North Conway Wins Top Ski Town Award Two Years Running!

In November 2024, North Conway took top honors in the USA TODAY Readers’ Choice Award for Best Ski Town in North America.

The White Mountain, New Hampshire ski town has done it again … North Conway has won the award once again for 2025!

North Conway has been on USA Today’s list of best ski towns every year since 2016, and has been awarded first-place honors a total of five times. These nominations are carefully curated by a panel of subject-matter experts and USA TODAY 10Best editors before being voted on by the public. North Conway has even been listed on the World’s 25 Best Ski Towns, according to National Geographic®.

What does it take to earn top ski town recognition?

While North Conway and its neighboring towns may not have the largest ski areas in the country, it does have what many other locations lack … Options!

Day trips aside, when skiers plan a weekend or week-long getaway, they want options. Planning a multi-day ski trip not only means having choices and access to the best ski areas and terrain, but also the opportunity to enhance the mountain-town experience with a wide selection of winter recreation, dining, shopping, value, and an abundance of lodging options.

While unique coffee shops and breakfast hotspots are key start-up essentials, après-ski options are an integral part of the ski experience, especially after a day on the mountain or in the backcountry. Whether you prefer live music and dancing or kicking back with a toasty beverage by the fire, North Conway and its neighboring towns have the uncanny ability to provide enough choices of locally owned eateries, taverns, and breweries to satisfy everyone in the bunch.

Let’s take a closer look.

Legendary Alpine, Nordic, and Backcountry Terrain

When it comes to popular ski towns, access to ski resort options need to be considered—and North Conway has that category firmly in place. In addition to seven alpine resorts with over 335 trails totaling 1,600 skiable acres, the Mt. Washington Valley area also features six unique cross-country networks with over 450 km of groomed trails. All are within 30 minutes of North Conway village, and three more major alpine resorts are within a one-hour drive.

With the resurgence of backcountry skiing in the area—thanks in part to groups like Granite Backcountry Alliance (GBA) and White Mountain Ski Company—the North Conway area offers over 30,000 vertical feet of backcountry gladed terrain, plus an additional 10,000 vertical feet of historic CCC trails. While Mount Washington, Tuckerman Ravine, and the Presidential Range are found in the heart of it all, some of the most extreme, legendary backcountry ski lines in the Northeast can be found just minutes from the North Conway area. GBA now has a lengthy track record of creating and redeveloping ski glades around the region. However, the nonprofit group has a deeper mission. According to GBA, “Improving the foundation of the sport is critical to future success, such as creating partnerships and collaboration with public and private landowners, education regarding safety and ecological awareness, and creating a unified culture—one that respects the land and its owners and does not permit unauthorized cutting.”

Rich Ski History, Heritage, and Culture

Helping to justify the Best Ski Town recognition, North Conway is also loaded with rich ski history, heritage, and culture. For decades, beginning in the 1930s, Snow Trains from Boston and Dover carried hundreds of skiers to North Conway, often promoted as the “birthplace of American skiing.” Legendary ski names like Hannes Schneider, Harvey Gibson, and Carroll Reed were pivotal figures in the development of modern skiing and the ski industry, and will forever be associated with North Conway.

Speaking of legendary names, great ski towns tend to breed great skiers, and North Conway has many. Olympian and or U.S. Ski Team legends include Brooks Dodge, Tyler Palmer, Sue Wemyss, Marcus Nash, Carl Swenson, and Leanne Smith, as well as more recent athletes, Sean Doherty, Caite Zeliff, and Grace Castonguay. Most of these skiers can trace their ski roots directly back to their youth and the Eastern Slope Ski Club (ESSC). The non-profit organization was founded in 1935 to promote winter sports, and to this day, provides skiing and snowboarding opportunities for over 900 elementary school children throughout the Mt. Washington Valley.

To help recognize and preserve such rich history, the New England Ski Museum is located directly in the heart of North Conway Village, and its collections are recognized as one of the most comprehensive in the United States. With a focus on the 10th Mountain Division, the museum also offers permanent and changing exhibits, an archive and library, educational programs, and a museum shop. A second museum location can also be found in nearby Franconia.

Unique Dining and Lodging Options

In addition to white-steepled churches, creaky covered bridges, and a plethora of mom-and-pop shops, there are breweries, distilleries, art galleries, locally owned pubs and eateries … plus a slew of eclectic, tax-free retail shopping options that will keep visiting skiers … and non-skiers happy for days.

But when it comes to dining, the North Conway area is home to the Valley Originals, a group of independent, locally owned restaurants that work together to promote area dining and nurture a unique community restaurant experience. Look for the gold and black flags!

We know that those who call the Valley home know where to find the best ski lines—but what overnight options are there for visitors? When it comes to unique lodging options, skiers on a budget can choose from more than 50 privately owned, dorm-styled ski clubs, ranging from Tamworth to North Conway to Gorham, most of which originated decades ago. Those looking for something a bit more fancy can choose from dozens of New England-style inns and B&Bs or even upscale grand hotels from yesteryear, such as the Eastern Slope Inn Resort or the Omni® Mount Washington Resort.

Renowned Winter Events

From last-man-skiing-type races to family fun nights and zany spring events, the list of fun annual events at local ski areas is a long one. However, the North Conway area hosts events that have become well-known and highly attended throughout the Northeast.

The Mt. Washington Backcountry Ski Festival is a four-day event, celebrating backcountry skiing by offering educational and experiential learning in the White Mountains. In addition to social events like après parties, panel discussions, a film festival, live music, and gear deals, the festival aims to foster a strong backcountry community by providing first-class knowledge, facilitating connections, and introducing newcomers to the sport in a welcoming environment.

The Mt. Washington Ice Fest is the premier annual ice climbing event in the northeastern United States, organized by the International Mountain Climbing School (IMCS). The festival brings together climbers of all skill levels for guided ice climbing opportunities, skills clinics, gear demos from top brands, and community events like slide shows and auctions.

The Hannes Schneider Meister Cup is an annual ski race and fundraising event held at Cranmore Mountain Resort and presented by the New England Ski Museum. It celebrates the legacy of Hannes Schneider, the “father of modern skiing,” and features a team-based giant slalom race for participants of all skill levels, along with a vintage skiwear show, music, award ceremonies, and other activities.

The springtime Tuckerman Inferno is an annual pentathlon adventure race on Mount Washington, serving as a fundraiser for the Mount Washington Avalanche Center. The “original” Tuckerman Inferno race, also known as the American Inferno, was a ski race held on Mount Washington, from the summit to Pinkham Notch, on April 16, 1933. Inspired by a similar race in Murren, Switzerland, the American version was a prestigious event that culminated in the legendary 1939 run by Toni Matt, who skied the Tuckerman headwall at speeds over 90 mph. While the original race is no longer held in the same format, the modern Tuckerman Inferno has revived the spirit of the historical event.

There is a never-ending list of family-friendly activities, including winter snowshoeing and hiking, snowmobiling, ice climbing, sleigh rides, ice skating, scenic train rides … and even dog sledding! Those fortunate to ski, stay, and play in the area know why this little part of the country continues to leave its mark in the skiing world—and why it has been named Best Ski Town in North America more often than any other ski town in the country!

This article first appeared in the Fall 2025 edition of Mt Washington Valley Vibe magazine.