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Visit an Upstate Ski Resort in the Adirondacks or Catskills

posted by Teresa Farrell at 2025-01-12 13:31:00

It wouldn’t be winter in Upstate New York without the chance to hit the slopes, whether on skis, a snowboard, or even in a tube. Check out the ski mountains and resorts of both the Adirondacks and the Catskills this winter and enjoy the fresh powder before summer comes back again!


The Adirondacks are known for boasting some of the best skiig on the East Coast, and Whiteface Mountain is part of why that reputation exists. Whiteface boasts the biggest vertical drop east of the Rockies, the longest intermediate trail in the Northeast, 86 different ski trails, and a five-star ski and snowboard school on site. It’s also close to Lake Placid, home of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, which means there are plenty of Olympic-related winter activitis and attractions nearby to enjoy after a day on the mountain. 


In the Adirondack town of North Creek, Gore Mountain boasts another distinction: it’s the biggest ski mountain in the Northeast, with 109 trails, 14 lifts, and a winter sports school of its own offering lessons, camps, and other instructional programs for kids and adults. The North Creek Ski Bowl at Gore offers alpine and Nordic skiing, twilight skiing, uphill skiing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing as well. And further south, in Queensbury, West Mountain offe
rs 30 trails spread out over 126 acres and a mix of steep and gentle hills, an abundance of snow tubing trails, and a convenient location between Lake George and Saratoga Springs.



In the Catskills, Hunter Mountain is a top family destination, with 58 trails spread over 240 acres, a 1600-foot vertical drop, a terrain park, a learning center offering lessons for all ages, and gear rentals available on site. In addition to the ski trails, which are fairly evenly split between beginner, intermediate and expert level, Hunter’s on-site snow tubing park has the distinction of being the largest of its kind in New York State, at 1,000 feet long, with its own lift back to the top.


South of Hunter, Bellayre Mountain is home to 62 ski trails and a vertical drop of more than 1400 feet, as well as a snow sports school with lessons, and kids’ camps being offered throughout the season. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are also available.



Go a little further south from Bellayre and you’ll find Holiday Mountain in Monticello, featuring lit-up trails to accommodate night skiing and a 400-foot snowtubing run with 12 lanes and a lift to get back to the top, making it a family favorite.



Before you head out, be sure to check websites for hours, conditions, lift tickets, and reservation requirements—many tubing hills, for example, require online reservations ahead of time. After that, just bundle up and hit the slopes!


 PHOTO CREDITS

Whiteface Mountain run photo credit Whiteface Mountain
Skier at Whiteface photo credit Whiteface Mountain
Chairlift view photo credit Gore Mountain
Two skiers at summit photo credit West Mountain
View from summit at Hunter Mountain photo credit Hunter Mountain
Skier against blue sky photo credit Belleayre Mountain
 

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