Black Mountain in Jackson opened its lifts just 90 minutes before Bretton Woods last Saturday, becoming the first ski area in New Hampshire to launch the 2025-26 season. The early opening marked a milestone for the 91-year-old resort, its earliest start date in recorded history.
The season’s debut followed a week of favorable weather, including up to nine inches of natural snowfall across the state and consistently cold night temperatures, which allowed ski operators to ramp up snowmaking efforts. This combination enabled multiple resorts to prepare trails ahead of schedule.
According to Erik Mogensen, president and general manager of Black Mountain Community Corporation, the early opening was the result of recent investments and concentrated effort. “The lodge opens at 7:30 a.m., and the Summit Double will load at 7:45 a.m., making Black Mountain the first ski area to open in New Hampshire, edging out our friends at Bretton Woods by a mere 90 minutes,” Mogensen said. “Are we making a statement? You bet.”
Entabeni Systems, a private owner that recently acquired Black Mountain, invested more than $7.5 million into the resort. Much of that has gone into improving snowmaking operations, which played a critical role in this year’s early start.
Mogensen credited the resort staff’s coordinated work in recent weeks for bringing the mountain online in time for mid-November skiing. “We are making a statement that this little mountain and everything that it stands for is back and better than ever,” he said.
Historically, Bretton Woods has been the first ski area to open in the state. This year, the resort also began operations Saturday with fresh snowfall blanketing the summit and its first trail open to skiers and riders. Video from opening morning showed active snow guns and wintry conditions.
The timing coincides with the New England Snowbound Expo held this weekend at the Menino Center in Boston. Several regional mountains are also already operational, including Killington in Vermont and Sunday River in Maine, where lifts are turning at the Barker Lodge.
Ski New Hampshire has released projected opening dates for other resorts statewide:
– Loon Mountain Resort plans to open November 21
– Cannon Mountain, Cranmore, and Tenney Mountain expect to open November 28
– Gunstock, Ragged Mountain, and McIntyre aim for early December
– Dartmouth Skiway projects a December 19 opening
Several ski areas remain undecided on their opening dates, including Attitash, Mount Sunapee, and Wildcat Mountain.
With natural snowfall arriving early and cold temperatures holding, the outlook for the start of the ski season appears strong. Several NH ski areas have invested in equipment upgrades ahead of this season. For Black Mountain, getting a head start reinforces its comeback effort, while setting a brisk pace for the rest of New Hampshire’s winter sport destinations.
