Katelyn Michaud
The temperatures are quickly dropping, and you know what that means – the snow guns are turning on and it's time for a family ski weekend in your favorite mountain town! We’ve already had a few dustings, and soon enough those flurries will turn into inches of fresh powder begging to be enjoyed.
This blog post is part of "The Guide to Winter Activities in The White Mountains" blog series.
As one of New Hampshire’s most popular family-friendly ski resorts, Loon Mountain is often buzzing with excitement on the weekends, especially on fresh powder days. With so many skiers and snowboarders looking to carve a few turns down the mountain, the parking lot can get quite crowded. To save you some time in the morning so you can spend more time on your favorite trails, we’ve provided you with some tips from the local experts.
Parking Tips for Loon Mountain
Stress less about parking with our top Loon Mountain parking tips.
Park at South Peak
Loon Mountain has three base areas. The East Basin Area is Loon’s hub for all winter activities. It’s home to the famous Gondola, the Octagon Lodge, and the Adventure Center. The West Basin area is home to the Governor Adams Lodge, Ski & Snowboard School, and the Children’s Center. With fewer amenities, South Peak is a hidden gem when it comes to parking. Just park your car in the lot and hop on the Lincoln Express Quad. For the true secret parking lot, you can park at the Escape Route Parking Lot where you can ski directly to your car from the Escape Route trail.
Get There Early
On a fresh powder day, school vacation week or the holiday weekends, Loon Mountain’s parking lots fill up fast. For the best parking spots, you’ll want to set your alarm for before dawn and head to the parking lot far before the first chair. Please keep your eyes open in the parking lots for excited children carrying their ski gear and let the parking attendees direct you to your parking spot for the day.
Take the Loon Mountain Shuttle
Loon Mountain offers shuttle bus services to several of the hotels in town. The shuttles run at regular intervals on weekends and holidays with a shuttle stop at each of Loon’s three base lodges.
RiverWalk Resort is located on the Loon Mountain shuttle bus route. The Loon Mountain shuttle bus for RiverWalk has three stops. The time between pickups varies based on traffic but would typically happen in 30 minute intervals. Additionally, some of the lodges and hotels offer their own shuttle services.
Carpool
With a limited number of parking spots in each parking lot, go green and carpool with your friends, family, or neighbors. Sure, you may have a lot of gear in the back, but at least you don’t have to carry your ski gear a long distance through the parking lot.
Arrive in Style
If you’re staying at the RiverWalk Resort, the resort has its own luxury shuttle service that will zip you from the main entrance of the resort, right to the lodge. The complimentary winter shuttle service in the luxury Mercedes Sprinter van will drop you off and pick you up at either the Governor’s Lodge or the Octagon Lodge.
This blog post is part of "The Guide to Winter Activities in The White Mountains" blog series.
The last thing you want to think about on a powder or perfect bluebird ski day is parking. With the above five tips, you’ll save both time and stress and spend more time on the ski hill. Reserve your suite at RiverWalk Resort for a luxury style vacation right next to Loon Mountain with shuttle service straight to the mountain.
