Mount Sunapee comes out ahead overall. It offers more vertical than Crotched Mountain. Crotched Mountain still has plenty to offer, especially for beginners and intermediate skiers who don't need the biggest mountain. But if you want the fuller experience, Mount Sunapee is the stronger pick.
Highlighted cells indicate the stronger result for each metric. Numbers are measurements — compare them directly.
| Crotched Mountain | Mount Sunapee | |
|---|---|---|
Vertical Drop Height from top to bottom — more is a longer, bigger mountain feeling | 263m (863ft) | 460m (1,509ft) |
Summit Elevation How high the mountain reaches — higher tends to mean colder, drier snow | 619m (2,031ft) | 838m (2,749ft) |
Base Elevation Height of the base village — affects snow quality at the bottom of the mountain | 356m (1,168ft) | 378m (1,240ft) |
Annual Snowfall Average natural snowfall per season — more means better powder odds | 305cm (120in) | 330cm (130in) |
Trail Count Total marked runs — more variety over a week-long trip | 25 | 67 |
Lift Count Total lifts — more lifts typically means shorter queues and better mountain access | 5 | 11 |
Skiable Area Total groomed and patrolled terrain in hectares | 40ha (99ac) | 92ha (227ac) |
Beginner Terrain Percentage of trails rated beginner — higher means more options for new skiers | 30% | 24% |
Intermediate Terrain Percentage of trails rated intermediate — the core terrain for most holiday skiers | 40% | 56% |
Advanced Terrain Percentage of trails rated advanced or expert — higher means more challenge | 30% | 20% |
Mount Sunapee edges ahead in more categories, though the gap is close. Both are excellent resorts.
Mount Sunapee has somewhat more vertical drop, giving a slightly longer ride on most runs.
Both resorts receive similar annual snowfall, so you can expect comparable snow conditions at either.
Crotched Mountain has a slight edge in beginner-friendly terrain, with a bit more dedicated green-run acreage.
Mount Sunapee is much larger: significantly more trails means more variety and far less chance of skiing the same run twice in a week.
Both resorts sit at similar base elevations, so snow quality and preservation are comparable.
Crotched Mountain has more beginner-friendly terrain and is a lower-pressure environment for new skiers.
Mount Sunapee wins on the stats that matter most for experienced skiers: more mountain to explore over a full week.
Crotched Mountain is the better pick for beginners. It dedicates more of its mountain to green runs and easy terrain, which means less time hunting for appropriate slopes and more time building confidence.
Crotched Mountain (305 cm/year) and Mount Sunapee (330 cm/year) receive similar annual snowfall. Neither has a meaningful snow advantage; other factors like aspect, elevation, and grooming matter more day-to-day.
Mount Sunapee is the larger mountain by trail count (Crotched Mountain: 25 trails, Mount Sunapee: 67 trails). On a week-long trip, a bigger mountain means more variety and a lower chance of feeling like you've exhausted the terrain.
Crotched Mountain has a higher percentage of expert terrain. If you're an advanced skier who will spend most of your day on black and double-black runs, that extra challenge is worth considering when choosing between these two.
Crotched Mountain is generally the better family resort based on its terrain mix. More beginner-friendly slopes means children and less experienced parents have plenty of room to ski without feeling pushed beyond their comfort zone. That said, both resorts have established ski schools, so check current program reviews before booking.
Other matchups featuring these resorts and their regional peers.