Winter Sports for Guests of Loon Mountain Vacation Rentals

Vacationers staying in Loon Mountain lodging can enjoy a variety of winter sports at the Loon Mountain Resort, including downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, tubing, snowshoeing, and ice skating.

The Loon Mountain ski resort boasts 45 downhill ski trails and five tree skiing areas. The trails are rated 20 percent Novice, 64 percent Intermediate, and 16 percent Expert. Ten lifts and a gondola provide uphill capacity of 11,865 skiers an hour. The trails at the Loon Mountain ski area total more than 19 miles and the longest trail is 2.5 miles.

Skiers who stay in a Loon Mountain rental can enjoy skiing on 275 skiable acres with 96 percent snowmaking coverage. The average annual snowfall on the mountain is 127 inches, and Loon Mountain has a 2,100-foot vertical drop from the 3,050-foot summit elevation. For a Loon Mountain ski report, call 603-745-8100; for resort information, call 603-745-8111.

Loon Mountain skiing is great fun for the entire family. The resort's ski and snowboard schools and children's camps make it easy for adults and children to learn to ski or improve their skills, and daycare is available for the little ones. Guests of Loon Mountain condo rentals can also enjoy unrestricted snowboarding and six terrain parks within the resort.

Snow tubing is great fun for all ages. Both lift-serviced and walk-up tubing are available near the Little Sister chairlift, and children under 8 years of age can tube in the Tot Tubing area at the base of Little Sister. Guests of condo rentals at Loon Mountain can enjoy snow tubing from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Tubes are rented by the hour, and the tubes are steerable and stoppable. Call 603-745-6281, extension 5509 for reservations. Tube rentals are $15 per hour or $9 per hour for children under 8 years of age.

The Loon Mountain ski resort offers 24 kilometers of groomed and tracked Nordic trails winding along the scenic Pemigewasset River. Nordic trail fees are $10 a day or $8 for afternoons only, plus ski rental.

Snowshoes are another great way to explore the cross-country trails at the Loon Mountain resort. Guests of Loon Mountain condos can stop by the Adventure Center for equipment rental and instruction. Snowshoe trail fees are $10 a day or $8 for afternoons only, plus snowshoe rental.

Guided tours of the summit are available for intermediate snowshoers on weekends and holidays. Summit tours include gondola access to the summit and two hours of wooded, off-piste snowshoeing for $45, including equipment. Guided tours of the base area are also offered on weekends and holidays. This two-hour tour, designed for beginners, allows guests of Loon Mountain rentals to explore the trails along the Pemigewasset River for $40, including equipment.

Loon Mountain's ice skating rink is open daily during the winter season, weather permitting. The fee for ice skating, including skate rentals, is $15 a day or $10 for the afternoon only.

Visitors staying in a Loon Mountain condo rental can also tackle the 25-foot indoor climbing wall, located in the Adventure Center. The climbing wall offers a variety of angles, pitches, and climbing routes for beginners and experienced climbers. The fee is $12 for three climbs and includes harnesses, ropes, and instruction.

Loon Mountain's ice skating rink and indoor climbing wall are open weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturdays and holiday weeks from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information, call 603-745-6281 ext. 5562.