Pats Peak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pats Peak |
|
|---|---|
| Location | Henniker, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 43°09′48″N 71°47′45″W / 43.16333°N 71.79583°W |
| Vertical | 770 ft (230 m) |
| Top elevation | 1,460 ft (450 m) |
| Base elevation | 690 ft (210 m) |
| Skiable area | 103 acres (420,000 m2) |
| Runs | 28 |
| Longest run | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) |
| Lift system | 4 Triples, 2 Doubles, 2 Magic Carpets, 1 J-bar, 2 Tows |
Pats Peak is a fun ski resort located in Henniker, New Hampshire, in the United States. It's a great place for families and friends to enjoy winter sports!
This ski area first opened its slopes in 1963. It has a vertical drop of 770 feet (230 m), which means the difference between the highest and lowest skiable points is 770 feet. Pats Peak is about a 90-minute drive from Boston, Massachusetts, making it easy to visit for a day trip or a weekend adventure.
The Patenaude family has owned Pats Peak since it started. Four brothers, the Patenaudes, bought the original 200-acre (0.81 km2) of land from their father, Merle Patenaude. Over the years, the family has continued to own and operate the resort. Pats Peak is especially popular for night skiing, where you can ski under the stars!
Contents
Exploring the Trails and Lifts at Pats Peak
Discovering Pats Peak Ski Trails
Most trails at Pats Peak are named after different kinds of winds, like Cyclone, Hurricane, Twister, and Tornado. This makes navigating the mountain a bit more exciting!
The trails are designed for skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels:
- 50% are for beginners (novice), perfect for learning and practicing.
- 21% are for intermediate skiers, offering a bit more challenge.
- 12% are for advanced skiers, with steeper slopes.
- 17% are for expert skiers, for those who love a real challenge.
Ski magazine once said that Pats Peak has the best terrain for slalom skiing in New Hampshire. Slalom skiing is a type of alpine ski racing where skiers weave between poles or gates. The mountain also has two or three terrain parks (depending on snow conditions) and nine special areas called glades, which are trails through trees.
Pats Peak Alpine Race Team
Pats Peak has its own alpine race team! This team competes in the Central Division of the NHARA racing league. Young skiers are grouped by age, from J6 (the youngest) all the way to J1 (older teens). Many dedicated volunteers help coach these young athletes, teaching them racing skills and sportsmanship.
Exciting Lift Upgrades and Expansions
Pats Peak has continuously improved its facilities. In the 2013-14 season, a new area called Cascade Basin opened on the east side of Craney Hill. This expansion included a triple chair lift that takes you up 370 feet (110 m).
In 2017, Pats Peak upgraded its lifts by installing a used CTEC Triple Chairlift. This new "Peak Triple" replaced an older double chairlift. It used to be called the Snowdance Triple at Ascutney Mountain Resort in Vermont before finding its new home at Pats Peak.
For the 2025-26 season, the Hurricane triple chairlift was replaced by a brand-new quad lift. This new lift features a special loading carpet, making it easier and smoother to get on. Designed by SkyTrac Lifts from Utah, this upgrade helps skiers and snowboarders access many different trails more easily from the Hurricane unload area.
Lifts at Pats Peak
Pats Peak has a total of six chairlifts and two magic carpets. Magic carpets are like moving sidewalks that help beginners get up small hills. There are also three tow lifts: the J-Bar, the Beginner Handle, and the Park Handle.
Here is a list of the main lifts at Pats Peak:
| Name | Type | Builder | Built | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed quad lift | Quad | SkyTrac | 2025 | Has a loading carpet. |
| Peak | Triple | CTEC | 2017 | Has a loading carpet. |
| Cascade Basin | Hall | 2013 | ||
| Turbulence | Partek | 2003 | ||
| Vortex | Double | Hall | 1998 | |
| Valley | Double | Müller | 1969 | |
| Gusty | J-Bar | Hall | 1997 |
