Summer at the Mountain Resorts: Lifts, Trails and Lodging

The White Mountains ski resorts were built for winter, but several of them have learned to earn their keep in summer too. When the snow is gone, the same lifts that carry skiers can carry sightseers, and the slopes and base areas become starting points for ziplines, hikes and long mountain views. Early June is a good time to plan a mountain trip: the summer season is just getting started and the woods are fully green.

This guide to summer activities at White Mountains resorts covers which mountains run lifts and attractions in the warm months, what to expect from each, and where to stay nearby. Summer offerings at ski areas change from year to year, so always confirm on the resort's own website what is running before you drive up.

Bretton Woods: gondola rides and a canopy tour

Bretton Woods is the largest ski area in New Hampshire, on US 302 across from the Mount Washington Hotel, which owns it. Its terrain covers 464 acres next to the White Mountain National Forest, and its lift system includes a gondola.

In summer that gondola becomes one of the main attractions. The resort sells scenic gondola rides, a simple way to get high on the mountain without hiking.

The bigger adventure is the Bretton Woods Canopy Tour. The resort says it operates year round. The experience begins with a scenic gondola ride to the summit, then moves through a network of platforms connected by two sky bridges, three rappels and nine ziplines, including one over 830 feet long that sits about 165 feet above the forest floor.

It is a guided experience with real physical requirements. Participants check in at Guest Services in the Bretton Woods Base Lodge 30 minutes before their scheduled time, and everyone signs a waiver; guests under 18 need a waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian. The tour is designed for people of average mobility and strength in reasonably good health. It includes several short hikes on an unpaved path, so you need to be comfortable on uneven ground and a moderate downhill grade. Closed-toe shoes are required; sandals and flip-flops are not allowed.

Where to stay at Bretton Woods

The Omni Mount Washington Resort is the grand hotel across the road from the ski area, and it is one of the most famous buildings in New Hampshire. It was designed by Charles Alling Gifford, and in 1944 it hosted the Bretton Woods Conference, which established the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. It is a member of Historic Hotels of America, the program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The hotel sits at the northern end of Crawford Notch, about six miles east of Twin Mountain on US 302, in the town of Carroll. Staying here puts you within easy reach of the Bretton Woods gondola and canopy tour, Crawford Notch, and the base of the Mount Washington Cog Railway. Even if you are not staying overnight, the hotel's history makes it worth a stop.

For a more outdoorsy base, the AMC Highland Center is the Appalachian Mountain Club's lodge in Crawford Notch, on US 302. It is built on the site of the historic Crawford House hotel at the southern base of the Presidential Range, and it is open year round. Guests stay at the base of the Crawford Path, and the lodge runs a hiker shuttle to other White Mountain trailheads. It serves a full buffet breakfast and a home-cooked dinner, rents gear at no charge, and offers private rooms. Dogs are not allowed overnight.

Cannon Mountain: the aerial tram

Cannon Mountain is a state-owned ski area inside Franconia Notch State Park, and it has the only aerial tram in New Hampshire. It also has the largest vertical drop of any ski area in the state, 2,180 feet.

The tram has a long history. Cannon was the site of the first passenger aerial tramway in North America, built in 1938. That first tram carried more than 6.5 million passengers on its 2.1-mile route to near the summit before it was retired in 1980. The current tram, Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway II, was dedicated on May 24, 1980. The idea behind the original tram was to foster both skiing and summer tourism in the White Mountains, and the tram remains a summer draw today.

Franconia Notch is full of other things to do. The Flume Gorge, also in the park, is a self-guided walk of about two miles past granite walls rising about 90 feet, waterfalls and covered bridges, taking roughly an hour and a half. Echo Lake has a beach. Check the state park's site for current operations before you go.

Wildcat: a summer gondola in Pinkham Notch

Wildcat Mountain sits on NH 16 in Pinkham Notch, near Jackson, close to Mount Washington. It has the second largest vertical drop in the state, 2,112 feet.

Wildcat has worked to build up its summer and fall business. When it replaced its aging gondola with a high-speed chairlift, it designed the new lift to convert to a gondola during summer and fall, and the area has added a zip line served by a triple chairlift. A gondola ride here is an easy way to get a high view over Pinkham Notch.

Attitash: check before you go

Attitash Mountain Resort in Bartlett, on US 302, is one of the best-known ski areas in the Mount Washington Valley. It was built in 1938 by the WPA and spans two peaks, Attitash and Bear Peak, with 68 trails and a summit at 2,350 feet. Vail Resorts has operated it since 2019.

Attitash was once one of the state's busiest summer mountains, with alpine slides, a mountain coaster and a long zip line. Those summer activities have not run since 2019, as the resort has focused on winter improvements, and the former water slides were removed in 2022 to make way for a new lift. The resort has said new summer attractions are being discussed, but there is no confirmed plan. If you are visiting Bartlett this summer, check Attitash's own website for anything that is operating, and plan around the other resorts in this guide.

Waterville Valley: a year-round resort village

Waterville Valley Resort, in the White Mountain National Forest off Interstate 93, is a ski area set in a planned resort community. The village supports year-round recreation, including hiking, mountain biking, golf and tennis, plus indoor options such as bowling and an arcade. It suits families who want a self-contained base with plenty to do in one place.

Where to stay in Jackson

Jackson is the classic inn town of the Mount Washington Valley, close to both Wildcat and Attitash. Its landmarks include Jackson Falls and the Honeymoon covered bridge, built in 1876.

Christmas Farm Inn & Spa is a historic country inn on a 15-acre property in Jackson. Its restaurant serves seasonal New England food made with fresh, local ingredients, and it has an Aveda spa. It is a comfortable base for a summer week of hiking, scenic drives and mountain resort days, and a good place to come back to after a long day on the trails.

Planning tips

• Confirm what is running. Summer lift operations change from year to year. Check each resort's website before you go.
• Watch the weather. Mountain summits are cooler and windier than the valleys, and conditions can change fast. Bring a warm layer even in June.
• Book adventure activities ahead. Guided experiences such as the canopy tour run on scheduled times.
• Group by area. Bretton Woods, the Highland Center and the Cog base are all near Crawford Notch. Cannon and the Flume are in Franconia Notch. Wildcat, Jackson and Bartlett form a cluster in the Mount Washington Valley.

Frequently asked questions

Which White Mountains resorts run lifts in summer?

Bretton Woods sells scenic gondola rides, Cannon Mountain has its aerial tram, and Wildcat converts its lift to a gondola for summer and fall. Confirm current operations on each resort's site.

Is the Bretton Woods Canopy Tour open in summer?

Yes. Bretton Woods says the canopy tour operates year round.

Does Attitash have summer activities?

Its former summer attractions have not run since 2019. Check the resort's website for current information.

Where should I stay for a summer resort trip?

The Omni Mount Washington Resort and the AMC Highland Center put you close to Bretton Woods, while Jackson's inns, such as Christmas Farm Inn & Spa, are close to Wildcat and Attitash.

Sources

• Bretton Woods Canopy Tour: https://www.brettonwoods.com/experiences/winter-activities/canopy-tour
• Bretton Woods (scenic gondola, canopy tour): https://www.brettonwoods.com/
• Bretton Woods Mountain Resort, Wikipedia (464 acres, gondola, location): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bretton_Woods_Mountain_Resort
• Omni Mount Washington Resort, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Washington_Hotel
• AMC Highland Center: https://www.outdoors.org/destinations/new-hampshire/highland-center/
• Cannon Mountain Ski Area, Wikipedia (tram history, vertical): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannon_Mountain_Ski_Area
• Cannon Mountain and Franconia Notch (Flume Gorge, Echo Lake): https://www.cannonmt.com/
• Wildcat Mountain Ski Area, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildcat_Mountain_Ski_Area
• Attitash Mountain Resort, Wikipedia (history, terrain, summer operations): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attitash_Mountain_Resort
• Waterville Valley Resort, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterville_Valley_Resort
• Jackson, New Hampshire, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson,_New_Hampshire
• Christmas Farm Inn & Spa: https://christmasfarminn.com/