Lake in a forst

Plan a Winter Adventure with AMC

The boldest winter adventures can be found right here in the Northeast. If you’re looking to get out this winter, join AMC for an unforgettable experience. AMC’s lodges and cabins give you right-out-the-door access to trails while providing gear and instruction. No matter how you want to get into the snow, you’ll find it in New Hampshire or Maine, and AMC is your one-stop-shop to a fully turnkey experience.

Here‘s how AMC supports your outdoor adventures:

  • Joe Dodge Lodge and the Highland Center, AMC’s New Hampshire lodges, offer free snowshoe rentals to overnight guests.
  • The Highland Center at Crawford Notch has a massive L.L. Bean gear room with warm clothing and winter hiking gear—and best of all, overnight guests can access everything in the gear room for free! Pack light and know that you can borrow everything you need at AMC.
  • New to winter recreation, or just looking for some company? Join a Guided Outdoors winter skills and snowshoe group trips throughout the winter.
  • You’ve got to experience backcountry skiing in the Northeast if the conditions are right. AMC’s chapters host a large range of ski clinics out of Cardigan Lodge and Joe Dodge Lodge. These activities are a great way to break into the sport...and into a community of skiers looking to earn their turns.

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downhill skiing

Downhill Skiing & Snowboarding

Sleeping at the mountain makes it easier to get first tracks. At Joe Dodge Lodge and Cardigan Lodge, your room will have ski-in access from the historic Sherburn Ski Trail and Dukes Trail respectively. The Highland Center at Crawford Notch offers access to ski the Cog Railway. When you stay at AMC’s Joe Dodge Lodge, Cardigan Lodge, and the Highland Center, you’ll have access to old CCC trails, glades, and legendary Tuckerman Ravine all at your ski tips. New to backcountry skiing and snowboarding? Learn the basics before hitting the trail by reading our expert-curated guide to backcountry skiing for beginners. Looking for lift service? Joe Dodge Lodge and the Highland Center are minutes away from some of New England’s best ski areas, including Wildcat Mountain and New Hampshire's largest ski area, Bretton Woods.

Cross-country Skiing

Cross-country skiing, also known as Nordic skiing, combines downhill skiing’s fluidity and snowshoeing’s immersion in a winter landscape. It’s an activity that engages the entire body—and it’s just as fun for beginners as it is for seasoned pros. Guests who stay at AMC’s Joe Dodge Lodge in Pinkham Notch receive a complimentary voucher for Great Glen Outdoor Center. Explore on your own, or join us for a cross-country ski program with an AMC Guide. If you are an experienced Nordic skier, you must visit AMC's Maine lodges. With 90 miles of groomed ski trails and ski-in lodging, AMC's cabins are a hidden gem in Maine's 100-Mile Wilderness. Learn more about the Maine lodge-to-lodge skiing experience here.

cross-country skiing - photo by Cait Bourgault
winter hike

Winter Hiking

Hiking in the winter, especially in the White Mountains, is an exhilarating experience. It also requires more preparedness and planning. Fortunately when you stay at AMC’s Highland Center at Crawford Notch, you will have the L.L. Bean Gear Room at your disposal. Whether you forgot a layer or want to test high-quality apparel and gear before committing to a purchase, we’ve got you covered.

Learn how to feel more prepared and confident with winter adventures by joining us for a winter hiking program with an AMC Guide like a beginner winter hiking trip in the White Mountains of New Hampshire or guided hikes with affinity groups such as womens+, 55+, or 20s-and-30s.

Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing is a fun way to get outside during the winter—it makes traveling in deep snow easier, almost as easy as walking. AMC’s Joe Dodge Lodge and Highland Center offer free snowshoe rentals for overnight guests.

If you’d like to enjoy a small private group snowshoe excursion, AMC’s trained guides are available to create and lead custom hikes. Email [email protected] to start planning your dream trip.

snowshoeing
ice climbing in Dixville Notch, NH

Ice Climbing

Looking to climb ice or undertake winter mountaineering? AMC’s Joe Dodge Lodge has walk-out access to iconic Huntington Ravine, where climbers attempt to summit Mt. Washington. AMC’s Highland Center is only minutes from great climbs on Frankenstein Cliffs, Wiley Slide, and Shoestring Gully. Don’t forget your crampons and ice axe—though if you do, AMC’s staff can recommend items from our on-site stores or nearby retailers.

About AMC’s Winter Lodging

Cardigan 168.jpg

Next to 5,000-acre Mount Cardigan State Forest, Cardigan Lodge is located on a 1,200-acre reservation owned by AMC and is a short 2-hour drive from Boston. Perfect for backcountry skiers, Cardigan Lodge is available to book at a low by-the-bunk rate during the winter self-service season.

Selections From Paula Champagne

Built on AMC conservation land in the north Maine Woods, Medawisla Lodge and Cabins is your starting point for a breathtaking lodge-to-lodge cross-country skiing itinerary.

Paula Champagne

Built on the site of the historic Crawford House hotel and nestled at the southern base of the Presidential Range in New Hampshire’s Crawford Notch, the Highland Center is our premier White Mountain lodge.

Paula Champagne

For more than 100 years, Joe Dodge Lodge has welcomed travelers to New Hampshire’s Pinkham Notch. At the base of Mount Washington, this lodge is the basecamp for some of best outdoor adventures in the region.

Further Reading

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AMC’s Winter Snow Report

Winter is here, and that means snow days!   Inspired by our popular fall foliage tracker, we’re providing snow depth reports from AMC locations in Maine during the winter...

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Paula Champagne
Snowshoeing 101: Tips and Tricks for Beginners

Snowshoeing is a fun way to get outside during the winter—it makes traveling in deep snow easier, opening the door to year-round hikes and walks. Snowshoeing is almost as...

Explore
2021 Amc Photo Contest
Best Backcountry Skiing at Mount Cardigan

This is an excerpt from the guidebook Best Backcountry Skiing in the Northeast, Second Edition, by David Goodman.  Check availability and book your stay at Cardigan.   Every time...

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Winter Hiking Essential Gear List 1024x538
Winter Hiking Essential Gear List

Hiking in the winter demands more. More preparedness and more planning. More outdoor experience and ability, and—perhaps most easily overlooked—more time. The cold months require better decision-making and a...

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Pc2020 Nick Tartaglione Skiing Through Narnia.jpeg 1 1024x640
Backcountry Skiing for Beginners

You’ve explored the backcountry, but have you done so on skis? Backcountry skiing is experiencing a surge in recent years. While backcountry skiing can be a breathtaking way to...

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Caitbourgault 144 1024x684
Cross-Country Skiing for Beginners

  Cross-country skiing, also known as Nordic skiing, combines downhill skiing’s fluidity, running’s cardio workout, and snowshoeing’s immersion in a winter landscape. It is an activity that engages the...

Explore

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