Winter Thrills
While some of the best ski resorts in the United States can be found in New England—places such as Stowe in Vermont, Sugarloaf in Maine, and Bretton Woods in New Hampshire—you don’t need to be an Alpine skier or snowboarder to make this region your winter playground. When the temperature drops and the snowflakes fall, you can fill your New England getaway with all kinds of activities, each with its own special thrill.
HIT THE ICE
When New England’s lakes, ponds, and waterfalls freeze solid, they present an exciting challenge to skaters and climbers alike.
For the ultimate skating adventure, head to Vermont to experience the longest ice trail in the United States. At Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, visitors can bring their own skates or rent Nordic, figure, or hockey blades before setting out on the 4.3-mile (7km) swath of groomed lake ice and soaking in the beautiful scenery—and maybe even spying a bald eagle soaring overhead.
Vertical ice, on the other hand, provides an entirely different thrill. New England is home to a number of ice-climbing destinations—most notably the White Mountains of New Hampshire and Smugglers’ Notch in Vermont—but the sport isn’t limited to the region’s loftiest terrain. More beginner-friendly ice formations can be found in Connecticut and western Massachusetts, and outfitters such as Connecticut-based Ascent Climbing will be happy to demonstrate that the seemingly impossible is actually quite doable, with the right provided tools and a confidence boost from an experienced guide.
Of course, for those travelers who lean toward a milder day on the ice, many New England cities have lovely outdoor skating rinks, such as Labrie Family Skate at Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, New Hampshire; the Providence Rink in Providence, Rhode Island; and the Boston Common Frog Pond in Boston, Massachusetts. (And if New England’s premier hockey team, the Boston Bruins, are in town, don’t miss a chance to catch the on-ice action at Boston’s TD Garden.)
MAKE TRACKS
While devotees of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing can enjoy the many excellent Nordic centers in the northern New England states, if you’re dreaming of the winter scenes that artists have painted—of pretty villages and Gilded Age estates—then consider visiting the Berkshires region of western Massachusetts, where snow’s arrival is a crisp white invitation to leave your mark. Cross-country ski or snowshoe at The Mount, the elegant 1902 estate where novelist Edith Wharton penned some of her best-loved works, or at Notchview, a 3,100-acre (1,255ha) Trustees of Reservations property that has trails groomed for classic cross-country and skate skiing, backcountry terrain to snowshoe, and equipment rentals available.
For a once-in-a-lifetime winter outing, pay a visit to Hilltop Orchards in Richmond, near Massachusetts’s western border, and set out on snowshoeing and winter hiking paths designed by world-renowned trail architect John Morton. You’ll have wide-open views that stretch into three states if you reach the top of the hill, and a crackling wood fire, artisanal hard ciders, wines, and fresh-made cider doughnuts awaiting your return. Another unique adventure may be found close to Boston, at Great Brook Ski Touring Center in Carlisle, where cross-country skiers can glide along a 1-mile (1.6km) “lantern loop” on select winter nights. By the light of 50 lanterns—and, if you’re lucky, the moon—you’ll find serenity that’s sometimes seems elusive in modern times.
REV YOUR ENGINE
There are vast snowmobile trail networks in northern New England, and even if you’ve never ridden one of these “motorcycles on skis,” you can still be part of this exciting winter scene. A great place to start is in New Hampshire’s northernmost regions, the White Mountains and the Great North Woods, where the season typically lasts longer than anywhere else in New England and where local outfitters are ready to provide you with snowmobile rentals, instruction, and tours. For instance, at Northern Extremes Snowmobiling’s headquarters in Bartlett, book a guided tour and you’ll fly along the 50-mile (80.5km) closed-loop Bear Notch trail system, a beginner-friendly, lightly trafficked loop that climbs to elevations where you’ll want to pause for stunning photo ops of the Presidential Range.
With the greatest amount of snowmobiling trails in New England—more than 14,000 miles (22,531km)—Maine is truly a paradise for this sport. Much of the action is centered on the northernmost and snowiest region, Aroostook County, but almost every corner of the state is covered by the 4,000-mile (6,437km) Interconnected Trail System and the 10,000 additional miles (16,093km) of offshoot trails. Vermont, too, has a bustling snowmobile season, thanks to the nearly 5,000 miles (8,047km) of well-marked and groomed trails that crisscross both public and private land, giving riders the chance to see places they normally wouldn’t otherwise. To begin exploring, check out the free app from the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST).
Meanwhile, in northwest Connecticut, you can take the controls of a different type of snow vehicle at the Canaan-based outfitter Backyard Adventure. A tracked, four-wheel-drive UTV drives much like a car, and once you and up to three passengers hop in, you’ll be off on a rugged adventure as a guide leads you through a 1,000-acre (405ha) private property.
MOUNT UP
For those who prefer to take a wild winter ride in a more traditional way, sled dogs and horses are sure-footed on New England’s frosty terrain—and when you take the reins and put your trust in these animals, you’ll experience true winter magic.
Huskies and malamutes were born to run and to pull, as you’ll quickly realize when you visit a New Hampshire dogsledding destination like Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel in Jefferson. Founded in 2007, this tour operator is home to nearly 60 canines—some of which are rescues, but all of which will howl up a storm in hopes they’ll be chosen to pull you on a wild ride across fields of white. (For those who’d like to do more than sit back and enjoy the scenery, Muddy Paw also offers mushing lessons.) Maine is another notable spot for dogsledding; the venerable Mahoosuc Guide Service in Newry, for instance, offers overnight trips for those looking to fully immerse themselves in this unique sport.
Vermont has its share of dogsledding spots, too, but it’s also a go-to destination for fans of Icelandic horses. In the Mad River Valley, a region known as a winter sports hub, the Vermont Icelandic Horse Farm offers lessons and short trail rides on these special horses: Bred to endure winters near the Arctic Circle, they grow long, thick, super-warm coats as the days turn cold, and you’ll likely feel a special bond with your shaggy companion by the time you dismount.
Even the southern state of Rhode Island gets in on the equestrian winter fun. Just 15 minutes from Providence, Sunset Stables is open daily year-round, and its horses and guides know the nearby Lincoln Woods State Park so well that even first-time riders feel at ease as they ascend glacial boulders and crunch along snowy trails.
FEEL THE RUSH
One of the ultimate winter thrills in New England requires no exertion at all. At the Camden Snow Bowl in Maine, just hunker down on an old-school wooden toboggan and don’t even try to hold back that excited scream as you speed down the Jack Williams Toboggan Chute. Even modern “mountain coasters” can’t surpass this ice-coated wooden trough for sheer wow factor. Handbuilt in 1936, it is the only chute of its kind in the United States.
EXPLORE THE GREAT INDOORS
Of course, not everyone enjoys bundling up and braving the elements. Good news: There are many indoor winter activities across New England that don’t require any extra layers, just a sense of exploration!
Indoor water parks are a popular way to channel the feeling of summer even when the cold winds blow, and New England boasts one of the 10 best in the country, according to USA Today: Great Wolf Lodge Resorts, in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Another aquatic adrenaline rush can be found at Surf’s Up in Nashua, New Hampshire, which is the largest indoor surfing facility in North America. (Even better, right next door is SkyVenture, an indoor skydiving center where you can take flight—no airplane required.)
Climbing gyms are a classic indoor adventure, and there are so many across New England it’s not hard to find one that welcomes walk-ins. A good bet is Rock Spot Climbing, one of the largest climbing chains in the country, with seven newcomer-friendly locations in New England, including Providence, Rhode Island, and Boston, Massachusetts. And if you’re in New Haven, Connecticut, check out It Adventure Indoor Ropes Course—the largest facility of its kind in the world—where you can tackle a challenging, aerial web of swaying plank bridges, cargo nets, tightropes, and ziplines.
