Alton Bay Seaplane Base and Ice Runway, Alton Bay NH
February 19 @ 12:00 am - 11:30 pm
January 31, 2026 Opening day for the 2026 season! The weather was perfect for the 82 landings that we had, with the first one at 0802 in the morning! There were aircraft from as far away as Rhode Island and Pennsylvania. We saw many familiar faces and a lot of new first-time travelers to the Ice Runway.
The Alton Bay Ice Runway (Runway 01/19) in New Hampshire typically opens for the season between late January and March 31, depending entirely on ice safety and thickness. It usually remains open for roughly 4-8 weeks, though its operation is day-to-day, with closures possible due to warm weather, as seen in recent years.
- Operating Status: The runway is generally open for winter operations when ice is over 20 inches thick.
- Season Duration: While often open from late January through March, the 2025 season had an expected operational window from late January to late February, emphasizing that dates are highly weather-dependent.
- Safety Requirements: The NH Department of Transportation ensures the 100-foot wide by 2,600-foot long runway is plowed for both ski and conventional aircraft during this period.
- Usage: It is considered one of the busiest airports in the state on winter weekends, with up to 130+ planes landing daily in peak conditions
> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<
Photo by Photographer John Gisis.
46 Mount Major Hwy, Alton Bay NH
