Embrace the Snow

Your Guide to Winter Fun at the Ski Resorts

After a warm start to November, the temperatures dropped, snowmaking guns fired up and groomers were covering the trails with snow. Within a week, the major resorts in eastern New York and nearby New England were open for skiing and snowboarding!

New York’s biggest ski area, Gore Mountain, is loved by skiers and riders for their range of trails and diversity that nine sides of four peaks deliver. Gore’s new Backwoods intermediate trail, located on Burnt Ridge Mountain, will link the Burnt Ridge area to the North Creek Ski Bowl. The trail has been cut and final preparations are being made so it’s expected to open in January.

Get ready for winter in North Creek with Gore’s three-pack of Monday-Friday, non-holiday lift tickets for just $179. To save money, buy your e-tickets early and lock-in your dates now. In January, you can join Gore on the mountain for skiing and riding, while witnessing top athletes from around the world, competing in skiercross, big air, and slopestyle. Visit: goremountain.com.

If you’re looking for big adventures, Whiteface offers it – the biggest vertical drop of the eastern ski resorts, challenging slopes, top-ranked off-hill activities at Olympic venues, towns, mountains and lakes, plus apres-ski connecting with friends and family – and much more. 

Located just a few short miles from the village of Lake Placid, Whiteface offers terrain for all abilities, and is home to the Lake Placid 2023 World University Games in January. You can save up to 45% off your lift tickets if you buy them now. Visit: whiteface.com.

Without much help from the weather, the expanded snowmaking technology, efficiency and capacity improvements have helped resorts open the ski season with more terrain than in the past. The trail conditions allowed Gore to open more skiable terrain and lift service for opening week and Whiteface was able to offer awesome top to bottom skiing for the first time ever on opening day!

Located in Queensbury, West Mountain, offers amazing day and night skiing and snowboarding, snowtubing, skiing and riding lessons, alpine club racing, ski tuning at their in-house ski shop, rental equipment, events and more. West offers 125 acres with 31 trails and 1,000 feet of vertical drop, located at the foot of the Adirondacks. 

With the colder temperatures and some natural snow, their snowmakers are now operating full throttle, so they should be opening soon. Now’s the time to sign up for their six-week learn to ski or ride programs for children and adults of all abilities. Register early and save for their winter stay and play holiday camps, plus the learn to ski or snowboard three packs. Visit: westmountain.com.

In the southern Adirondacks, Oak Mountain ski resort in Speculator is an easy drive from Albany, Glens Falls or Utica. They offer terrain to suit everyone’s needs at an affordable rate for skiing, snowboarding and tubing. The snowmaking “whales” are made and being groomed out, and with Mother Nature’s help they expect to open soon. They have an outstanding ski and snowboard school.

Oak has 22 trails, a quad chairlift, T-bar, and two surface lifts. For additional fun and exercise, they also have four lanes of snowtubing and miles of snowshoeing trails for hiking through the majestic forest. It’s home to the Acorn Pub & Eatery, with Adirondack cuisine driving the casually-creative menu. Visit: oakmountainski.com.

In Hancock, Mass., Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort is the largest ski and snowboard resort in southern New England. Jiminy Peak’s mission is to provide positive, memorable experiences in their Berkshire Mountain surroundings. They’ve been open for a few weekends and expect to open soon full-time for the season. 

Jiminy operates on 100% renewable energy sources and with nature’s help their snowmaking and grooming team is working hard to get as much terrain open as possible. They offer activities for the whole family on their 45 trails with nine lifts, including a six-person high-speed chairlift. Visit: jiminypeak.com.

Just an hour from Albany, Catamount Ski Resort, is located on the border of Massachusetts and New York in the beautiful Berkshires. Featuring 44 trails, eight lifts, 97% snowmaking and night skiing, Catamount offers challenging trails and family fun, close to home. 

Catamount’s new snowtubing park debuts for winter 2022-23. Snowmaking weather is finally here and their crews are blanketing the trails with snow in preparation for their opening day on Dec. 15. Visit: catamountski.com.

Located in the Catskills, Windham Mountain, is passionately committed to providing above and beyond resort experiences, getting people outside for fresh air and wellness recreation, and furthering the growth of snowsports. They offer big mountain skiing, close to home – one hour from Albany.

Windham opened in late November with their new Whiteway Express Quad, and they’re celebrating with their midweek quad pack so you can ski on the midweek days of your choice, and its fully transferrable among family and friends. Visit: windhammountain.com.

Nestled in the central Adirondacks, McCauley Mountain, just outside Old Forge provides skiing and snowboarding for all levels with big mountain terrain but without long lift lines or high-ticket prices. McCauley’s 21 trails receive an annual snowfall of 280 inches, and have snowmaking on 65% of trails, so go play in their snow! Visit: mccauleyny.com.

Located on the Tug Hill Plateau, Snow Ridge, has some of the best snow in the East with an average snowfall of 230 inches. The family owned and operated resort offers 31 trails and two terrain parks of mountain terrain with small prices, delivered with lots of hospitality. Snow is falling and snowmaking has begun so keep an eye out for opening day info as the white stuff piles up. Visit: snowridge.com.

In western New York, HoliMont, offers premium skiing and conditions with an average of 200 inches of natural snow per season. For 50 years, families and snowsports enthusiasts have converged on HoliMont, North America’s largest private area devoted to skiing and snowboarding adventures. During the week, they’re happy to welcome non-members and groups, with their eight lifts servicing 50 trails, as well as terrain parks and halfpipe. Visit: holimont.com.

Let it snow, get outside, and embrace the winter!