About Eastern Mountain Sports
Eastern Mountain Sports has anchored the outdoor scene in North Conway since the company's founding in 1967, making its White Mountain Highway location one of the longest-running outdoor retailers in the Mount Washington Valley. The store carries ski and snowboard rental packages with expert boot fittings alongside a vast retail selection of hiking, climbing, camping, and paddling gear from brands that define the outdoor industry. Whether you need a beginner ski package for a family day at Cranmore or a set of ice-climbing tools for a frozen waterfall in Crawford Notch, EMS has you covered under one roof.
The crown jewel of the North Conway operation is the EMS Climbing School, which launched in Boston in 1968 and relocated its headquarters to the White Mountains, making it the oldest and largest climbing school in the eastern United States. Fully accredited by the American Mountain Guides Association, the school offers guided rock climbing, ice climbing, and mountaineering programs for beginners through advanced climbers across Cathedral Ledge, Whitehorse Ledge, and the Presidential Range. EMS also runs kayak and ski school programs, turning the store into a genuine year-round adventure hub rather than a simple retail outlet.
Located at 1640 White Mountain Highway, EMS benefits from its proximity to some of New England's finest outdoor terrain — miles of hiking trails in the White Mountain National Forest, world-class ice routes in Frankenstein Cliff area, and half a dozen ski resorts within a thirty-minute drive. The knowledgeable staff can help you plan a half-day rock-climbing outing or a multi-day backcountry traverse, and the deep retail inventory means you can rent, buy, and resupply without visiting multiple shops. For the outdoor enthusiast who wants expert guidance paired with serious gear selection, EMS North Conway remains the valley's definitive one-stop destination.
