Portsmouth is on the New Hampshire coast, approximately 60 miles north of Boston. The town was originally settled around 1623 and became a major trading center, due to its deep-water port. While there are no ski areas in Portsmouth, numerous ski areas are nearby; the closest ski area is 40 miles away. Although New Hampshire is a small state, it has 18 downhill ski areas and hundreds of miles of cross country skiing trails.
This ski area is approximately 40 miles west of Portsmouth in Manchester, New Hampshire. McIntyre is a small ski area located in a residential neighborhood and focuses on novice skiing. Of the area’s nine trails, 75 percent are slated for beginners.
The area has 35 skiable acres with a vertical drop of almost 200 feet. Night skiing, tubing and snowboarding are permitted at the facility. McIntyre is also constructing a new lodge with more space for food service, rental equipment and the ski school. In addition to traditional lift tickets, the ski area offers a unique program called Skitubenboard, which is a mishmash of skiing, snowboarding and tubing, and includes rental equipment if needed.
This resort is 50 miles northwest of Portsmouth in Gilford, New Hampshire. According to the resort’s website, it is the closest major ski resort to Boston. Most of the 55 trails at this resort overlook Lake Winnipesaukee. The vertical drop is 1,400 feet with 227 skiable downhill acres. The Nordic center has more than 50km of groomed cross country trails and includes one SkiJoring trail, where dogs are welcome.
On-site dining options consist of four pubs and restaurants: Cobble Mountain Food Court, Powder Keg Bar and Grill, Pistol Pub and the Stockade Lodge. The Stockade Lodge is located on the slopes, and the others are in the main lodge.
Pats Peak is about 70 miles west of Portsmouth in Henniker, New Hampshire. The ski area has 100 percent snowmaking coverage on its 22 trails. The area’s vertical drop is 710 feet and the longest run is 1.5 miles. Half the trails are suited for beginners, with a nearly even breakdown of the remaining trails between intermediate, advanced and expert.
Three terrain parks provide interest for skiers and snowboarders. The lodge has three dining options, a cafeteria, sandwich shop and pub. Additionally, the area has a snow sports school, rental equipment office and a racing team.
