Cannon Mountain (New Hampshire) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cannon Mountain |
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Cannon Cliff, the southeast face of Cannon Mountain
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4080+ feet (1244+ m) |
| Prominence | 740 ft (230 m) |
| Listing | White Mountain 4000-footers |
| Geography | |
| Location | Grafton County, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Parent range | White Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Franconia |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Kinsman Ridge Trail |
Cannon Mountain is a cool peak in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It stands over 4,000 feet tall (about 1,244 meters). People know it for its awesome rock and ice climbing on its big cliff. It's also famous for skiing at the Cannon Mountain Ski Area.
Cannon Mountain was once home to the famous Old Man of the Mountain. This natural rock formation looked like an old man's face. Sadly, it collapsed on May 3, 2003.
The mountain has three smaller peaks, called "The Cannon Balls." They are between 3,693 and 3,769 feet high. Cannon Mountain is part of the Kinsman Range. You can find it inside Franconia Notch State Park.
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History of Cannon Mountain
Rock climbers started exploring Cannon's cliffs way back in the 1920s. The ski area here is one of the oldest in North America. Ski trails were cut on the mountain before 1933. That year, the Taft Slalom became the first racing trail in North America.
Cannon Mountain got its first ski lift in 1938. This was the first aerial tramway (a cable car system) in North America! A new, bigger tram was built in 1980. It can carry 140 people at once. The old tram stations are still there. One of the old cabins is now the entrance to the New England Ski Museum. This museum opened in 1982 at the base of the mountain. It has a huge collection of old ski gear and photos.
Cannon Mountain hosted the first Alpine Skiing World Cup races in North America in 1967. These big races were held in nearby Franconia.
In 1972, the mountain's name officially changed to Cannon Mountain. Before that, it was called Profile Mountain since 1917. Both names come from natural rock shapes on the mountain. "Profile Mountain" was for the Old Man of the Mountain. "Cannon Mountain" is for some boulders that look like an old cannon.
In 1973, a very strong wind gust was recorded on the summit. It was one of the strongest ever measured in the United States.
Fun Things to Do at Cannon Mountain
Cannon Mountain is a great place for year-round fun! You can go hiking, climbing, skiing, and fishing. Tourists also enjoy the amazing views from the aerial tramway. There's a restaurant at the top and a museum about skiing history.
Hiking Trails
Many trails wind around Cannon Mountain. The Kinsman Ridge Trail starts near the tramway. It goes across the Cannon Balls and other peaks. The Mittersill-Cannon Trail climbs to the summit from the northwest. Both trails connect to the Rim Trail near the top.
Lonesome Lake is a popular hiking spot. It has a hut maintained by the Appalachian Mountain Club. The Appalachian Trail passes by Lonesome Lake.
Rock and Ice Climbing
Cannon Cliff is a huge rock face, about 1,000 feet high and over a mile long. It's the biggest vertical rock face in the Northeast! Climbers love it for both free and aid climbing in summer. In winter, it's popular for ice and mixed climbing. Some climbs are so long they need an overnight stay!
Climbers are asked to sign in and out of a log book. This helps if search parties are needed. There are guide books for climbing on Cannon Cliff.
Famous Climbing Routes
- Whitney-Gilman Ridge: This is a classic rock climb. It goes up a prominent ridge in the middle of the cliff. It's known for amazing views.
- Moby Grape: This route climbs the tallest part of the cliff. It offers superb climbing all the way up.
- The Black Dike: This is a very popular ice climb. It's about 500 feet tall.
- Omega: This is a challenging mixed climb. It's considered one of the hardest ice climbs in the area.
Getting to the Climbs
To reach Cannon Cliff, you walk along a bike path on the west side of I-93. Climbers park near Profile Lake. After walking through the woods, you cross a long section of loose rocks.
Skiing and Snowboarding
The Cannon Mountain Ski Area is owned by the state. It has nine lifts and covers 165 acres for skiing. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps cut many ski trails here. Some of these trails are still used today.
Famous Olympic gold medalist skier Bode Miller grew up skiing at Cannon Mountain.
Sightseeing and Tourism
Cannon Mountain has lots of fun things to do besides sports. The aerial tramway runs all year. It takes you to the top of the ski area. From there, you can hike to the mountain's true summit. An observation tower at the top gives amazing views of the White Mountains Region.
The Old Man of the Mountain Historic Site is still a popular spot. Even though the rock formation collapsed, people visit to remember it. You can also visit Profile Lake, which is great for fishing. Echo Lake is used for swimming in summer and ice-skating in winter. Don't forget the New England Ski Museum at the base!
Images for kids
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Whitney-Gilman Ridge
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Cannon's most prominent ice climb, the Black Dike
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The Omega climbing route
