United States New England Fall Foliage Chairlift Sky Rides Ski Lifts Will Take You High Above New England's Fall Leaves By Kim Knox Beckius Kim Knox Beckius Facebook Twitter Kim Knox Beckius is a Connecticut-based travel writer, author, photographer, and editor. She's been with TripSavvy since 1998. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 10/11/20 KenCanning / Getty Images During the fall, New England's ski resorts know how to kick up more autumn fun than a kid in a great big pile of leaves, offering visitors scenic views of the season's finest and most colorful foliage from above. From mid-September through Halloween, many ski resorts throughout New England will start up their chairlifts and invite riders to hop on and enjoy the views. In 2020, some ski resorts are still closed for the fall season and the ones that are operating are enforcing social distancing. 01 of 09 K-1 Gondola Rides at Killington TripSavvy / Kim Knox Beckius View Map Address Killington, VT 05751, USA Get directions Phone +1 800-621-6867 Web Visit website In 2020, the gondolas at Killington are running but social distancing and mask-wearing will be enforced. At Killington, the eight-passenger K-1 Gondola can take you to the highest Vermont peak serviced by a chairlift, where you'll enjoy views that stretch into five states and Canada on a clear day. The K-1 Gondola leaves from the Killington Base Lodge and runs Thursday through Sunday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. 02 of 09 Ride the SkyRide at Wachusett Mountain View Map Address 41 Mile Hill Rd, Westminster, MA 01473, USA Get directions Phone +1 978-464-2300 Web Visit website In 2020, social distancing is being enforced at the ski resort, capacity on the chairlift has been reduced, and passengers will be required to social distance. Wachusett Mountain has the only high-speed detachable quad chairlift in Massachusetts. You'll find the best views are at the top of the 2,006-foot summit, where the panoramic vista of reds and yellows makes for a perfect fall photo-opportunity. 03 of 09 Summit Gondola Rides at Stratton Photo courtesy of Stratton Mountain Resort View Map Address Stratton Mountain, Stratton, VT 05360, USA Get directions The lift ride at Stratton Mountain is open for the 2020 season, but will only operate on Saturday and Sunday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Soar to the top of southern Vermont's highest peak and enjoy foliage views that defy comparison. Stratton beckons leaf peepers to the summit with its gondola rides, but also offers many opportunities for hiking, kayaking, golf, paintball, ATV tours, and more. You can save by purchasing your tickets online in advance, and a family rate ensures that related groups of up to eight passengers can soar affordably. 04 of 09 Fall Foliage Scenic Chairlift Rides at Mount Snow Photo courtesy of Peak Resorts View Map Address 89 Grand Summit Way, West Dover, VT 05356, USA Get directions Phone +1 802-448-6819 Web Visit website In 2020, Mount Snow will not be open until November 14. You'll have views of four states from the 3,600-foot summit at Mount Snow Resort in Mount Snow, Vermont. Scenic Chairlift Rides aboard the Bluebird Express are available Friday through Sunday, September through mid-October, weather permitting. The chairlift typically operates daily September 30 through October 3, as well as on the second Monday in October. To purchase your lift ticket, visit Mount Snow Sports in the Grand Summit Hotel. Continue to 5 of 9 below. 05 of 09 Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway Rides Photo Courtesy of Cannon & Franconia Notch State Park View Map Address 260 Tramway Dr, Franconia, NH 03580, USA Get directions Phone +1 603-823-8800 Web Visit website In 2020, the tramway will not be operating during the fall season. In Franconia, New Hampshire, the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway whisks 80-leaf peepers at a time to the 4,080-foot summit of New Hampshire's Cannon Mountain in less than 10 minutes. On a clear day, you'll have views of the mountains of New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Canada, and New York from the observation deck. And there's a bar at the top, too, so you can drink a toast to the leaves. 06 of 09 Scenic Gondola Rides at Wildcat Mountain Photo courtesy of Wildcat Mountain View Map Address 542 NH-16, Gorham, NH 03581, USA Get directions Phone +1 603-466-3326 Web Visit website In 2020, the chairlift will be operating, but only using the open-air chairlift seats. Wildcat Mountain in Jackson, New Hampshire, offers gondola rides on fall weekends, September 7 through the second Monday in October, weather permitting. There's also a Gondola Ride & Lunch option that includes a pleasant picnic on your ride up. For added fun, consider combining your sky ride with an exhilarating flight on the Ziprider, which will allow you to glide over the colorful treetops. 07 of 09 Gondola Summit & Skyride at Loon Mountain Photo courtesy of Loon Mountain Resort View Map Address 60 Loon Mountain Rd, Lincoln, NH 03251-4303, USA Get directions Phone +1 800-229-5666 Web Visit website In 2020, the gondola is operating but masks must be worn at all times and social distancing is in place. Loon Mountain in Lincoln, New Hampshire, offers not only a spectacular, scenic, 1.5-mile gondola ride—New Hampshire's longest—this fall but plenty of adventure when you reach the summit. Explore glacial caves, turn the kids loose at the mountaintop playground and, best of all, get great foliage photos from the four-story observation tower. The gondola runs Thursday through Monday. 08 of 09 Hunter Mountain Scenic Skyride Photo courtesy of Hunter Mountain View Map Address 8827 NY-23A, Hunter, NY 12442, USA Get directions Phone +1 518-291-8840 In 2020, Hunter Mountain will be closed until November 11. See the northern Catskills all dressed up in their autumn colors in Hunter, New York from Hunter Mountain's six-passenger Kaatskill Flyer detachable chairlift. An 11-minute ride will take you to the 3,200-foot summit. The Skyride typically operates on weekends through mid-October, plus the second Monday in October. Visit during the last weekend of September or the first two weekends of October, and you can also enjoy the resort's annual Oktoberfest featuring live music, crafts for kids, specialty events, and authentic German food and beer for sale. Continue to 9 of 9 below. 09 of 09 Whiteface Mountain Cloudsplitter Gondola Skyride Photo courtesy of Whiteface Lake Placid View Map Address 5021 NY-86, Wilmington, NY 12997, USA Get directions Phone +1 518-946-2223 Web Visit website Whiteface Mountain and its gondola are open for the 2020 fall season, but riders will need to wear masks. Gondola rides at Whiteface Mountain in Lake Placid, New York, typically run from Friday through Sunday through the first half of October, plus the second Monday in October from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. View fabulous foliage from the observation deck at the mountain's 3,600-foot summit. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit Share Pin Email