EARLY BIRD SNOWMAKING SUNRISE AT BELLEAYRE
NOVEMBER 13 FOR OPENING NOVEMBER 15, 2024.

Think snow – there’s no better place to be than outside in winter. Visit these ski resorts in New York and the Northeast to have fun with family and friends. Share your passion by enjoying the active lifestyle of exploring and connecting with the outdoors.

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 the resort and Ski NY snow reports, ski and stay deals, and mountain info. There are also details on the Ski & Ride Passport program, where third, fourth – and now fifth – graders can get one free lift ticket when an adult lift ticket is purchased at more than 25 ski areas – with no blackout dates. If you’d like to learn to ski or snowboard, check out the many special packages and programs 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 2024-25, the new Hudson Chair Quad is planned to be available for this ski season, which is a high speed detachable lift that will load/unload at the same location as the original Hudson chair. 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. For 2024-25, Whiteface has made many snowmaking improvements with new pipe and high-efficiency tower guns have been installed at the popular Mackenzie and Wilderness trails, and on Upper Parkway – plus, a new Snowmax injection system will further boost snowmaking capabilities in warmer temperatures. They’ve also added a new patio outside the Bear Den learning center, 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. New this year, they’ve added housing for 15 employees on-site, they’ve added 30-feet to their Sunkid carpet lift, more skis to their rental fleet, and more snow guns for snowmaking. Visit: oakmountainski.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.

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.

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.

Located near Lake George and Saratoga Springs, West Mountain in Queensbury offers amazing day and night skiing, snow tubing, special events, after school programs and holiday camps. Visit: westmountain.com.

In Caroga Lake, Royal Mountain offers a friendly, small town experience for large scale outdoor fun. Royal’s commitment to snowmaking and grooming has paid huge dividends to serve its 12 alpine and 5 glade trails with three double chairs. Visit: royalmountain.com.

Hickory Mountain in Warrensburg is part of the Indy Pass and has season passes on sale for skiing when the snow comes. Visit: skihickory.com.

In Saranac Lake, Mount Pisgah, is a classic small town Adirondack skiing spot with gentle slopes, dedicated staff and welcoming atmosphere make it especially inviting for family skiing, riding, tubing and snowshoeing. Visit: saranaclake.com.

In the Catskills, Belleayre in Highmount has wide open slopes to express yourself without the hefty price tag. For 2024-25, they have snowmaking upgrades including 20 fully automated SMI polecat fan guns on Dot Nebel, one of their most popular trails, which will enable them to make more snow in less time. They’ve also made renovations at the Discovery Lodge, the primary arrival point for guests, and they have a new location for their learning experience programs. Visit: belleayre.com.

Big mountain vibes await at Hunter Mountain for your weekend or day trip. Hunter has made major investments in snowmaking and has made two major lift upgrades. The Broadway lift is now the Broadway Express and E Lift is now called Otis Quad, adding high-speed to both chairs. Visit: huntermtn.com.

At Windham Mountain Club, they have activities for all ages from skiing and riding to the spa. It’s a public-private mountain community with first-class skiing for all. Visit: windhammountainclub.com.

Plattekill Mountain is the last family-owned and operated ski and snowboard mountain in the Catskills, offering an authentic experience. They’ve added a new trail called Whiskeys Way for intermediate skiers for a total of 41 ski trails, they’ve added 13 new snow guns, and 3,500 feet of new snowmaking pipe. Visit: plattekill.com.

Please also visit our Adirondack Sports Winter Expo exhibitor ski resorts from nearby New England.

 When visiting Vermont, be sure to go to 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 – and now locally owned and independent, 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).

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