Shaw Outdoor Center

The Shaw Outdoor Center is located on Paine Mountain, just east of Route 12, on the site of the former Ski Hill. Remembered by many as the Goodrich Ski Area, it was originally named in honor of George Goodrich of Northfield, who made the land available to the university. At one time it was the largest “on-campus” ski facility in the country, boasting 14 trails on 20 acres, a ski jump, a Poma chair lift, and an electrically operated rope tow that carried skiers to the summit. The ski facility closed in 1992, then in 2010, Larry Costa ’80 donated funds to redesign the area as a year-round, outdoor recreation center. Named in memory of Staff Sergeant John Shaw, a former Mountain & Cold Weather instructor at Norwich, it features hiking, mountain biking, cross country skiing and snowshoeing trails, areas for paintball, and a permanent structure for MCW. In addition, it serves as home to two annual military obstacle course races: the Brian R. Bill ’01 Memorial Challenge and the Walter N. Levy ’63 Challenge, both named in memory of NU alumni killed in action.