Loon Mountain Resort is proposing to expand beyond its current footprint, adding a fourth peak that would overlook downtown Lincoln.
The resort has greatly expanded over the past six years, opening up South Peak and upgrading lifts, notably the Kancamagus 8. Now, it’s looking west to continue growing.
The expansion proposal is part of Loon’s “Flight Path: 2030” ten-year investment plan, announced in 2020. It would add 280 total acres to the resort, with 145 of those intended for additional trails and 135 for tree and glade skiing areas. Four new lifts would carry guests up around 1,500 feet, with the summit reaching 2,324 feet.
The expansion would include new lodges on the summit and potentially mid-peak, as well as a direct connection to downtown Lincoln, making it easier for guests to reach the bustling main street.
“This new peak delivers on progression,” Brian Norton, president and general manager of Loon Mountain Resort, said in a statement. “The lower trails will give skiers and snowboarders confidence to move up — beyond the trails of Timbertown Quad — without a big jump in difficulty. At the same time, it gives experienced skiers more of what they’re looking for: from classic, winding New England trails and wide-open cruisers to challenging tree skiing. I picture many guests spending an entire day on this peak alone.”
The project is still far from approval and completion, however. Loon Mountain Resort said it will approach the expansion in phases, as there are many steps in the local and federal permitting process before a concrete timeline can be established and announced.
First, the proposed terrain spans both federal and private land, most of it lying within the White Mountain National Forest. The U.S. Forest Service has issued a letter accepting the proposal for review, which includes an environmental assessment, according to the resort. South Peak Resort owns the rest of the land and operates it as a separate business.
As part of Flight Path: 2030, Loon plans to open Black Ridge, 272 acres of “expert-level gladed terrain,” in the winter of 2027-28. This expansion on the east side of North Peak will make Loon New Hampshire’s largest ski resort.
The mountain is also working on upgrading its gondola lift, expanding lodging and facilities and automating snowmaking technology, among other projects.