Press Kit

When the lifts close, the fun continues at Mt Washington Valley's ski resorts and XC Centers



You'll find mountains of fun from May through Columbus Day at Mt Washington Valley's Adventure Parks.



GOOD NEWS FROM MT WASHINGTON VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE – April 24, 2015

CONTACT:  Marti Mayne, 207-846-6331, PR@MtWashingtonValley.org

FROM SKIING TO SOARING ADVENTURE: MAKE TRACKS TO THE TRAILS FOR MOUNTAINS OF SUMMER ADVENTURE IN MT WASHINGTON VALLEY, NH

Mt Washington Valley’s ski resorts and XC Centers transform from winter wonderlands to summer sports and adventure parks

North Conway, NH - Just because the snow stops falling doesn’t mean Mt Washington Valley’s ski resorts go into hibernation. While they do enjoy a short stint of rest, closing throughout the month of April and May, Mt Washington Valley’s ski resorts re-invent themselves as summer adventure parks with ziplines, water parks, events and so much more. All of Mt Washington Valley’s ski resort-based attractions anticipate opening for weekends by Memorial Day (May 26, 2018) and then open daily for the season by approximately June 16, 2018 through Labor Day.  After Labor Day, operations are generally weekends only through Columbus Day. Here’s what’s in store for summer on the slopes at Mt Washington Valley’s ski resorts. 

Cranmore Mountain Resort has an entire day’s worth of summer fun with its Mountain Adventure Park.  You’ll zoom down the Mountain Coaster, zip on the Soaring Eagle zip-line, and fly through the air on the Giant Swing or the Bungy Trampoline. Relax on a chair lift ride to the top of Cranmore, with great views of North Conway and Mount Washington or enjoy lunch at the Meister Hut before you hit the ropes course. The mountain also has a summer tubing hill to race down and this year a Cranmore Mountain Resort, plus the ropes course in the Aerial Adventure Park offers climbing adventure too.  It’s a continuous belay, so kids get harnessed in and can go right around without having to clip in and clip out. And since kids love to climb, there’s the climbing wall and Spider Mountain where you climb your way through netting to the top.  C’more’s Mining Adventure offers a 30-foot water-filled sluice where mining for keepsakes means take-home treasures.  New this year: Knockerball! Fun for the whole family and just as much fun to watch as it is to play, each person dons their own “giant bubble” that’s work by a backpack and plays KnockerSoccer and more.  Click here to learn more about rides and fun at the Cranmore Summer Adventure Park.

Cranmore Mountain also hosts the Arts Jubilee Summer Concert series, now in its 35th year. Playing on Thursdays throughout the summer, Arts Jubilee’s spectacular outdoor will take place on five consecutive Thursday evenings, July 19th, July 26th, August 2nd, August 9th and August 16th (2018) featuring live performances on the festival stage at Cranmore Mountain Resort. Arts Jubilee features a series of live performers from bands such as Room Full of Blues, Seacoast Wind Ensemble, and Steve Kelly and the Cherry Cherry Band.  Bring a blanket and a picnic supper and enjoy these wonderful live outdoor concerts at Cranmore. 

Wildcat Mountain opens its doors to summer vacationers with a zip line, scenic gondola and disc golf. The Wildcat Express Scenic Gondola has consistently been ranked #1 Scenery in the East by SKI Magazine and offers eye level views of Tuckerman Ravine, Mount Washington and the Presidential Range. The mountain’s four-person ZipRider zip-line brings riders a huge rush, descending 2,100 feet over the trails, treetops and the Peabody River to a landing platform. Groups can also come to play Disc Golf, a unique mixture of Frisbee® and golf by renting a 3-disc set or bringing their own and using the mountain’s course.

Summers, Attitash Mountain Resort morphs from downhill ski resort to Summer Attractions Park, filled with something for everyone in the family starting Memorial Day Weekend (May 26, 2018).  Spend the day here riding up on the lifts, and biking, zipping or mountain coastering down. The Attitash Adventure Park offers an Alpine Slide and Mountain Coaster for downhill excitement cruising at rider-controlled speeds. For those who love the thrill of fast, reach up to 25mph through banked curves and dips on the Mountain Coaster or through a series of chutes on the Alpine Slide.   Eurobungy Trampolines, slacklines and a Climbing Wall are ideal for those who love to jump and climb. The Big Air Bag allows thrill seekers to Feel the rush of making a free-fall jump into a 40-by-40-foot airbag, designed to give those who dare to try it a soft landing. Choose from two different platforms. a Scenic Chair Lift Ride for hiking at the summit and Lift Serviced Mountain Biking means you can take the lift up and ride down.  Bike rentals are available too.  The water park features two fabulous waterslides, plus a gentle-access kiddie pool filled with play structures, and complete with lounge chairs for the parents. 

The Attitash ZipTour offers the longest single zipline in New Hampshire. This one to two-hour adventure appeals to both thrill seekers and nature lovers alike. The rider controls their speed along the line while enjoying the spectacular views. This ZipTour adventure consists of two zip lines spanning across two mountain peaks. The Flying Bear Zip goes from the summit of Bear Peak over the valley toward Attitash Mountain. A top speed of 65+ mph is possible while reaching heights of 250-feet above the ground down the 4,969' length distance. Then from there, fly on the Attitash Aerial Zip, taking riders from upper Thad's Choice to the base of Attitash, another 2,196 feet! With both The Flying Bear and Attitash Aerial Zip spans offering two parallel cable lines, two people can enjoy the adventure side-by-side. To learn more about the summer operations at Attitash Mountain Resort, click here.

If you love horses or want to find your place in the saddle for the first time, enjoy a horse-themed mountain adventure at Black Mountain in Jackson.  Just because the lifts close doesn’t mean this family-oriented mountain can’t continue to welcome kids. This summer bring the whole family for a scenic horseback ride along mountain trails. Younger children can enjoy pony rides around the stables area. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous then join the mountain for an overnight cabin stay with an extended trail ride, BBQ and s'mores by the campfire at the end of the day.

Shawnee Peak in Bridgton, Maine is a great place to hike the mountain in search of blueberries and beautiful scenic views of Moose Pond. The mountain also offers overnight accommodations in the Pleasant Mountain Cabins. Overnight guests have access to the dock on Moose Pond where canoes, with paddles and lifejackets are ready for those looking for an aquatic adventure.

 The alpine ski trails at Bretton Woods , quickly turn to the Bretton Woods Adventure Center as the weather warms up. From zip lining high up in the trees on the Bretton Woods Canopy Tour to scaling the remote cliffs of Mt. Oscar on the West Wall Climb, summer offers as much adventure as winter does here. Ranger Mountain Tours, hiking, mountain biking and fly fishing are all offered as part of the Bretton Woods experience. Kids and adventure seekers will love the Williwaw Racing Zip, Kids ATV Park, archery range, mountain bike and scooter rentals, plus the 18-holes of disc golf and an indoor rock climbing experience at the Slopeside Climbing Wall. To top off your perfect day or for those looking for some softer adventure, enjoy a Scenic Lift Ride to the top of the mountain and take in a hearty lunch with Presidential views from Latitude 44° Restaurant. See, the lifts don’t have to close in the summer.

Of course, the Bretton Woods Canopy Tour operates year-round at Bretton Woods, and goes from views of snow-filled slopes and trails to shades of green over the canopy of the trees. Built on the slopes of Bretton Woods at the Omni Mount Washington Resort, the 3-hour Bretton Woods Canopy Tour takes nature lovers and thrill-seekers across a series of tree-top zip lines, sky bridges and a network of platforms high in the ancient hemlocks. Uniquely different, the Bretton Woods Canopy Tour features a dual-cable construction where you slide below two separate cables instead of just one.  Platforms and bridges are milled from locally harvested wood sources – keeping the commitment to environmentally sustainable programs strong here at Bretton Woods. Throughout the tour, adventure guides describe the native flora and fauna in addition to discussing the surrounding area, its natural history and White Mountain lore.

Summer adventurers can also take part in some of the activities on the grounds of the Omni Mount Washington Hotel A 27-hole state of the art golf course is open to both hotel guests and the public. The Bretton Woods Adventure Center operates mid-June through mid-October. For more information, please call the Adventure Center at (603) 278-3335. 

What is King Pine Ski Area in the winter turns into Camp Tohkomeupog, a summer camp for boy’s when the temperatures rise and season changes. This camp is a traditional overnight boys’ camp located in East Madison, NH. The focus at Tohkomeupog is on those sports and skills which can best enjoyed in the great outdoors. Campers will learn outdoor survival skills from cooking over a fire to building outdoor shelter as well as taking part in activities such as hiking, kayaking and canoeing, swim lessons, rock climbing, archery and more. Camp Tohkomeupog is open to boys in 2nd through 10th grade. Click here for more information: http://tohko.com/

In addition, each June, King Pine plays host to the King Pine Tri & Duathlon.  The 11th Annual running of this race will be held June 2, 2018 and features Sprint and Olympic Distance Aquabike (Individual & Relay), a Sprint and Olympic Distance Duathlon (Individual & Relay) and a Sprint and Olympic Distance Triathlon (Individual & Relay).  All Olympic & Sprint distance athletes will have a chance to win CASH prizes. For information and to register, click here.

Great Glen Trails in Pinkham Notch offers endless family fun in both summer and winter. During the summer months, visitors enjoy true quality time with your family while biking, running or walking on a beautiful trail system, all at the base of Mount. Washington. Experience nature and wildlife at its very best with help from a dedicated and friendly staff who live in and love this environment. Join the outdoor center for one of the many events or just enjoy a picnic by the pond in a field of wildflowers. For something completely different and exciting, try a kayaking experience suited just to your taste and ability. And right next door is the Mt Washington Auto Road, where scenic tours take you to the summit and the Extreme Mt Washington Museum.

You would be hard-pressed to notice it in the winter, but Jackson Ski Touring Center turns into the Wentworth Golf Course in the summer. The Wentworth Golf Club is a beautiful eighteen-hole course with outstanding views of the Presidential Range and the Wildcat and Ellis Rivers. The Wentworth Golf Club offers all the amenities you would expect from a top resort facility and is perfect for a day out with a couple of friends or a whole group.

Once the snow is melted, the Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring Foundation’s trail network turns into a wonderful resource for avid or causal runners, walkers and mountain bikers to enjoy. With marked trails, trail runners, bikers and walkers can get in a work-out or enjoy an adventure with stunning views of Mt. Washington and the Ledges. Your adventure can bring you to all parts of North Conway and Intervale villages, depending on how long and difficult you want to make your outdoor excursion. The trail is even dog-friendly for those with well-behaved furry friends.

Just as you did this winter, you will find mountains of summer fun as these ski resorts change with the seasons. We look forward to seeing you out in the adventure parks, on the golf course and flying high on the ziplines once Memorial Day comes.  

For more information on planning a Mt Washington Valley vacation, visit www.mtwashingtonvalley.org or call 1-800-367-3364 (800-DO-SEE-NH).  To learn more about visiting New Hampshire go to www.VisitNH.gov.

#   #  #

Photos available on the Mt Washington Valley Flickr Photo Library.

Or request photos from Marti Mayne at PR@mtwashingtonvalley.org.