Loon Mountain
4.6(4.6K)google
3.4(156)yelp
HikingSkiingFamilyFall FoliageWinter SnowOutdoorThrillingMountainForestSports
Overview
Loon Mountain is a mountain in Lincoln and Livermore, New Hampshire, in Grafton County. It is in the White Mountain National Forest. The 3,065-foot (934 m) mountain is known for Loon Mountain Ski Resort, which, like most New England mountain resorts, has expanded into an all-season recreation area.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration5-12 hours
Best TimeEarly October foliage is the crown jewel era (Note: You must reserve your scenic gondola skyride tickets online days in advance). Board the quad-gondola at 8:30 AM opening to watch the mountain pass mist clear from the 2,700-foot alpine peak; horizontal sunrise beams coat the vast valley foliage in a sea of pure crimson.
Getting ThereLocated in Lincoln at 60 Loon Mountain Road. Drive from I-93 take Exit 32, follow the scenic highway NH-112 E east into the mountains for 3 miles, and turn left across the river onto Loon Mountain Road. The ski resort terminal provides thousands of free paved surface parking spaces right at the gondola base.
Travel Tips
- Gondola tickets utilize dynamic online pricing; ticket windows levy high surcharges and face frequent sellouts, making advance digital booking vital.
- The Glacial Caves network features slippery, tight granite crevices; sneakers or sandals are banned, requiring technical deep-lug trail footwear.
- The bike park enforces strict safety mandates; riders without certified full-face helmets and mountain-specific protective gear are barred from lifts.
Reviews
Positive
- A premier all-season resort in the White Mountains! Winter ski slopes are perfectly groomed, and the high-speed gondola is highly efficient.
- Autumn gondola rides to the summit yield staggering foliage views; the peak features excellent glacial caves to explore.
- The summer mountain biking transformation is elite; downhill singletracks of all difficulty levels keep outdoor adrenaline seekers coming back.
- The base lodge infrastructure is comprehensive with plenty of pristine restrooms and multiple high-quality slopeside restaurants and cafes.
Heads up
- Pricing is staggeringly high; winter lift tickets, summer activity wristbands, and gear rentals spike yearly, straining family budgets.
- During peak winter weekends, core lift lines exceed 30 minutes, and beginner bunny slopes get scraped down to sketchy, rock-hard sheets of ice.
- While parking is vast, distant auxiliary lots require shuttle buses; peak shuttle queues get long and chaotic for families hauling heavy gear.
- The summit cafe gets hopelessly packed at lunch, and the basic fast food carries a steep markup with mediocre amusement-park taste.