Garrison Hill in Dover doesn’t really seem like a destination for riding. But, every once in a while, a coastal storm will dump a foot or two on the small slope, transforming it into a good time for people who like to earn their turns. With a couple of glades, a small snowboard park consisting of two rails, a box, two kickers, and a bunch of downed trees to jib, the hill can turn any Seacoast snow day into real fun.

First opened for skiing in the late 1940s, Garrison Hill once had a rope tow, ski jump and warming hut. Hundreds of local people visited the area each winter to learn how to ski. It was a low-cost way for locals to enjoy winter without having to travel miles north to bigger peaks.

Over time, and with decreasing snowfall each year, the area fell into disrepair and the city stopped maintaining the slopes. By the 1980s, the area was completely overgrown and unrideable. The lookout tower atop the hill was fenced off and forgotten by most. It became so rusted that the lower section of the staircase was cut off so kids wouldn’t climb the decaying structure. 

The area was born again in the ’90s during the extreme skiing and snowboarding boom, with a new tower at the top, mowed runs and the park. If you do visit, take time to walk up the tower. On a clear day it’s possible to see the White Mountains, including Mt. Washington. You will also get to sample some of the sweetest graffiti in the region. About 90 percent of the structure has been illustrated by latchkey kids, probably around 4:20 in the afternoon.

Although the hill doesn’t have a ski patrol, Wentworth Douglas Hospital is located at the base less than two minutes away—10 if your leg is broken.