Bretton Woods: Way Cooler Than Loon

It is rare these days that I get to visit a mountain that I have not skied. Somehow though, I have not managed to get to Bretton Woods. I had heard that it gets very crowded and the terrain is not very challenging. After seeing that there are four high speed quad chairlifts I decided the 54 dollar discount lift ticket through my stay at Indian Head in Lincoln that it would be worth checking out.

You can't beat the scenery at Bretton Woods. It is across the street from Mount Washington. A cloudy morning threatened to keep us from enjoying the views afforded by this plum location but after lunch the skies cleared up nicely.


For a nice, warm, sunny day, the mountain wasn't particularly crowded in my opinion. The base lodge could use some more room for people that bring their lunches (read: cheap people). In the lodge's defense, we did go to eat lunch exactly at noon. Popular time to eat from what I hear.

The gentle terrain does make this mountain a perfect place to bring a beginner or even an intermediate skier, but that doesn't mean an expert can't have a good time. There are many acres of glades and tree skiing. Bretton Woods also have its fair share of steeps. One unique thing I haven't seen anywhere else is a terrain park in a glades trail that uses downed trees as rails to grind on and jumps. Pretty cool. I didn't get any pictures of this park, but I was able to rip one from their website. There are additional photos there too. http://www.mountwashingtonresort.com/winter_sports/alpine/terrain_park_conditions

I enjoyed a Long Trail Ale at the bar upstairs after our day concluded. It took a little longer to get than I might have like, but again, it was quarter to 4, a popular time to stop in for brew.




I was hesitant to make a visit to Bretton Woods, fearing it would be another Loon Mountain, but I will definitely be making a return trip in 2010.