As one of the only enjoyable reasons to leave the house during the winter, skiing is a delightful passtime for the whole family. There really isn’t anything like strapping on your skis and feeling anticipation of hitting the fresh snow covering the mountainside. But instead of just dreaming about the slopes and the cozy fire after a long day of skiing, why not head to one of these three places right here in the Merrimack Valley!
Nashoba Valley Ski Area
Website: https://skinashoba.com/
Address for Ski Area: 79 Powers Rd, Westford, MA 01886
Address for Tubing Park: 179 Great Rd, Littleton, MA 01460
As Google points out, Nashoba Valley has 17 trails on a 240 vertical foot mountain. Woah! So much snow and so many trails to choose from, talk about a fun filled day! The Nashoba Valley Ski Area also creates their own snow so you can rest assured you’ll have a nice blanket of snow to ski on when you arrive.
At the end of the day, you can head over to the Outlook Restaurant for a delicious meal. Visitors can browse their menu of appetizers, burgers, seafood, pasta, and more. Offering fine dining with a scenic view of the slopes, you can’t go wrong with curling up by the window with a warm hot toddy.
Nashoba Valley hosts plenty of special racing events and activities throughout the season, typically made for advanced riders. These events include the Vertical Challenge, the Snow Challenge, and even Adult Team Racing & Championships. Whether you come to these events as a participant or spectator, you are sure to have an excellent time. In addition, the tubing also has a sight lodge and snack bar, complete with beer, wine, and spirits.
Also, the Nashoba Valley Ski Area is a perfect place to learn or master your skiing and snowboarding skills. In fact, visitors can even join one of the ski area’s skiing and snowboarding lessons. Lesson programs, led by experienced instructors, are available for ages 3-17. In addition, group and private lessons are offered, alongside adaptive programs, 6-week student courses, junior race training, adult lessons, and more.
Interested in sharing skiing with friends who aren’t too comfortable strapped to two sticks? With one day lessons, you can bring a group of your friends and learn how to ski if they’re new to it.
Ski Bradford
Website: https://skibradford.com/
Address: 60 S Cross Rd, Haverhill, MA 01835
At Ski Bradford located in Haverhill, there are 15 trails, glades, and a terrain park. With over 60 acres of skiable terrain, heading there after a wonderful snowfall will be a true treat. If somehow we don’t have much snow this winter, don’t fret — the Ski Bradford snowmaking crew works around the clock to provide the slopes with all the fluffiest snow possible.
More details from their website about Ski Bradford:
- Uphill capacity of 9,600 persons per hour
- 3 Triple Chair lifts and 6 Surface Lifts
- Complete rental shop
- Full service snack bar
- Large base lodge
- Ample parking
- 65 hours of operation per week
Interested in taking lessons? Whether you’re a great skier or a snowboarder, lessons can always be helpful to reinforce what you already know.
“Alpine skiing and snowboarding are activities that the whole family can enjoy together. With today’s teaching methods and the newest skis and snowboards along with snowmaking and grooming, you can be skiing or snowboarding in very little time.”
In order to participate in a skiing lesson, you’ll need to register beforehand by visiting for more details: https://skibradford.com/programs/.
Great Brook Ski Touring Center
Website: http://www.greatbrookski.com/
Address: 1018 Lowell St, Carlisle, MA 01741
Operating under a contract with the Department of Recreation of Conservation and Recreation, they are open from December 1 to March 31, depending on snow conditions. The Great Brook Ski area offers trails for all levels of difficulty, and gives you an opportunity to explore beautiful landscapes full of farmland, forests, streams, and ponds within the 1,000 acres of the Great Brook Farm and the surrounding State Park.
The option for a daily trail pass or a season pass is one of the cheaper options on the list so this might be a great economical option. Even their rental rates for a full package that includes skis, boots, and poles is only $20.
Another very neat perk of skiing with Great Brook is their night skiing by lantern light on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
”Great Brook offers night skiing by lantern light on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, conditions permitting. Lanterns are lit on the 1-mile Lantern Loop from sunset until 9:00 PM allowing skiers the chance to admire the combination of brilliant night sky and glimmering snow. This is an especially worthwhile experience during a full moon. Headlamps and other forms of lighting are not permitted as they negatively affect other skiers. Only the Lantern Loop is open during this time; other trails close at dusk.”
We hope you enjoy the slopes of the Merrimack Valley this winter!
