Bretton Woods
Category: Hotels & Travel Ski Resorts Ski Resorts [Edit]
99 Ski Area RdBretton Woods, NH 03575
(603) 278-3320
26 reviews for Bretton Woods
26 reviews in English
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Review from Ariana S.
Tiverton, RI
4/22/2012
Bretton Woods is by far the best ski resort in New Hampshire. It is family mountain with easy, wide winding trails that anyone can enjoy at any ability. The grooming here is spectacular and unbeatable at any other mountain. The grooming team spends the entire night grooming so it is not surprise to see a snow-cat at 6 a.m.
For a beginner, I would sugguest Range View. It an easy and wide trail- perfect for cruising. As an intermediate, Granny's Grit and Crawford's Blaze. For an expert, Deception Bowl, Darby's Drop or Zealand. The black diamonds here are VERY easy. Honestly, a beginner could do Zealand no problem and Deception Bowl with a little hesitation. I would say their double blacks are equivent to blacks at other ski resorts. The glade here are spectacular. Be sure to head over to West Mountain to check them out! I would recommend staying away from the trail Aggassiz ( Blue) it has moguls and trees for a blue square ( very deceiving from the top).
The lift lines are never long and the attendants are so friendly! The staff really gets to know you even if you just say for a little while! Whenever I put my skis in ski check, after a couple rounds, you don't even need to hand them the card, they will recognize your face with the skis without having to dig through your pockets for the card!
Speaking of friendliness, there are all nice families that go here! Bretton Woods is a true family friendly mountain that I would recommend to anyone in search for some great easy skiing and a family friendly atmosphere! -
Review from Ashley f.
Boston, MA
3/27/2012 1 photo
Best ski resort all season!
Stayed at the lodge - great hotel and skied for 3 days! Great deals. i will def be back next year.
I recommend doing the canopy tour its awesome. suspended bridge 100 ft in the air. repealing down 200 feet in the trees. about 13 different zip lines. Amazing winter views. -
Review from Julie R.
3/21/2012 2 photos
Came up to Bretton Woods on a mid-March weekend. The winter this year blew, so half the trails were closed. Still from what we had available, the variety was good. I won't fault them on our winter. I still had a great time. I had a new pair of skis and needed the bindings mounted. I was able to have them done quickly in the repair shop for $30.
I liked the variety of trails. A lot of very wide open terrain and the ones that stretched around the sides were scenic, within the trees. If you are into blues and greens, you will like it here. My husband does blacks but wasn't too impressed with what was left open. The mountain wasn't as high as we thought. They are very wide with a 1500 vertical. That is fine with me, though if you want more ski time, nearby Cannon has less acreage but a 2180 vertical.
The food in the restaurant was really tasty and not too pricey for a ski lodge. Everyone we came across was very nice all over the mountain. There is a lot of outdoor sitting space to eat and hang out while watching others come down. The scenery is beautiful. You are surrounded by snow capped mountains in all directions. I hope to go back next year and catch them with all the trails open.Listed in: Ski Bunny
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Review from Type D.
Hamden, CT
2/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
I don't ski, but the included Mt. Washington cross-country skiing/snowshoeing trails kick ass. Love it up there.
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Review from Clara L.
2/22/2011
Oh what fun Bretton Woods is! I'm so glad that everything in Vermont was busy for the weekend and we found this place. Since it was my first time skiing, I went for the lesson. I expected to be learning amongst small children, but was happy they had adult groups. My instructor, Ed, was incredible. He was really patient and even gave all of us in the group personal feedback. It truly made a difference in our learning curve and confidence.
The lifts were in great shape and the mountain was well groomed. The parking was well organized and staff was courteous and helpful. The rental process was a slight bit messy, but it did not take long at all, even with a large holiday crowd. They have a great variety of trails, a good number of green ones, and good black and double black diamonds and some moguls. Definitely the place to go in New Hampshire! -
Review from Mike P.
1/7/2011
Out of all the places i have snowboarded this is by far my favorite place for a couple reasons.
Trails are amazing, well maintained, and if you can hit a powder day is like riding on clouds.
Prices are pretty good, this place wasn't cheap but they had a deal running when i was up for the day. Well worth what i split with a buddy.
Bought my favorite snowboarding hoodie here, got an employee discount for taking my shirt off for the girl working behind the counter, I'm no brad pit, but I'll take it off to save some serious cash.
If there glads are open hit them up, there nice not to hard, just watched out for BFGs and LFGs -
Review from David V.
11/24/2010
I can't believe I grew up in NH and only skied this mountain for the first time last spring. It takes awhile to get to - take 93 up past half a dozen other ski areas and then drive another 20-30 minutes off the freeway.
I skied here in late March and even then, the conditions were superb. Even on a Sunday the mountain wasn't crowded and nearly all of the trails were open and well-groomed. It seems that spring rains that had swamped areas to the south fell as snow up here.
As a fan of glades, Bretton Woods is hard to beat. I count more than two dozen individual glade trails across the area, ranging from the very secluded Rosebrook Canyon to some tamer tree runs elsewhere on the mountain. The only downside to skiing in Rosebrook was that accessing the area again for another go required taking two lifts. My sister isn't much of a glade skier, but with several blue square options that featured spread-out trees and quality snow on a fairly easy pitch, she was converted.
The non-glade black diamonds are mostly manageable here - there were one or two moguled runs that I stayed off of, but as an experienced skier who mostly sticks to blue squares and single diamonds, there was more than enough for me to enjoy here.
One place that could use some improvement - the food choices in the lodge were somewhat lacking, and rather pricey for what you got. -
Review from Scott B.
Mid-Cambridge, MA
5/26/2008
i don't ski.
We'll start with that.
My room mate convinced me to go skiiing for a day at Bretton Woods... he's 62 years old, and a master quadruple black diamond skiier...
It's important to start with the outfit. I had never gone skiing, therefore i had no idea what was "in..." My room mate gave me a grey and hot pink onesie... with matching hot pink gloves. It fits me perfectly, my ass looks awesome, and i'm ready to go... little do i know...
So we get to Bretton Woods... and start walking, with his skiis up to the lodge... and i zip my onesie up to my neck... (I'm starting to get some looks)... but he swears he wears that onesie every year... so it must be okay....
I get into the rental line, and i start to look around, and i start to realize... NO ONE is wearing a onesie. Snow pants and ski jackets... that's what everyone is wearing... all in blues and browns and blacks... absoluty NO hot pink... Not only this, but EVERYONE is looking at me and talking amongst their groups about my outfit... a little too loud... i mean after all it IS a hot pink onesie... I freak out a little bit...
I finallly get over my phobia... and I go a few runs on the baby slopes with my tiny beginner skiis... and my room mate convinces me to go a run on an "easy" trail... so I do it... I fail at first, and I nail it the second time...
We go again, and our fellow lift riders (teenage snowboarders) shove us to the right as we get off the lift, and we end up on an advanced trail... my second time off the bunny slopes.
I fell.
So many times.
Over and over.
Skiis over my head.
Pulling a million muscles.
I swore.
I was pissed off.
But i kept putting those damn skiis back on.
And i kept going.
And i made it all the way down.
Finally we go home, and I'm hurting for four days in a row... and a couple months later he shows me some pictures of his ski trip to Utah back in 1980.... guess what he was wearing in those pictures??? Yeah.. you got it... the hot pink onesie.
Bretton Woods was a great ski resort.... I think ( I wouldn't know... I'm inexperienced) -
Review from Ryan V.
San Diego, CA
3/16/2008 2 photos
According to America's Best & Top Ten (http://www.americasbes...), Bretton Woods is ranked the 4th Best Ski Resort in the Eastern United States and offers the second best beginner trails in the nation. Those are some really great honors, but that really blows if you're not a n00b and/or a snowboarder...
Nearly two feet of snow had graced New Hampshire in the 24 hours that had lead up to my visit at Bretton Woods and I was excited to get on the mountain and plow through all of that fresh untouched powder...
I could not have been more disappointed if Ed McMahon was knocking on my front door and punking me! It was like Houdini decided to run all over the mountain and perform his extraordinary vanishing acts on all of the snow that had just dropped...
The runs were groomed to the packed powder base - "WTF!" - I screamed to myself, why would you do that!!! I wanted to tie a rope around my neck and jump off the chair lift as I thought to myself, "I slept in Baltimore/Washington International Airport overnight for this $*#%???"
I was ready to quit in the first hour but discovered "The Woods" of Bretton and found myself in the depths of fresh pow nestled among the trees of New Hampshire. The wooded runs were epic! I was going insade with giddiness to be playing in the pow and running through the trees... Simply amazing!!!
As I broke for lunch, I stared at the mountain, ruminating on the remarkable runs I had just conquered, turned to my friends and said, "This was worth spending the night in an airport for..." -
Review from Jonathan C.
1/5/2010
I thought this place was great for someone of my experience level. The trails were as groomed as they can get with plenty of snow machines to make up for a slight lack of fresh snow.
They have bumps and dips which are fun and become more fun as I got better.
I would go back to this place and don't think I'd ever outgrow this place as it is a nice mix of fun trails and challenges. -
Review from Jillian R.
Lebanon, NH
1/15/2011
This is the best skiing and riding you're going to find anywhere in the East. Their snow and grooming is top notch.
This is the place to go when you want to really play and lay down some carves. -
Review from Gerald B.
Burlington, MA
6/27/2006
Perfect for beginners and intermediate skiers. They have some wide and fairly gentle slopes there, as well as a decent number of tougher trails, including some glades.
The children's program (starting at age 4) is really good, particularly once the kids get past the beginning stages. Their prices are quite steep (tickets and food), but you can bring your own food and by their tickets in advance through ski NH to lower your cost. -
Review from Michael C.
Boston, MA
2/8/2010
Bring the camera if you are thinking of cross country skiing at Bretton Woods.
1. Conditions are fantastic with consistent snow cover often when areas further south are bare.
2. Super interesting trails from very beginner to more challenging blacks although even those are ok for those with decent skills.
3. Incredibly beautiful scenery especially along the areas river.
4. Nice lodge although a bit small with very nice equipment if you need to rent.
After skiing all day, check out the Mt Washington Hotel. Reactions vary from "my God this is fantastic" to " Get me the hell out of here, this place looks like the Shining". From the bar you have a view of Mt Washington that must be seen to be believed. -
Review from Marc H.
Boston, MA
4/8/2009
Bretton Woods is famous for its cross-country ski trails, but it's also rather underrated when it comes to downhill skiing. The downhill area won't excite too many experts, but it is a great place to go with a family or beginner or intermediate skiers, or simply want to have a mellow day on the slopes and enjoy some of the greatest views in New Hampshire.
The downhill ski area is surprisingly big, with some very long trails, so there is quite a variety of trails here. And it is certainly more family-friendly and laid back than some of the more popular ski areas in New England. Definitely a place worth checking out, unless you are looking for extreme challenges in the slopes. -
Review from James B.
Cambridge, MA
2/8/2010
How has nobody mentioned the candy shop on the top of the mountain yet? Perfect for a sugar rush off lemonheads while you're hopping down moguls.
I had pretty much the time of my life last weekend here. I used to be a fairly skilled skier back in middle school / early high school, but somehow I just lost interest in the sport. The spark was put into my head with a Groupon deal a few months ago and a couple of friends who were up for the drive.
Ski boots, skis and poles are all rentable for $40. If you're into trying out snowboarding, they offer boots and a board for the same amount. The equipment was all in really good shape and fairly new. The staff was helpful and they have a really system for keeping the lines moving on a busy Saturday morning.
The slopes themselves were perfect for me and my skill level. Since it had been 17 years, I was looking for some good blues and black diamonds to bomb down and not really worry too much about super sharp declines. There were some pretty significant crowds at the base, but if you go off towards the West Mountain or the more outlying parts, the crowds thin out enough to where you don't have to wait in line at the chair lift.
Also, ski tip #329: pack a lunch. I can't believe I paid $16 for a hot chocolate (from the same machine as you would find at a gas station), a terrible bowl of lobster bisque and some waffles fries. -
Review from Jenna H.
2/4/2011
My new favorite ski place in NH!! Worth the drive past all of the other ski areas. I loved the trails - happened to hit a day with lots of powder, A-MAZING! The little candy shop and restuarant on the mountain are a nice touch. I liked the size of the trails and the fact that even though it was a holiday weekend it did not feel crowded, minimal wait time to get on a lift - if any wait at all. Great conditions - I can't wait to go back!
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Review from Ian S.
College Park, MD
12/18/2011
Really awesome place right next to Mount Washington. I stayed in the Bretton Arms Inn and slept like a baby. To get between hotels and slopes you request a shuttle from the front desk person and the shuttle comes in under a minute, it's very impressive. We took the shuttle from the Bretton Arms Inn to the main Mount Washington Hotel up the hill for breakfast and dinner, there are good restaurants up there but avoid the lunch menu at Stickney's Pub, the crabcake was gross and the lobster mac & cheese tasted like seaweed. The skiing was fantastic and if you are just learning, there are lots of newbies on the bunny slopes falling on their asses so don't be afraid to come and try something new. It was super cold when we went, 12/18/2011, it was between 0 and 12 degrees but it wasn't that bad, only my hands got cold. I give Bretton Woods 5/5 and highly recommend it, it wasn't busy at all and it probably never does get too busy.
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Review from Raj R.
Boston, MA
6/15/2011
Great easy mountain. Trails are groomed well. There is some challenging terrain in Rosebrook area.
The lift operators, ski patrol and instructors are great. The only drawback is the customer service inside. But, then again you go there to ski... so meh -
Review from Brad D.
Portsmouth, NH
1/10/2011
I wish I had come to this ski area earlier, but I'm glad I finally tried it. It's a fantastic mountain and if you are a beginner or intermediate skier, you'll have a great day. Expert skiers probably won't be challenged like at other areas, but will still have fun here. There are a lot of trails, so you don't have to do the same run over and over. I really liked going through the glades and the scenery is great too. The drive is far, but well worth it.
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Review from Lucy W.
2/13/2010
One of the better ski resorts in NH, here's the breakdown:
PROS
- Nice variety of trails for all levels. In my group, we had a beginner snowboarder, an advanced beginner skier and an intermediate/advanced skier. There were lots of trails for everyone to enjoy and enough to challenge all.
- Great views of Mt Washington- both the hotel and the mountain! A full moon rose in the afternoon above the hotel, which was gorgeous.
- Lots of lodging choices nearby, including Mt Washington hotel but also lots of low cost & chain hotel options about 20 minutes away in Littleton.
- Not too crowded- you have to pass 2-3 other ski resorts on the way here on 93 (Waterville, Loon, Cannon) here so other people may choose to go there instead.
- I love driving through the State Park portion of 93 where it gets narrow and it looks like the mountains are on top of you.
- Base Lodge- there's only one but it's large, with lots of cubbies and seating. Can't comment on the food since I brought my own, but it looked like your typical overpriced cafeteria/fries/burgers type of food.
- Mountain's positioning is great in shielding a bit from wind and cold but also gets dark fairly soon after lunchtime.
- Wide trails and very groomed- good so it doesn't get crowded. My fave run is Bode's Run.
- Great snow conditions.
- Nice flat parking lot that's pretty close to the base lodge- I think I'm the only person who rates the parking lots as part of the resort but it makes a difference when you're hauling a bunch of gear around and if you're exhausted at the end of the day. I got a rock-star 2nd row parking spot on my last trip and it totally made my day.
CONS
- It's definitely an overnight ski trip...just far enough from Boston that you can't do it in one day without being absolutely exhausted. There's a large contingent of NH locals, which makes it a great local mountain but it's also a common destination for Bostonians (and Rhode Islanders), who can be a little obnoxious...which I can attest to since I was one of them.
- Not too much in the area to do at night, no apres-ski.
- Wide trails and very groomed- can get boring if you are looking for powder and steep twisting runs. However, there is the more difficult West Mountain and a glades section called Rosebrook Canyon that I didn't get to try on my last trip.
- Not too many flat parts of trails, but there *are* some...if you are a beginner snowboarder, be prepared or have a friend check out the trail ahead of time, otherwise, you're going to be knuckle dragging (or walking) when you lose momentum.
- Cost of lift ticket- not cheap. Best deal is to book a ski & stay deal where you get the lift ticket along with your lodging rate...many of the area hotels have deals. -
Review from John B.
Westport, CT
10/1/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Even off season booked for leaf show, this is a vast landscape dead in the center of the national park. There are other options around and I cannot attest to the value or difference in regards to ski options but for dining and shelter it's grand. Just a tad removed from the tourist mish mosh - just what we were looking for.
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Review from Cha Cha W.
Cambridge, MA
2/25/2010 1 photo
Let's just get it out there, Bretton Woods is the home of bad boy skier Bode Miller. Not excited yet? It's also the largest ski area in New Hampshire with exceptional snow making capabilities (so very important for those frisky New England winters) with easily some of the most naturally beautiful surroundings and views of Mt. Washington. The chairlifts are speedy with variations of terrain for all levels of skiers and riders, and at 2 and a half hours from Boston, a day trip is completely possible. Base lodging facilities are easily accessible via the shuttle service and the apres ski while not the most exciting, is enough to keep the evening interesting.
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Review from Julie N.
Brighton, MA
Updated - 5/25/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Upping to 5 stars because their canopy tour kicks ass!! Worth every penny!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/23/2010
Things I love about Bretton Woods:
- Fast lifts- They have 4 high speed quads and they are not afraid… Read more »
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Review from Kirill C.
Framingham, MA
6/26/2010
I love Bretton Woods. I have skied here several times and it has always been a blast. A good variety of trails for all skill levels. The cool part is the area where there are twin or double black diamond trails called "Rosebrook Canyon Glades". Crazy trails. My favorite trail is "Two miles home". It's a very long trail, not very challenging, but the views are great. Highly recommend it.
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Review from AJ A.
Boston, MA
12/28/2008
If you are a beginner, want to bring your family, and/or have a lot of money this is the perfect place for you. The trails aren't challenging for advanced boarders and skiers, but they're perfect for beginners. The trails are usually well groomed and the staff is very friendly and helpful. I have a season pass, so I don't have to pay every time I go, but for those who do, expect to pay around 70 bucks (this weekend, which was a holiday weekend, I heard people paying something like $74, which is kinda ridiculous). But the mountain has great views of Mt Washington, and if you have an ample amount of disposable income you could make it a weekend trip and stay at the Mount Washington Resort which is right across the street (incredible). So to recap, if you're a beginner skier, or want to bring your family skiing, and you drive a hummer or Mercedes G-Class (SUV) to the mountain then this mountain is perfect for you.
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Review from Pauline M.
Marlborough, MA
2/21/2011
Absolutely the best! Incredibly beautiful-lots of options and everyone is kind and helpful. It is heaven on snow!
