Get On Snow

By Darryl Caron

New York is home to some of the best skiing in the East. With over 50 ski areas, there’s bound to be one nearby so check out Ski NY’s snow reports, ski & stay deals, and mountain info. There’s also details on the Ski & Ride Passport program, where third and fourth graders can get one free lift ticket when an adult lift ticket is purchased. If you’d like to learn to ski or snowboard, checkout the specials at participating mountains. Visit: iskiny.com.

The state’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. For 2024, there’s new snowmaking at the Ski Bowl and a new beginner lift, the Bear Cub Quad. If you don’t have a SKI3 season pass, book your snow days in advance and save with e-tickets. Visit: goremountain.com.

If you’re looking for big adventures, Whiteface offers it – the biggest vertical drop in the East, challenging slopes, and many off-hill activities in Lake Placid and High Peaks towns. They’ll be installing a new detachable high-speed quad, which will open during the 2024 season. The new lift provides easier means of accessing the whole mountain and provides more incentive for people to park over at the Bear Den base area. Visit: whiteface.com.

New York’s coolest little ski area is Willard Mountain in Easton, minutes from the Capital-Saratoga Region. They’re open daily, with night skiing (non-holiday weeks), offering outstanding lessons, snowmaking, retail shop and tubing park. They have specials on two- and four-hour night lift tickets. Visit: willardmountain.com.

Just outside of Schenectady, Maple Ski Ridge in Rotterdam, has something for beginner and experience skiers and riders of all ages. They’ve just upgraded their snowmaking and joined the Indy Pass as well. On Monday and Tuesday nights, they offer Nordic Nights with XC skiing, snowshoeing and alpine touring/skinning allowed – on the other nights, you can ski or ride. Visit: mapleskiridge.com.

In the southern Adirondacks, Oak Mountain 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, riding 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, and it is home to the Acorn Pub & Eatery with Adirondack cuisine. Visit: oakmountainski.com.

In Hancock, Mass., Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort is the largest ski and snowboard resort in southern New England. They’ve been open for a few weekends and expect to open soon full-time for the season. Jiminy’s 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 MA/NY in the Berkshires. Featuring 44 trails, eight lifts, snowmaking and night skiing, Catamount is on the Indy Pass with challenging trails and family fun. Their crews are blanketing the trails with snow in preparation for their opening day. Visit: catamountski.com.

Run by the same family for nearly 50 years, Berkshire East Mountain Resort is a hidden gem that’s worth the trip to Charlemont, Mass. The Indy Pass resort has modern facilities, top-notch snowmaking and grooming, a high-speed detachable quad opening this winter, lessons, dining and nearby lodging. Visit: berkshireeast.com. 

Nestled in the central Adirondacks, McCauley Mountain, in 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.

Central New York’s largest ski resort is Greek Peak Mountain Resort in Cortland, with 46 trails and 11 glades, six chair lifts, two surface lifts, and new and improved terrain parks, plus lodging and an indoor waterpark. The Indy Pass, year-round family resort is located in the Finger Lakes region, minutes from I-81. Visit: greekpeak.net.

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 area has joined the Indy Pass offers 31 trails and two terrain parks with small prices and lots of hospitality. With a lot of support, they’re bouncing back from a damaging tornado in August. Snow is falling and snowmaking has begun so keep an eye out for opening day info. Visit: snowridge.com.

When visiting nearby Vermont, be sure to visit Ikon Pass resort partners Killington, the largest ski area in the eastern US (killington.com) and Pico Mountain, one of the first commercial ski resorts in the state – est. 1937, with 19 miles of trails across 470 skiable acres (picomountain.com). To the north, Smugglers’ Notch is family and adult friendly, with everything from beginner terrain to steep skiing and side-country access (smuggs.com). To the south, Stratton, near Manchester, offers 99 trails, glades, fast lifts, hotels and Ikon Pass access (stratton.com). 

For best Maine skiing, book your getaway to Sunday River for day and night skiing with gorgeous views (sundayriver.com).

For cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, Lapland Lake near Northville, offers lodging and a ski lodge with a retail and rental shop, plus indoor seating, dining, and a food truck on busier days. The Ladies XC Ski Clinics are returning to Lapland for beginner to intermediate skiers ages 18 and older. This all-women ski program, which is grouped by ability and taught by PSIA-certified female instructors, includes a classic-skiing clinic on Jan. 20 and skate-skiing clinic on Feb. 3. Advance reservation is required. To register, go to “Ticket” section of their website. A six-week Youth Skate Ski Clinic is for ages 8-14 of all abilities to introduce them to the technique and improve. There will also be a Youth Festival on Feb. 11. Visit: laplandlake.com.

In Lake Placid, Mt. Van Hoevenberg has been rolling out snow and grooming as much as possible since Thanksgiving. When fully open, Van Ho has 55K of trails that are groomed daily for all abilities, including 4K of world championship rated trails. The Mountain Pass lodge offers a restaurant, ski shop, equipment rentals and more. Visit: mtvanhoevenberg.com.

At the Gore Mountain Nordic Center, the North Creek Ski Bowl offers a groomed 5K trail network with snowmaking and lighting to extend your snow-time into the evening hours. The stadium layout provides an ideal training and racing venue. You can also explore a scenic overlook, challenging hill climbs, descents, and different loops. There are recreational trails available, plus equipment rentals and lessons. Visit: goremountain.com.

A gem in the Town of Greenfield, Brookhaven Winter Park, 10 minutes from Saratoga Springs, it offers about 20K of XC ski trails that are groomed for classic and skate several days a week. There are also two snowshoe loops.  These trails are free and open to public use. In the clubhouse, The View, is a full-service bar and restaurant. They have expanding park events, including a learn to ski program, 5K Snowshoe Race on Jan. 21 – followed by a community Winterfest Celebration. On Jan. 27, there’s a Full Moon Party for adults with skiing, snowshoeing, bonfire and spirits. Visit: facebook.com/brookhavenski. 

Cole’s Woods – Another town park that transforms into a winter wonderland when it’s blessed with natural snow, Cole’s Woods in Glens Falls has a lighted 5K loop, which is groomed as needed by volunteers, and free Thursday night races in late January and early February for skate skiers, classic skiers, and snowshoers of all levels. More info: friendsofcoleswoods.org.

Garnet Hill – The Garnet Hill Outdoor Center offers 50K of groomed trails, on-site sales and rentals, and lessons for all ages and ability levels. Starting weekends, the Bobcat Lounge in the ski lodge and the Sugar House out on the trails will also be open. The Lodge’s Log House Restaurant is be open seven days a week. More info: garnet-hill.com.

Based in East Poestenkill, Pineridge, just east of Troy, this cross-country ski area is situated at about 1,746 feet above sea level, a prime spot for natural snow, with views of the Taconic Range and Mount Greylock – celebrating its 40th season in business. In addition to offering day rentals and lessons, Pineridge has season-long equipment rentals for children. Visit: pineridgexc.com. 

In Saranac Lake, Dewey Mountain has Youth Ski League and Adult XC and snowshoe programs beginning in early January. They’ve got lighted night skiing, a new lodge, groomed and ungroomed trails, rentals – and it’s only $5 per day. Visit: deweymountain.com. 

Purchased by the ADK, Cascade Welcome Center, is a year-round outdoor recreation and information center. The 12-mile trail network is groomed for classic skiing and snowshoeing. The lodge also is a full-service ski shop with rentals. ADK members can ski for free, and day passes and season passes are available. Visit: adk.org. 

The vision of High Peaks Cyclery owner Brian Delaney, Scotts Cobble Nordic Center is a newly repurposed 10K community XC trail system on the Craig Wood Golf Course in the town of North Elba. Once a small downhill ski area, the new Scotts Cobble features lighted, dog-friendly trails for day or nighttime cross-country skiing, backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking, and sledding. They’ll host weekday after-school programs. The clubhouse serves as a lodge with restroom facilities, and lights are being installed along the 10K trail system. Visit: highpeakscyclery.com.

The Paul Smith’s VIC, operated by Paul Smith’s College, just north of Saranac Lake, offers XC skiing and snowshoeing, a ski school, snowshoe and ski rentals, a café, and access to the Jenkins Mountain Open Woods Ski Zone. Visit: paulsmithsvic.org.

In Tupper Lake, the James Frenette Recreational Trails connect the Tupper Lake Golf Course to Big Tupper ski area. The six main groomed trails offer a variety of terrain and scenic vistas, and lighted night skiing. Visit: tupperlake.com.

Inlet and Old Forge – Inlet offers miles of free, groomed trails for classic and skate skiing at Fern Park (22K), Inlet Golf Club (3.5K), and Limekiln Lake Campground (3.5K). Fern Park has some climbs and descents, plus 2K that are lighted until 10pm. More info: inletny.com. In Old Forge, McCauley Mountain Ski Area has 2.5K, 5K and 7.5K of cross-country ski trails. Depending on conditions, the trails are groomed for classic and skate skiing. More info: mccauleyny.com.

Other Opportunities – For those interested in racing this winter, NYSSRA Nordic offers races for all ages and abilities, beginner to expert, including Club Series, Points Series, Junior National Qualifiers, NYSSRA Nordic Championships, and a Youth Ski Festival. NYSSRA also sponsors several Bill Koch Youth Ski Leagues for children to learn the sport, with programs in Clifton Park, Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls, Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Old Forge, Tug Hill, and others in western New York. More info: nyssranordic.org.

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