Cranmore Mountain Resort
4.4(1.5K)google
3.4(136)yelp
SkiingKidsWinter SnowOutdoorThrillingMountainSports
Overview
Cranmore Mountain Resort, operating in the summer with a Mountain Adventure Park, is a ski area located in North Conway, New Hampshire, United States. It began operations in the winter of 1937–38, and was owned until 1984 by the Schneider family. During the late 1980s and 1990s, ownership of the resort changed hands several times; it is now owned by a group of New England businessmen and is undergoing several years of expansion and modernization.
Practical Info
Mon10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tue10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wed10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thu10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
FriClosed
Sat10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sun10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration4-8 hours
Best TimeDecember through March offers peak winter ski conditions, while summer features an outdoor mountain adventure park. The premier hour is catching the scenic summit chairlift in the late afternoon between 2:30 PM and sunset; low evening sun paints the entire facing Presidential Mountain Range and Saco River valley below in gorgeous gold shades, perfect for après-ski photography.
Getting ThereLocated just east of downtown North Conway at 1 Skimobile Road. Driving is effortless: off the main resort strip NH-16 N in North Conway, turn right east onto Kearsarge Street at Schouler Park. Follow the roadway uphill for exactly 1 mile straight into the mountain base terminal lodge. Features an immense, complimentary paved open-air surface parking plaza steps from the lifts.
Travel Tips
- The mountain coaster and zip lines enforce uncompromising height and weight safety bars; measure children at front scales before purchasing access passes.
- Peak winter ski mornings paralyze the resort artery routes; the rental chalet drop-off loop initiates flow gates after 08:15, making town shuttles faster.
- Lift ticketing utilizes dynamic scaling online; walk-up window rates carry a 30% surcharge, and upper-mountain chairlifts halt instantly during high ridge winds.
Reviews
Positive
- An excellent family ski resort in New England! Snow trails are smartly planned, with magic carpets perfectly tailored for beginners and kids.
- The summer mountain adventure transformation is brilliant; the mountain coaster and giant swings offer adrenaline-pumping, year-round fun.
- Lift operations are highly efficient; even on busy winter weekends, lines move fast, maximizing your active slope time.
- The mountaintop Meister Hut offers sweeping panoramic views; eating warm waffles inside while gazing at Mt. Washington is a premium treat.
Heads up
- Lift tickets and summer wristbands are skyrocketing; when combined with gear rentals, per-person costs are steep, reducing overall value.
- By late winter afternoons, popular beginner trails get scraped clean due to heavy traffic, exposing hard sheets of ice that cause severe slips.
- Locker counts at the base lodge are low and pricey; the dining hall gets chaotic during lunchtime, making finding a table a massive hassle.
- Nearby lodges mark up prices aggressively in season; dining options are commercialized, offering small-portioned, basic pub food.