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The Best Places for Upstate Skiing, Snowboarding & Tubing

posted by Teresa Farrell at 2022-01-31 21:35:00

When winter arrives in Upstate New York, people around the state dust off their gear to take advantage of the fresh powder. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, Upstate New York has plenty of places to go skiing, snowboarding and tubing this winter—and some of them may be in places you’ve never explored before.  

Thrill seekers from all around are familiar with the downhill skiing and snowboarding opportunities that can be found throughout the Adirondacks and the Catskills. Adirondack staples like Whiteface Mountain in Lake Placid, Gore Mountain in North Creek, and West Mountain in Queensbury have made quite the names for themselves, and for good reason; Whiteface, with its 82 ski trails, boasts the largest vertical drop east of the Rocky Mountains, while Gore, which offers 110 trails, is the biggest ski mountain in the Northeast. West Mountain is smaller, but mighty, with a convenient location and the opportunity to enjoy snow tubing as well. In the Catskills, the story is similar; local staples Hunter Mountain, Windham Mountain and Belleayre Mountain seeing thousands of new and returning visitors each winter to enjoy skiing, snowboarding and tubing.  All of these spots typically have ski and snowboard rentals and lessons available, so they can accommodate first-timers and seasoned powder hounds alike, making them great options for those who would like to get away with a group of friends of family of differing skill levels.

But the Adirondacks and Catskills are far from the only places to go if you want to hit the slopes this winter.  The Tug Hill Plateau gets more snow than just about anywhere else in the state, on average, thanks to lake effect snow that blows off of Lake Ontario throughout the winter. This means there’s pretty much always fresh powder to be found at places like Snow Ridge in Turin, and Dry Hill Ski Area in Watertown. Central New York also gets a hefty dose of lake effect, and has a plethora of ski clubs and resorts to take advantage of it; Greek Peak in Cortland, Four Seasons Ski Center in Fayetteville, Woods Valley in Westernville and Cazenovia Ski Club in Cazenovia are all popular picks. In the Finger Lakes, check out the and Hunt Hollow Ski Club, and, only half an hour south of Syracuse, Labrador Mountain, which has become a well-known ski spot. Closer to Rochester, you’ll find another favorite spot in Bristol Mountain, as well the nearby Brantling Ski and Snowboard Center. In the Buffalo area, check out the Buffalo Ski Club and the Kissing Bridge Resort; further south, in the Chautauqua-Allegany region, check out Holiday Valley Resort and the Swain Ski and Snowboard Center as well. Of course, this is far from an exhaustive list of every ski resort in Upstate New York—but it’ll certainly give you a place to start!  

As always, make sure to check with your destination before you head out, since some places are requiring advance reservations for lift tickets or may have other important policies in place this winter. Once you’ve got that squared away, there’s nothing left to do but hit the slopes and enjoy!

Photo Credits

Whiteface mountain run view photo credit Whiteface Mountain
Chairlift view photo credit Gore Mountain
Skiier at Whiteface photo credit Whiteface Mountain
Two skiiers photo credit Gore Mountain

 

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