There are more ski resorts in New York State than in New Hampshire, Vermont, Michigan, or Colorado. According to Ski NY, there are more than 50, so if you’re an hour or more outside of New York City, you can be sure there’s a ski mountain worth conquering nearby. Some ski areas in New York are fiercely autonomous. Others are now employed by large, well-known companies such as Vail Resorts. This guide will help you choose among New York’s vast array of ski resorts, whether you’re treating your family to a ski weekend or meeting up with pals on the slopes, trying to learn a new winter sport, or capable of conquering a double-black diamond. Even if you don’t plan on skiing, the additional attractions at these locations, such as snow tubing hills and indoor waterparks, may entice you to schedule a trip to a New York mountain where fresh, pure air and beautiful landscapes are virtually guaranteed.
1. Whiteface Mountain
You may not be a gold medalist, but you can ski on a New York mountain that has twice hosted Olympic skiing competitions. Whiteface features prominently among the Adirondack High Peaks, and it provides skiers the highest vertical drop of any lift-serviced mountain in the United States Northeast, as well as the region’s longest intermediate run: the 2.1-mile Wilmington Trail. It is situated near the village of Lake Placid, which hosted the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympic Games. More Olympic activities await, including bobsled rides at Mt. Van Hoevenberg, so stay, eat, and play in this scenic and historic region.
2. Holiday Valley
Holiday Valley, located an hour south of Buffalo in a region with plenty of natural “lake effect” snow, provides that “just perfect” vibe for weekend warriors looking to hit the slopes. Although the resort is modest, the 58 trails on four mountainsides provide a variety of landscapes and obstacles. Ellicottville, it’s small-town home, is the kind of lovely winter community that looks like it belongs in a Christmas movie. Ellicottville’s après ski scene is reason enough to visit, with vibrant taverns and restaurants, including its brewery and vineyard.
3. Hunter Mountain
Hunter Mountain in the Catskills, where Rip Van Winkle slept for 20 years, draws the majority of its skiers from the city that never sleeps. Hunter is not only the closest major ski mountain to NYC, and it’s also the only New York property in the Vail family of resorts, giving pass holders access to a world of top-notch skiing. Hunter has developed since its 1960 opening to offer year-round thrills on North America’s highest and longest zipline canopy tour, as well as expert-level trails and considerable snowmaking that delivers 100 percent coverage throughout 240 acres of skiable terrain.
4. Catamount Mountain Resort
Catamount’s main entrance is in Hillsdale, New York, but this modest ski area, which has recently received some nice upgrades, is partly in Massachusetts: it’s one of only four ski resorts in the country that does so. It’s an excellent destination for beginners and intermediate skiers to get in a full day’s worth of runs because it’s an easy, picturesque drive from population centers in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, and it was recently purchased by a sister resort Berkshire East. Expert skiers will find seven courses to their liking, including Catapult, a double black diamond, and the Berkshires’ steepest downhill trail.
5. Belleayre Mountain
Belleayre Mountain, located in the Catskills in Highmount, New York, on territory safeguarded by the state since 1885, drew skiers even before New York’s first chairlift was erected here in 1949. It’s a smaller, less busy alternative to adjacent Hunter Mountain, with 50 trails, 5 glades, a snowboard terrain park, and 9.2 kilometers of cross-country trails, and it’s only a two-and-a-half-hour trip from Manhattan. The strength of Belleayre is its instructional programs for beginners who are new to skiing or riding. Beginners have their section of the mountain with numerous trails, ensuring that they don’t become bored while honing their skills.
6. Greek Peak Mountain Resort
If your kids get a vote, you’ll end up at Cortland, the largest ski resort in central New York. Greek Peak offers a blend of winter and summer pleasure even in the dead of winter. It’s Cascades Indoor Waterpark maintains a constant temperature of 84 degrees. A family-friendly ski area with 56 trails and four terrain parks, a Nordic Center with more than 15 km of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing paths, a year-round mountain coaster, and zip line tour, and a big snow tubing center with more than 15 sledding lanes are all available outside.
7. Mount Peter
The state’s oldest ski hill is also the nearest to New York City, so when you ski Mount Peter, you’ll be helping to preserve a revered icon that has welcomed skiers for 85 years. This unusual family-operated ski hill, located an hour north of the George Washington Bridge in Orange County, New York, offers 14 runs and a snowmaking system that keeps the slopes well-covered. Why go anyplace else if you’re new to the sport when Mount Peter is known for its free beginner ski and snowboard lessons? If you’re still hesitant to try skiing, Mount Peter’s lift-serviced hill offers snow tubing.