Crotched Mountain, located at 615 Francestown Rd, Bennington, NH, is a delightful mountain resort offering an enjoyable skiing experience for all skill levels. The resort features a long, gentle beginner run area perfect for novices, along with steeper and more challenging areas for experienced skiers. While not all trails are open in low snow winters due to the absence of complete snowmaking, the resort offers enough variety to ensure a fulfilling day on the slopes.
The resort's terrain does have a tricky area where the Retro trail merges into Moon Walk and extends to the top of Milky Way. This bottleneck area, characterized by narrow passages and multiple angle fall lines, can be icy and confusing, particularly for beginners. Advanced skiers are advised to be mindful of their speed in this section to avoid causing difficulties for less experienced skiers.
Crotched Mountain is staffed by a friendly and welcoming team, and includes a lodge with a spacious boot-changing area, a well-stocked ski shop, and an upstairs restaurant serving a variety of tasty, well-cooked meals. For those with mobility issues, the resort offers elevator access to the eating area.
One important note for new skiers is that the resort frequently hosts ski racing events, which can bisect the ski area and complicate navigation. However, the resort does feature a high-speed chairlift in the center of the resort, and it's conveniently located so climbing isn't necessary to reach the lifts.
Crotched Mountain is a great place for night skiing and snowboarding, staying open until 9 PM. The mountain peak offers stunning views, particularly at sunset, making it a memorable location for winter sports enthusiasts. Despite its southern location compared to other New Hampshire ski areas, Crotched Mountain is worth the trip for a day on the slopes.
However, there have been instances where the main lift was closed without prior notice, leading to long lines at the other lifts. Despite this, the snowmaking and grooming teams do an excellent job maintaining the slopes, even in less than ideal weather conditions. The resort also offers easy parking and is known for its friendly staff, making it an enjoyable place to spend a weekday skiing.
