Cross-Country Season Preview – Winter is Back and the Snow is Here!

By Alex Kochon

In mid-November, northeastern New Yorkers got a little taste of winter with enough snowfall and low temperatures for at least a couple of days of quality skiing. A few ski areas opened before Thanksgiving, which is a rarity for East Coast ski areas in recent years.

It’s even more impressive when cross-country ski areas can open this early, as most rely on natural (as opposed to machine-made) snow. The Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center in Northville was among the first to open on Nov. 17 and remained in operation for nine days around Thanksgiving.

Mt. Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid was close behind, opening Nov. 19. “All it took was a little help from mother nature and just like that we are open,” the Ski Van Hoevenberg Facebook page noted.

After an early winter break, below-freezing temperatures and snow has started falling again, so get outside and enjoy winter! Here’s more on the latest from other local Nordic ski and snowshoe areas and trail systems:

Lapland Lake – Despite inflation driving up costs, Lapland has kept its daily trail-pass rates the same thanks to an uptick in skiers. “For ski and snowshoe equipment purchases, retail list prices are up but inventory availability is better than the past two years so we are doing a bit more with pre-Christmas sale pricing,” Paul and Kathy explained.

Lapland offers overnight lodging, which is in high demand from mid-January through the end of February. At the ski lodge, it has a full retail and rental shop, plus indoor seating. On busy days, a food truck will offer dining options, while indoor cafe service will be reserved for quieter weekdays. Indoor and outdoor seating will be available daily, with an outdoor warming fire on busy days, however, indoor seating is limited.

Back by popular demand, 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. 21 and skate-skiing clinic on Feb. 11. Advance reservation is required. For more info and to register, go to the “Ticket” section of Lapland’s website.

Lapland also has a NYS Ski Racing Association (NYSSRA Nordic) 10K skate race scheduled for Dec. 17. More info: laplandlake.com.

Garnet Hill – The Garnet Hill Outdoor Center in North River has a new manager this season, Tim Emmerick, a PSIA Nordic instructor who worked there last season. An experienced guide in the Adirondacks for various outdoor activities, Tim was a New York City musician who decided to return to the mountains. He now lives in the Speculator-Piseco area with his wife.

As of early December, the Garnet Hill ski trails weren’t open yet, but it plans to open its dining (Bobcat Lounge & Sugar House) and have a holiday sale at the Outdoor Center on Dec. 17. Pre-season pricing for season passes will be available in-store during the sale.” Starting Dec. 17, the Bobcat Lounge will be open on weekends. The Sugar House out on the trails will also be open Saturdays and Sundays with hot beverages and maple snacks. 

Up on the hill, Garnet Hill Lodge’s Log House Restaurant will be open seven days a week serving breakfast (for lodge guests only), lunch, and dinner menu, and happy hour on Fridays. More info: garnet-hill.com.

Mt. Van Hoevenberg – The 1980 Olympic venue, affectionally known as Van Ho, has been rolling out snow and grooming as much as possible since Thanksgiving. As of Dec. 6, they had 1.5k of the World Cup Trails groomed. When open in full, 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. Programs include learn to ski for youth skiers, parent/child ski programs, and a lifetime approach to skiing. More info: mtvanhoevenberg.com.

Gore Mountain Nordic Center – The North Creek Ski Bowl offers a professionally groomed 5K trail network that features snowmaking and lighting to extend your snow-time into the evening hours. The stadium layout provides an ideal training and racing venue that recently received four FIS racing certifications. You can also explore a scenic overlook, challenging hill climbs, descents, and different loops to lap the best distance for your goals. There are recreational trails available, plus equipment rentals and lessons. More info: goremountain.com.

Brookhaven Winter Park – A gem in Greenfield, this town park at the Brookhaven Golf Course offers about 13K of cross-country ski trails that are groomed for classic and skate several days a week. These trails are free and open to public use, with a donation box available at the trailhead. On-site in the clubhouse, the View at Brookhaven is a full-service bar and restaurant that’s open Wednesday through Saturday from 11am to 8pm, and Sundays from 11am-7pm, with daily happy hour from 2-5pm. More info: 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.

Pineridge – Based in East Poestenkill 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. While it wasn’t open as of Dec. 1, this will be Pineridge’s 39th season in business. 

In addition to offering day rentals and lessons, Pineridge has season-long equipment rentals for children, starting at $65 for the year. Season rentals can be taken home to be used locally or at other areas. To inquire, call the lodge at (518) 283-3652. For rentals picked up by Dec. 23, the child will receive a free Pineridge season pass, a $65 value. More info: pineridgexc.com. 

Dewey Mountain – “Patiently waiting for snow,” read the Dewey Mountain Recreation Center’s conditions report on Dec. 6. This Saranac Lake ski area has Youth Ski League and Adult XC and snowshoe programs beginning in early January. Trail-pass rates remain the same at $5 per day, and rentals are available on a first-come, first-served basis. More info: deweymountain.com. 

Cascade – Purchased by the Adirondack Mountain Club earlier this year, the Cascade Ski Area is now the Cascade Welcome Center, “a year-round outdoor recreation and information center located between Keene and Lake Placid in the Adirondack Park,” according to the Adirondack Mountain Club website.

When conditions allow, Cascade’s 12-mile trail network will continue to be 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. More info: adk.org. 

Scotts Cobble – 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 will feature lighted, dog-friendly trails for day or nighttime cross-country skiing, backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking, and sledding. The trails are free for area residents; donations are appreciated, and non-locals can pay to use the trails.

Inspired by illuminated trails at Mount Morris in Tupper Lake, Brian said he saw a “need for the local Nordic culture to be reinvigorated” in Lake Placid. “We need some free groomed skiing,” he said. Through collaborating with the town of North Elba, this project has been in the works for the last eight months and will become a reality this winter.

Scotts Cobble, which will open as soon as there’s snow, will host weekday after-school programs, complete with free rentals, where kids can ski from 3-5pm. That program will start Dec. 16, with or without snow. The clubhouse will serve as a lodge with restroom facilities, and lights are being installed along the 10K trail system. Brian’s plans for the lodge include a retail store, rental area, lockers, showers, and potentially a restaurant. More info: highpeakscyclery.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.

The Shenendehowa Nordic Club volunteers groom trails for public use at Garnsey Park, Kinns Road Park, and the new Town Center Park. The club offers adult and family memberships for $20. Its popular Bill Koch League for kids 4-12 meets weekly from November through March, with or without snow, at Garnsey Park. More info: shennordic.org.

For adults who just want to meet up to ski, the Capital Area Ski Touring Association (CASTA) promotes local cross-country ski outings, day trips, plus regional bus trips, and their well-known European ski touring trips. More info: nycasta.org.

Alex Kochon (alexkochon@gmail.com) of Gansevoort is a freelance writer, editor, and outdoor-loving mom of two who enjoys adventuring in the Adirondacks.