Skiing is Good for You – Get Out and Have Fun!

By Alex Kochon

Cross-country skiing is fun to learn, healthy, family-friendly, accessible, affordable, and it offers great variety! It uses natural movements – doesn’t require special skills to get started and has a short learning curve. Just an hour or two spent being coached by a professional instructor will give you the skills needed for a lifetime of fun!

For cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, Lapland Lake XC Ski & Snowshoe Center 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. To support Mother Nature’s efforts, they’ve added snowmaking this year, which is off to a great start. 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 Saturday, Jan. 25 and skate-skiing clinic on Saturday, Feb. 8. Advance reservation is required. To register, go to “Ticket” section of their website. A four-week Youth Skate Ski Clinic is on Sundays from Jan. 5-26 for ages 8-14 of all abilities to introduce them to the technique and improve. On Jan. 25 at 2pm, they’ll have a Celebration of Life for the founder of Lapland Lake, Olavi Hirvonen (1930-2024). Alternate date, in case of inclement weather, is Jan. 26. Visit: laplandlake.com.

The Garnet Hill Lodge & Outdoor Center in North River has Michele Pearsall as manager again this season, and she’s an experienced guide in the Adirondacks for various outdoor activities. The ski and snowshoeing trails and retail/rental shop are open, as well as its Bobcat Lounge & Sugar House on weekends. The Sugar House out on the trails will have hot beverages and maple snacks. Up on the hill, their Log House Restaurant is open daily for breakfast for lodge guests, lunch/dinner is open for all, and happy hour on Fridays. More info: garnet-hill.com.

In Lake Placid, Mt. Van Hoevenberg has been making 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 – at 1,000’ elevation, it offers 20K of groomed XC ski trails that 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 expanded park events, including a there’s the very popular Full Moon Bonfire on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 6pm for adults with skiing, snowshoeing, bonfire, spirits and more. Plus, a learn to ski program, Brookhaven 5K Snowshoe Race on Saturday, Jan. 25 – followed by a fun Family Winterfest Celebration from 10am-2pm! Visit: facebook.com/brookhavenski. 

In Glens Falls, Cole’s Woods is another community 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 it has free Thursday Night Winter Races tentatively scheduled for January 23 and 30, and February 6 and 13 for skate skiers, classic skiers, and snowshoers of all levels. Last year, Friends of Cole’s Woods completed a new Hadley Loop, plus added grading, 20 light poles, four dozen lighting fixtures, and underground wiring so no more problems with winds taking down the above ground wiring. See the website for their updated map. More info: friendsofcoleswoods.org.

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 – led by Water Kersch, starting their 41st season in business. In addition to offering day rentals and lessons, Pineridge has season-long equipment rentals for children. Visit: pineridgexc.com.

In the Town of Clifton Park, Garnsey Park on the quieter western side of town, is groomed by the Shenendehowa Nordic Club, offering nearby XC skiing and snowshoeing. Garnsey, the second highest point in town, has over 150 acres of rolling meadows, wooded ridgeline, and three miles of family-friendly nature trails that are ideal for skiing. The woods trails are worth the visit for a totally different experience. SNC volunteers lead the Bill Koch Youth Ski League, with or without snow, from November-March – with outdoor fun, nature education, learn to ski (loaners available), and healthy exercise for active young families. More info (grooming updates on Facebook): shennordic.org.

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 modern lodge, groomed and ungroomed trails, rentals – and it’s only $5 per day – and many great programs and events. Visit: deweymountain.com. 

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 came to fruition in 2022-23 with 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 – with rentals available. 

Scotts Cobble has become a winter community center with popular weekday after-school programs, and upcoming events include a Nordic Demo Day on Sat, Dec. 14 (weather depending) with ski reps and more, a Full Moon Ski Party is planned later in January with lighted skiing, a bonfire, and a ski film. There will be another Full Moon Party in February. The clubhouse serves as a lodge with restroom facilities and lights have been installed along the trail system. Visit: highpeakscyclery.com.

The Paul Smith’s VIC, operated by Paul Smith’s College, just north of Saranac Lake, offers groomed 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 Sr. 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. The 10th annual BrewSki is on Saturday, Feb. 22 with XC skiing, snowshoeing, and breweries from 12-4pm – it fills so register early. 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.

The second annual ADK Tour de Ski, an exciting XC race series hosted at various venues in the Adirondacks had a great turnout in its inaugural yar with skiers of all levels and ages. You can race one or do them all with a discounted entry fee if you sign up for the series. It features six venues and multiple distances so you can race (or tour) hard and spend a day or weekend in the spectacular Adirondacks. 

The race series includes Mt Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid on Sunday, Dec. 15; Scotts Cobble Nordic Center in North Elba/Lake Placid on Sunday, Dec. 29; Dewey Mountain Recreation Area in Harrietstown/Saranac Lake on Saturday, Jan. 11; James Frenette Sr. Recreation Trails in Tupper Lake on Saturday, Jan. 25; ADK Cascade Welcome Center in Lake Placid on Saturday, Feb. 22; and Paul Smith’s College Visitor Interpretive Center in Paul Smiths on Saturday, March 8. Visit: adktourdeski.com.

Winter fun is here, and the season is off to a great start, so get outside and ski!

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