Cannon Mountain

State: New Hampshire. Type: state-owned mountain and ski area within Franconia Notch State Park, Grafton County. Elevation 4,080 feet. Site of North America's first aerial tramway (1938). Home to the New England Ski Museum. Former site of the Old Man of the Mountain rock formation, which collapsed May 3, 2003.

Cannon Mountain rises within Franconia Notch State Park in New Hampshire's White Mountains, a granite dome long known for its dramatic cliff face and, until 2003, for the Old Man of the Mountain profile visible on its shoulder. The mountain has a genuine claim to skiing history: in 1933 workers cut the Taft Slalom, described as the first racing trail in North America, and in 1938 Cannon became home to the first aerial tramway built in the country. A modern tram, installed in 1980, still carries visitors nearly 2,022 vertical feet to the summit, where an observation platform overlooks the Franconia Range and much of the surrounding White Mountains. The state-owned ski area offers nine lifts across 165 acres of terrain, and the New England Ski Museum sits at the tramway base, chronicling the sport's regional history. Cannon Cliff, forming the mountain's southeast face, has also drawn technical rock climbers since the 1920s and remains one of the Northeast's notable big-wall climbing destinations.

Cannon Mountain sits in Grafton County, New Hampshire, within Franconia Notch State Park, roughly along I-93 between Franconia and Lincoln in the White Mountains. The tramway base area address is 260 Tramway Drive, Franconia, NH 03580. The mountain is part of the Kinsman Range and lies close to other Franconia Notch attractions such as Echo Lake Beach and Flume Gorge.

As a White Mountains summit, Cannon experiences a much harsher climate than New Hampshire's lowlands; the mountain once recorded the second-strongest wind gust ever measured in the United States, 199.5 mph, on its summit on April 2, 1973. Winters bring heavy snow supporting the ski area (158 of its 165 acres have snowmaking), while summers at the base are mild, though the summit stays notably cooler and windier than the valley floor. Specific current-season averages were not found in the sources used and should be checked with the National Weather Service before travel.

Winter (roughly December through March) is prime time for skiing and riding on Cannon's nine lifts. Summer, especially July and August, draws visitors for the tramway ride to the summit, hiking, and nearby Echo Lake Beach and Flume Gorge, both open seasonally. Fall foliage season (late September into October) is also popular for tramway rides given the mountain's views over the Franconia Range.

Rock climbers began pioneering routes on Cannon Cliff in the 1920s, and in 1933 the Taft Slalom was cut on the mountain, cited as the first racing trail built in North America. In 1938 Cannon became home to the first aerial tramway constructed in the country, a landmark moment in American ski infrastructure. The mountain was officially renamed from "Profile Mountain" to Cannon Mountain in 1972. A new tramway with a 2,022-foot vertical rise and 140-person cars was built in 1980, and the New England Ski Museum opened at the base in 1982. The mountain's namesake landmark, the Old Man of the Mountain rock profile, collapsed on May 3, 2003. In September 2025 the aerial tramway was closed for replacement; visitors should confirm current tramway status before planning a trip.

Skiing and snowboarding across nine lifts and 165 acres of terrain are the main winter draw, with snowmaking covering most of the mountain. In warmer months, the aerial tramway (when operating) carries visitors to a summit observation tower for White Mountains views. The New England Ski Museum at the base covers the region's ski history, and hiking trails with dedicated parking access the surrounding terrain. Nearby within Franconia Notch State Park, visitors commonly add Flume Gorge, a roughly 2-mile self-guided walk past 90-foot granite walls and waterfalls, and Echo Lake Beach, a 39-acre spring-fed lake with a sandy beach and pedal boat and kayak rentals.

Key features include the summit observation area (historically reached by tramway), Cannon Cliff (a roughly 1,000-foot, mile-long rock face popular with climbers), the Cannon Balls sub-peaks, and the New England Ski Museum at the tramway base. Within the wider Franconia Notch State Park, Flume Gorge and Echo Lake Beach are easy pairings for the same visit.

Cannon Mountain sits directly off Interstate 93 in Franconia Notch, making it straightforward to reach by car from Concord (roughly 90 minutes south) or from Boston (about 2.5 hours). There is no scheduled commercial air service directly to the area; the nearest larger airports are in Manchester, NH, or Burlington, VT, with a rental car needed for the drive in. On-site parking serves the tramway base and ski area.

As of research, Franconia Notch State Park attractions in the same complex listed hours of roughly 9 a.m.-5 p.m. for Flume Gorge and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. for Echo Lake Beach; ski area and tramway operating hours vary by season and were not separately confirmed on the pages fetched. As of September 2025 the aerial tramway was closed for replacement. Confirm current tramway and ski-area hours directly at cannonmt.com before visiting.

Specific current ticket prices for skiing, the tramway, or summit access were not listed on the pages fetched and should be confirmed directly at cannonmt.com, since lift tickets and tramway fares are season-dependent and change from year to year.

A half-day covers a summit tramway ride and museum visit; a full day is typical for skiing, or for combining Cannon with Flume Gorge and Echo Lake Beach in the same visit to Franconia Notch State Park.

The towns of Franconia and Lincoln, both within a short drive on I-93, offer a range of lodging from inns and motels to larger ski-resort-style properties, reflecting the area's identity as a White Mountains ski and outdoor-recreation hub. Camping is also available within Franconia Notch State Park for visitors who prefer to stay close to the mountain itself.

A base-area restaurant operates near the summit and tramway facilities, and the nearby towns of Franconia and Lincoln have a range of casual and sit-down dining reflecting the area's ski-town character. Specific restaurant names were not confirmed in sources used and are intentionally omitted here.

Flume Gorge and Echo Lake Beach, both part of Franconia Notch State Park, are within the same complex as Cannon Mountain. The broader Franconia Notch area, including hiking trails through the notch itself, is easily combined with a Cannon Mountain visit.

There is no direct commercial airport at Cannon Mountain; Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in New Hampshire is the closest larger airport with regular commercial service, with a rental car needed for the roughly two-hour drive north on I-93. Public transit to the immediate area is limited, so most visitors arrive by personal or rental vehicle.

Cannon Cliff and the surrounding terrain can produce severe, fast-changing weather, including the record-setting winds once measured at the summit, so dress in layers and check mountain weather before hiking or riding the tramway. Skiers and riders should follow posted trail difficulty ratings, since Cannon is known regionally for having some genuinely challenging terrain. For any emergency, dial 911.

Warm layers and wind protection for the summit, even in summer, given the mountain's exposure and history of extreme wind. Skiers should bring standard cold-weather gear; summer hikers and tramway riders benefit from sturdy shoes and a camera for the summit views.

Check cannonmt.com directly before visiting, since the aerial tramway was closed for replacement as of September 2025 and current operating status may affect summit access. Pairing a Cannon Mountain visit with Flume Gorge and Echo Lake Beach makes efficient use of a day in Franconia Notch State Park. Winter visitors should check snow and lift conditions via the park's live webcam and "Notch Report" before driving up.

Dial 911 for any emergency. For general visitor questions, Cannon Mountain can be reached at 603-823-8800 or info@cannonmt.com, per its official site.

Cannon Mountain - https://www.cannonmt.com

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.