"Rugged" 200+ Acre Expansion for Expert Skiers Coming to Northeast Resort

There’s a new sheriff in town.

Well, there will be when the 2027-28 season kicks off as Loon Mountain unveils a new experts-only terrain expansion called Black Ridge that spans 272 acres. With it, the resort’s total acreage will hit 675 acres, making it the largest ski mountain in New Hampshire, according to Loon.

Located off North Peak, the resort’s tallest peak, Black Ridge’s skiable terrain will feature expansive areas with dense pine forests, steep gullies, and open hardwood glades. 

“Black Ridge gives our most advanced guests something genuinely different—real forest character, inside our boundary, without losing what makes this terrain wild,” said Brian Norton, president and general manager of Loon Mountain Resort, in a release. 

The expansion doesn’t come with a new lift. Instead, skiers will ride up the North Peak Express Quad before heading through a gate and traversing up to 1.25 miles east. The traverse may require some hiking or pushing. From there, they’ll choose their own route down the mountain, with the run eventually intersecting with North Peak lift access.

The setup, based on Loon’s description, resembles similar hike-to areas at other resorts with a backcountry vibe but that are patrolled and inbounds. 

Norton noted that Black Ridge isn’t for everyone, which is the point. It’ll feature no grooming or snowmaking, span 1,350 vertical feet, and, due to its size, may have delayed patrol response times. 

“It’s a true rugged experience—natural and raw, unlike anything else we maintain at Loon today,” Norton said.

The project came about through a collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, following an approved expansion to Loon’s Special Use Permit Boundary within the White Mountain National Forest.

The goal, Loon’s release said, is “maintaining the area’s natural character while preparing the glades for skiing and snowboarding.” An FAQ on Loon’s website noted that tree cutting will be kept to a minimum with a “few loosely defined routes and areas within the zone.”

The area borders one far edge of Loon Mountain, bumping up against current runs like Upper Walking Boss Woods and Lower Walking Boss Woods. No access to the area will be allowed this upcoming winter.

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