Pre-Thanksgiving Skiing at Ski Areas in Four States
Colder than normal temperatures have resulted in major snowmaking efforts.
Saturday, November 22, 2025, NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com
A consistently colder than normal November has allowed snowmaking crews from Maine to Massachusetts to prepare trails for pre-Thanksgiving turns.
Eighteen of the first twenty-one days of November have been colder than average as measured at the National Weather Service's Concord, New Hampshire station, with the late-November to early-December forecasts also trending colder than normal for most of New England.
In Massachusetts, Jiminy Peak, Wachusett, and Ski Ward will be operating this weekend, with Jiminy offering top-to-bottom skiing on one run.
In Maine, Sugarloaf joined Sunday River on the operating list with 2,000 vertical feet of manmade coverage. Sunday River is now offering top-to-bottom skiing on two peaks.
In New Hampshire, Loon opened yesterday with 2,000 vertical feet of terrain (thanks to recent upgrades to the North Peak snowmaking infrastructure), while Cannon will do the same today. Bretton Woods continues operations after opening a week ago, while Black Mountain has paused since its debut last Saturday. Waterville Valley has been operating on a private basis for more than week for ski team training in the High Country.
In Vermont, Killington expanded its operating vertical to the base of Snowshed, while Stowe debuted with top-to-bottom skiing off the Fourrunner yesterday. Jay Peak opens two lifts on Stateside today after being nailed by multiple snowstorms. Mount Snow, Okemo, and Sugarbush are set to debut with significant vertical today, while Bolton Valley will spin lower mountain lifts for its earliest opening in decades.
