As the colder months of the year fall farther behind us, so do our trips to ski mountains. Once packed mountains are again abandoned until the next winter season begins. In an effort to combat this dormancy, mountains are starting to provide activities for the public during the summer months, too. Several ski mountains in New Hampshire have attempted to do this in years past, but for one reason or another, were not able to keep visitors coming and subsequently halted summer activities. Fortunately for both locals and visitors to the Lakes Region and the White Mountains, two mountains seem to be putting more effort into being year-round destinations.
Family oriented Gunstock
Gunstock Ski Mountain in Gilford, NH, has offered summer activities for over ten years with its ropes course and zipline adventures. In 2016, Gunstock made a major addition to their summer attractions with a mountain coaster spanning nearly 4,100ft which quickly became a central part of their summer marketing. Perhaps Gunstock's primary summer attraction is its network of zip lines which offers a scenic aerial view of the White Mountains and Lake Winnipesaukee. Gunstock claims its zipline tour covers over 1.6 miles taking roughly 1.5 hours while reaching speeds of up to 70 miles per hour.
Get in on the action at Loon Mountain
Loon offers a few activities similar to Gunstock, such as a scenic gondola ride, ziplines, a bungee trampoline, and a rock wall. Loon also offers glacial cave scrambling, promotes hiking their ski trails, and offers mountaintop yoga. For the past few years, Loon has been putting considerable resources into building a network of downhill mountain biking trails. Before developing these trails with the aid of Highland Trails LLC, Highland Bike Park in Northfield, NH, was the only serious downhill bike park in the state. These efforts have paid off as Loon is now a solid option for mountain bikers looking for dedicated downhill trails with lift access. Put on your helmet, and pads, and get to the trails! Fun for the entire family.
