Wachusett Mountain (ski area) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wachusett Mountain
Aerial view of the ski area
Wachusett Mountain Location in Massachusetts Show map of Massachusetts Wachusett Mountain Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Princeton, Massachusetts
Nearest city	Worcester
Coordinates	42°29′58″N 71°53′11″W / 42.49944°N 71.88639°W / 42.49944; -71.88639
Vertical	1,006 ft (307 m)
Top elevation	2,006 ft (611 m)
Base elevation	1,000 ft (305 m)
Skiable area	110 acres (0.45 km2)
Runs	26
Longest run	1.3 mi (2.1 km)
Lift system	3 magic carpets 1 triple chairlift 3 high speed quads
Terrain parks	Alpine Park Racing venue
Snowfall	100 in (250 cm)
Snowmaking	100%
Night skiing	yes
Website	wachusett.com

Wachusett Mountain is a fun ski area in the northeastern United States. It's located on Mount Wachusett in the towns of Princeton and Westminster, Massachusetts. This mountain has 25 different trails for skiing and snowboarding.

To get up the mountain, there are eight lifts. These include three super-fast high-speed chairlifts and three easy-to-use magic-carpet lifts, which are great for beginners. There's also a triple chairlift and a Pony lift.

Wachusett Mountain is very popular with skiers from Boston and Worcester. This is because it offers a shuttle service on weekends. The shuttle takes people to and from a train stop in nearby Fitchburg.

The mountain can make snow on all of its trails, so you can always count on good conditions. Plus, you can enjoy night-skiing on most of the trails!

A Look Back: Wachusett Mountain's History

The original Beginners' Area Triple chair lift

The first ski trails on Mount Wachusett were created a long time ago. This happened in 1934 and 1937 by a group called the Civilian Conservation Corps. These trails were named Pine Hill Trail and Balance Rock. Even today, you can still ski on parts of Balance Rock!

During World War II, a special group of soldiers, the 10th Mountain Division, trained at Wachusett. There's a plaque at the top of the mountain to remember them. The very first ski lifts, called T-bars, were put in place in 1960 and 1962.

For many years, big ski races were held on the Pine Hill Trail. These were the Massachusetts State Downhill ski championships. Later, in 1969, a person named Ralph Crowley was given permission to run the ski area. In 1982, the mountain grew a lot, and a new main building, called the base lodge, was built.

There are very old trees on Mount Wachusett, some over 350 years old! Environmental groups were concerned about protecting these special forests. Today, the ski area has rules to keep skiers and snowboarders from going into these old-growth areas to protect the trees.

Exploring Wachusett Mountain

Wachusett Mountain Center

Wachusett Mountain has 27 trails for all skill levels. You'll find easy trails (marked with a green circle), more difficult ones (blue square), and the most challenging trails (black diamond). There's also a special terrain park for tricks and jumps, and an area for racing.

Two fast chairlifts, named Minuteman and Polar Express, take you to the main peaks. A newer high-speed lift, Monadnock Express, serves the beginner area. There's also a 3-person chairlift called Vickery Bowl in the middle of the mountain. For learning, there are two magic carpets, with a third one open on weekends for young children's lessons.

In 2006, the Wachusett Mountain Ski Patrol was recognized as the best Large Alpine Patrol in the country!

The main building, the base lodge, has been made much bigger. It's now almost 50,000 square feet! Inside, you'll find public areas, a cafeteria, and The Black Diamond restaurant. There are also private rooms you can rent for the day.

Ski Trails: Difficulty Levels

Here's a quick look at how many trails there are for each difficulty level:

Mountain Lifts

Here are the main lifts at Wachusett Mountain: