Whaleback Mountain

Community-run night hill right off I-89.

A nonprofit hill near Hanover with 700 ft of vertical, steep fall-line trails down the Face, and night skiing Tuesday through Friday. Tickets are cheap, the pub is a local gathering spot, and the summit chair is running again after a long repair. Good for locals, Dartmouth crowds and Indy Pass holders passing through.

The mountain

Vertical drop

700 ft

Summit

1,800 ft

Skiable terrain

85 acres

Trails

30

Lifts

4

Average snowfall

110″ a year

Longest run

1 mi

Snowmaking

67% of terrain

Terrain mix

• Beginner 25%
• Intermediate 40%
• Advanced 35%

What’s here besides skiing

• Night skiing
• Terrain park
• Kids programs

Holidays and events

2026–27 dates where they’re posted. “Usually” means the date follows past years. Confirm before you go.

• New Year’sDec 31, 6–10 pm (as in recent years)Usually

  Whaley Cool NYE Bash

  Live music, warm food and cold drinks in the lodge.

• FestivalNov 6, doors 5 pm

  Flannel Fest

  Annual fundraiser with live music, a silent auction and food. Tickets are a donation to the mountain.

• EventDec 4, from 5 pm

  Mug Club Party

  Pre-season party where a limited run of handmade mugs is sold. Members get $1 off drafts all season. Lines start early.

• RaceThursday nights, January to mid-FebruaryUsually

  Thursday Night Race League

  Head-to-head dual slalom under the lights for adult teams of four.

• Pond skimClosing weekend in mid-MarchUsually

  Pond Skim and St. Patrick’s Deck Party

  The season finale, with a pond skim and live music on the deck. Last season the weekend also had a dual mogul contest.

Where to stay

• hotelFireside Inn & Suites West Lebanon

  Straightforward hotel by the Lebanon airport and I-89.

  15 min drive
• hotelSix South St Hotel

  Boutique hotel a block from the Dartmouth Green.

  20 min drive
• hotelHanover Inn

  Dartmouth’s historic inn on the Green, with a restaurant and bar.

  20 min drive
• innGreat Stone Dwelling at Enfield Shaker Museum

  Twenty rooms with private baths on the upper floors of the historic Shaker stone dwelling, open year-round. Leashed dogs welcome with notice.

  10 min drive

Rates are typical winter lows before taxes and fees, and change constantly. Book on the property’s own site.

Things to do

• Enfield Shaker Museum · 10 min drive

  Restored Shaker village on Mascoma Lake. Museum open Wednesday to Saturday.

• Northern Rail Trail · 5 min drive

  Flat four-season rail trail through Enfield and Lebanon, used for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

• Hood Museum of Art · 20 min drive

  Dartmouth’s art museum on the Green in Hanover.

• Lebanon Opera House · 15 min drive

  Historic downtown venue for concerts, theater and touring shows.

• Harpoon Brewery · 30 min drive

  Harpoon’s Vermont brewery and taproom across the river in Windsor.

Après and nightlife

• Whaleback Pub

  Friday Night Lights with food and music, weekend après sets and two outdoor fire pits. Join the Mug Club for cheaper drafts.

• Salt hill Pub

  Irish-style pub in Lebanon with craft beer and live music.

• Murphy’s on the Green

  Hanover tavern a short walk from the Dartmouth Green.

These themes are our summary of recent skier reviews, not quotes.

Getting there

• Lebanon Municipal (LEB) · about 15 min drive
• Boston · about 2 hr
• New York City · about 4.5 hr

Directions in Google Maps