Adirondack and Capital Region Ski Guide

By Jeremy Davis

Northeastern New York offers up some of the most diverse ski and snowboard terrain in the East. There are mountains and hills for whatever experience you are looking for – large resorts to mid-sized family areas to smaller areas that focus on beginners. There’s even a few free ski areas too! 

This guide showcases all of the areas that are open to the public (or paying guests) in this region for the 2025-26 ski season. You’ll see familiar resorts, but you may see a few you haven’t heard of or been to before. There’s also quite a few new improvements at several mountains that will help improve the downhill experience. In the December issue, we’ll preview ski resorts in the surrounding area.

Quite a few of these mountains are also on multi-mountain season passes. The Indy Pass, which goes on sale several times each year (sign up for the waiting list otherwise), offers two tickets at 270 ski areas across the planet, with local areas Dry Hill, Maple Ski Ridge, Snow Ridge, Titus Mountain, and West Mountain: indyskipass.com. The NY Ski3 Season Pass provides access to Whiteface, Gore, as well as Belleayre in the Catskills: nyski3.com. A new pass, Snow Triple Play, includes three total tickets to Gore, Whiteface, and Oak Mountain – and 13 other areas across the Northeast: snowtripleplay.com.

As some of these ski areas are not open seven days a week, please check out their websites for their operating hours before visiting.

We hope you have enjoyable upcoming season and that you have a chance to explore all the great downhill areas in our region. 

Beartown in West Chazy – A throwback, family ski area, Beartown offers a classic ski experience for skiers of all ages at a very affordable price. While the vertical is small, the slopes are wide open and feature modern snowmaking and grooming. Ski lessons are available and there’s even a ski team for kids. Extensive cross country and snowshoeing trails surround the downhill slopes. beartownskiarea.com.

Dry Hill in Watertown – A magnet for lake effect snow, Dry Hill averages nearly 10 feet of it during an average winter. Three lifts, including a double chairlift and T-bar access nine trails with 300 feet of vertical. Open slopes, steep chutes, and gentle beginner terrain provide terrain for all abilities. Guests can also enjoy their tubing hill, restaurant, and bar. Overall, it’s a fun, classic ski area with a lot to offer. skidryhill.com.

Dynamite Hill in Chestertown – It is hard to believe, but there are still a few ski areas that do not charge for tickets. Dynamite Hill is one of them – completely free for residents and visitors alike. Yes, the vertical is tiny – only 75 feet served by a rope tow on a single slope – but it is perfect for families and beginners. Sledding and tubing are also available on the side of the hill. townofchesterny.org/dynamite-hill.

Gore Mountain in North Creek – The largest ski area in New York, Gore offers big mountain skiing with seven different mountain areas. Steeps, bumps, cruisers, glades, beginner terrain, historic trails – Gore Mountain has something for everyone, from the super steep Lies to the meandering favorite Tahawus – and cross-country skiing at the Ski Bowl. The expansive views towards the High Peaks, Lake George Region, and distant Vermont are hard to beat. New this year is the Topridge fixed grip quad, a brand-new Ski Bowl Lodge, and parking and snowmaking improvements. goremountain.com.

Maple Ski Ridge in Schenectady – Maple is a family-friendly ski area that focuses on easier terrain, along with a top-rated Snow Sports School. Its smaller vertical drop makes the area a perfect place to learn how to ski or ride. There are also several intermediate trails and some fun narrow chutes to explore. Lift-served night skiing is available on Wednesday through Sunday nights, and on Monday and Tuesday nights, a unique non-lift-served Nordic Nights experience allows for human powered ascents and descents. mapleskiridge.com.

McCauley Mountain in Old Forge – Steep bump runs, expansive glades, winding cruisers, easier terrain and more – McCauley packs a lot of variety in its 633’ vertical drop. It is an excellent alternative to larger resorts with plenty to offer at an affordable price. Experts will love the steep and bumpy Olympic and DeCamp runs (especially after a lake-effect snowfall), while intermediates will enjoy the winding Sidewinder. An easier trail, Challenger, gives skiers and riders a long descent from the summit. Last year, a refurbished triple was installed to increase lift capacity and was well received by skiers and riders. mccauleyny.com

Mount Pisgah in Saranac Lake – An Adirondack classic, Mount Pisgah offers skiing and riding on six trails for all abilities – from a beginner slope to wide open cruising, as well as narrow woods trails, all served by a T-bar. Visitors can also enjoy snow tubing and snowshoeing. Perfect for families, lift ticket rates are affordable, and there are many events and races held throughout the year. saranaclakeny.gov/mount-pisgah.

Newcomb Ski Slope in Newcomb – The Adirondacks’ other free ski area, the Newcomb Ski Slope harkens back to a time when many smaller ski areas were found throughout the region. While the vertical drop is only 200 feet served by a T-bar, the views of the surrounding High Peaks and Santanoni Peak are breathtaking. Beginners can exit the lift at the mid-station, while intermediates can ride to the summit and choose to carve down a wide slope, or twist and turn down a woods trail. newcombny.gov/newcomb-ski-slope.

Oak Mountain in Speculator – An Adirondack classic since 1948, Oak provides for plenty of variety of skiing and riding on its 22 trails and glades, all served by a quad chairlift and several surface lifts at an affordable price. Looking for a wide-open cruiser? Make some turns down Kunjamuk. How about a throwback intermediate? Head for TAG, with its fun, banked turns. An exceptional ski and snowboard schools offers lessons for all abilities. Be sure to grab a meal or apres-ski drink at their highly-rated Acorn Pub & Eatery. oakmountainski.com.

Ridin-Hy Ranch Resort in Warrensburg – An all-inclusive resort, Ridin-Hy Ranch gives families a myriad of fun activities in all seasons. While not open to the public for day tickets, their ski hill, featuring a T-bar and an open slope, is available for guests staying at the resort during the winter season. For non-skiers, tubing, horseback riding, ice fishing, sleigh rides, snowmobiling, hockey, and ice skating are available. ridinhy.com.

Royal Mountain in Caroga Lake – Royal is well known for its excellent grooming and snowmaking on its 18 trails and glades. Accessed by three chairlifts, guests can enjoy exploring the wide variety of terrain for all abilities. A gentle Bunny Slope is the perfect slope to learn to ski, while experts will flock to more challenging runs like Upper Red Carpet or Willbury Run, a narrow chute down a former T-bar lift line. Intermediates will enjoy cruising the wide Prince and Queen slopes. Start your day with a tasty McMountain breakfast sandwich in the cozy lodge and enjoy an apres-ski treat in the Velcro Lounge. royalmountain.com.

Snow Ridge in Turin – A magnet for lake effect snow, Snow Ridge receives an average of 230 inches of it each season. Three mountain areas allow for plenty of exploration. Looking for a retro experience? Head over to the Snow Pocket T-bar and lap up like Von Allmen or drop into the Sap Bucket Glades. Want to let it rip down wide slopes? Take the North or Ridge Runner doubles to South or North Slope. Experts can be challenged by narrow chutes and glades off the North Chair that are a delight after a lake effect storm. Finally, beginners and lower intermediates can enjoy their own experience off the Little Mountain Chair. snowridge.com.

Titus Mountain in Malone – Titus Mountain is huge – nearly two miles across, with tons of terrain spread across five different faces with an Upper and Lower Lodges available for skier services. Fifty-two trails and glades provide for endless exploration at this family resort – from narrow trails like Outer Ridge to cruisers like Sundance. Many of the glades have an easier or more moderate pitch, so that less experienced skiers can enjoy them along with the experts. Terrain park enthusiasts can take advantage of the three Moon Valley Terrain Parks. Grab a bite at Mo’s Moon Valley Grill in the Lower Lodge for some tasty treats. Night skiing, tubing, racing programs, lessons, and uphill tickets are also available. titusmountain.com.

West Mountain in Queensbury – Over the last decade, West Mountain has undergone a transformation with three new chairlifts, expanded snowmaking and night skiing offerings, better grooming, and the addition of new trails and glades bringing the total to 35. You’ll find a mix of terrain from the very steep Cure (also used for racing) to more mellow cruising on their signature green trail, Frolic. Enjoy a meal or drink at the West Mountain Bar & Eatery while watching skiers and riders descend. For non-skiing thrills, check out their popular snow tubing area served by its own lift. westmountain.com.

Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington – The Olympic Mountain, Whiteface serves up thrills on an incredible 3,166 feet of lift-served skiing (the highest in the East), with 3,430 feet when the expert-only Slides are open. This year, a new double chairlift with a mid-station replaces the two aging double chairlifts on Little Whiteface. An additional 115 snow guns have been added for the upcoming season, including on Hoyt’s High, which will allow this favorite run to be open more often. The expert terrain here is top-notch, with some of the most continuous expert vertical drops you’ll find anywhere. But intermediates have it good here as well – Paron’s Run from the summit offers an incredible view of the High Peaks. Beginners have their own lift, the Falcon Flyer, with gentle terrain along with their own Bear Den Lodge. whiteface.com.

Willard Mountain in Greenwich – Willard’s nickname, “New York’s Coolest Little Ski Area,” is an apt description of this fun, family area. Don’t let the smaller size fool you – trails like the Colonel will offer up plenty of challenge to experts. Narrow and twisting trails with a lot of character are found on skier’s right, while intermediate skiers will enjoy laps on Joe’s Special. Bunny Hop, a low angle beginner run, takes novices along the periphery of the mountain. A cozy lodge features a large fireplace and cafeteria, while adults can enjoy a beverage at the Thirst Aid Room. willardmountain.com.

Woods Valley in Westernville – A family ski area, Woods Valley is set for a major improvement this year with a quad chairlift to the summit that replaces an old T-bar. This will act to nearly eliminate lift lines and allows for skiers and riders to make even more runs on its 500 feet of vertical. A new natural snow trail (snowmaking coming next year) under the quad lift line will add to the nearly two dozen trails, glades, and snow parks. woodsvalleyskiarea.com.

Jeremy Davis is the author of five books, including “Lost Ski Areas of the Southern Adirondacks” and “Lost Ski Areas of the Northern Adirondacks” – available at nelsap.org. He serves on the New England Ski Museum board of directors and is a director of operations of Weather Routing Inc. in Glens Falls.