Enjoy Winter at the Ski Areas

There’s Something for Everyone

By Darryl Caron

New York is home to some of the best skiing in the East. With 50 ski areas, there’s bound to be one nearby so check out Ski NY’s snow reports, ski & stay deals, and mountain info. If you’d like to learn to ski or snowboard, see the specials offered at participating mountains. To learn more, visit: iskiny.com. 

Here’s a spotlight of ski resorts that exhibited at our Adirondack Sports & Northeast Ski Expo and/or advertise with us, so please support them this winter.

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. 

Whiteface’s newest lift opened in early December. The Notch is a detachable quad lift by Doppelmayr starting from the Bear Den Learning Center to a point just beyond the Legacy Lodge at mid-station. This innovative lift, the only one of its kind in the East, will improve the skier experience because it’s actually two lifts in one that together operate seamlessly. Riders can unload onto the Boreen trail or continue farther upward to access additional beginner and intermediate terrain, while also accessing the upper mountain lifts and advanced trails. 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. Oak has an outstanding ski and snowboard school, and it is home to the Acorn Pub & Eatery with Adirondack cuisine. Visit: oakmountainski.com.

Just over the border in Hancock, Mass., Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort is the largest ski and snowboard resort in southern New England. 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.

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. 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. Greek Peak is on the Indy Pass, and the 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 also 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. 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 the best Maine skiing, book your getaway to Sunday River for day and night skiing with gorgeous views – it’s worth the trip! (sundayriver.com).

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