the towns are spread out and there's no public ski shuttle linking the resort to Franconia, Lincoln, or beyond. The driving is easy, though: Lincoln is about fifteen minutes away and Franconia just five, the roads are kept clear through the winter, and traffic is light enough that journeys are rarely a hassle. It's still worth having winter tyres or carrying chains for the occasional storm. If you'd rather not drive, you have a few options: some accommodations run their own shuttles to the mountain, local taxi firms cover the area, and Concord Coach Lines runs a daily intercity bus that stops in both Lincoln and Franconia, with connections through to Boston and Logan Airport.

How to get to Cannon Mountain

Cannon Mountain sits in Franconia Notch, in the White Mountains of northern New Hampshire. The two nearest airports are Manchester-Boston Regional, around 130km (80 miles) south and about an hour and twenty minutes by road, and Boston Logan International, around 230km (145 miles) south and roughly two and a half hours away. Both handle flights from abroad, with Boston Logan offering the widest choice of direct transatlantic services, making it the usual gateway for international visitors. The drive north follows Interstate 93 the whole way, a straightforward, well-signed run through the New Hampshire countryside, with no mountain passes to negotiate even in winter.

WeSki offers car hire from the airport as well as private transfers to Cannon Mountain. Add them to your Cannon ski holiday package for door-to-door travel.

Cannon Mountain FAQs

Is Cannon Mountain good for beginners?

Cannon has a dedicated beginner area at Tuckerbrook, with gentle green runs and its own chairlift, and the ski school is well used to teaching first-timers, so it's a sound place to learn the basics. That said, most of Cannon's terrain is intermediate to advanced, so the mountain suits beginners who are keen to keep progressing onto steeper runs as the week goes on. Anyone wanting a wide spread of easy terrain to build on at a very gentle pace will find the beginner network here on the limited side.

How does Cannon Mountain compare to other New Hampshire ski resorts?

Cannon stands out for its challenging terrain and its historic, no-frills character. It skis steeper and more demanding than nearby Loon Mountain and Bretton Woods, with a rawer, less manicured feel that experienced skiers tend to love, while Loon and Bretton Woods have broader beginner and intermediate networks and more developed base villages. Cannon's Mittersill area also gives it a lift-served backcountry dimension that sets it apart in New England.

What are snow conditions like at Cannon Mountain?

Cannon sits at a relatively high elevation for New England, with its summit at 1,244m and a north-facing aspect that helps hold the snow. It gets a decent annual snowfall, backed up by extensive snowmaking across much of the mountain. Conditions can vary, with the exposed upper runs firming up and catching the wind at times, which comes with skiing a high, open New England peak, while fresh snowfall brings the glades and natural-snow trails to life. The season usually runs from late November to mid-April.

What is the aerial tramway at Cannon Mountain?

Cannon's aerial tramway holds a special place in skiing history. When it opened in 1938 it was the first aerial passenger tramway in North America, and it became the mountain's signature feature, carrying skiers and sightseers to the summit in two large cabins. The current tram is now being replaced, with a new tramway due to take its place over the next couple of years, so it isn't running in the meantime, and it's worth checking its status when you plan your trip. Even so, the tramway remains a defining part of Cannon's story and its identity as one of North America's pioneering ski mountains.

How does the North American trail rating system work?

North American resorts grade their runs differently from Europe. Green circles are beginner runs, much like European greens. Blue squares are intermediate but span a wide range, from gentle cruisers to runs that ski a good deal harder, with some closer to a European red. Black diamonds are advanced, steep and demanding. Double black diamonds, where a resort uses them, are expert-only terrain with the steepest pitches, bumps, or drops. There's no direct European red equivalent, so confident intermediates should expect some blue squares to feel testing. At Cannon, the toughest runs are graded single black and skied to the mountain's own steep standard.

Is Cannon Mountain suitable for a family ski holiday?

Cannon is a good choice for families, especially those with a mix of abilities. The dedicated beginner area at Tuckerbrook works well for younger children and first-timers, while children and teenagers who already have some experience will enjoy the range of blue and black trails. There's no slopeside village, so a car is the easiest way to get around, though some accommodations run shuttles and an intercity bus serves the area. Nearby Lincoln and Franconia have plenty of family-friendly places to stay and eat, along with activities for days off the snow.

What is Mittersill at Cannon Mountain?

Mittersill is a historic ski area on Cannon's north side, dating back to the 1940s and now part of Cannon's lift ticket, reached on snow from the main mountain. Its terrain is narrow and often ungroomed, with a wild, old-school character, steeper and more natural than the main face. Experienced skiers love it for that throwback feel and the lift-served backcountry skiing. The name reflects the area's Austrian roots, founded by an Austrian baron, adding another thread to Cannon's skiing heritage.