photo : DonLand


What, you say - skiing in New York? Well living there most of my life, I can tell you NY has some pretty good skiing. It's obviously hardly the Rockies or Alps, but it's pretty good.

New York’s climate gives us the perfect opportunity to ski and snowboard in various popular skiing destinations in the state, bounded by the snowy region of the Niagara frontier and its Southern Tier, the hilly, snowy areas near the border with Pennsylvania.

There are some wonderful ski resorts out here with fun après-ski, as well. Just a heads-up, though: the trails in the early part of the season can be a bit rough, I would recommend proper safety equipment like a ski helmet and good ski goggles to give you the ability to spot hazards. And now, with that little warning out of the way, here are my top 5 skiing sports in New York.

Bristol Mountain Resort

Without a doubt, Bristol Mountain Resort near the Finger Lakes town of Canandaigua is one of the most popular destinations for skiers and snowboarders not just in New York but the eastern USA. Providing a total of 138 acres of skiable terrain which is spread out over 34 trails, Bristol will give you an experience unlike anything you’ve had before. There’s so much you can do in this resort, including night skiing and snowboarding - and it doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or a pro!

Windham Mountain Ski Resort

Windham Mountain Ski Resort (top) in located in the northern Catskills Mountains has the distinction of being a family friendly resort yet also great for expert skiers. Just a glimpse of the surroundings of Windham Mountain will tell a lot about what you’re being offered. With a summit at 3,100 feet, the mountain offers around 52 trails all spread out in 285 acres of skiable terrain. The resort’s activities aren’t just limited to skiing; sports like snowboarding and
terrain parks will give you the experience of a lifetime.

Gore Mountain Ski Resort

Gore Mountain is the largest ski resort in the state, actually spanning four sister mountains in the Adirondacks - Gore Mountain itself, along with Bear Mountain, Little Gore Mountain, and Burnt Ridge Mountain. - presenting some of New York's most challenging skiing/snowboarding terrain. The trails are divided in such a way that every skill level is accommodated.

Lake Placid Ski Resort

A serene village surrounded by snow-capped mountains makes Lake Placid Ski resort a favorite among the snow-sporty set - and of a quality so good it has hosted the Winter Olympics twice. There are 27 trails of varied levels of difficultires, and an extra special bonus here is the opportunity for other winter sports such as bobsledding.

Tuxedo Ridge Ski Center

Located at Sterling Forest in the Hudson Valley's Ramapo Mountains (and the closest of these five to New York City), Tuxedo Ridge is a great place to learn the art of skiing. In fact, its main focus is to teach families and children how to ski, as it has terrain specially designed to help a beginner (its "bunny slope" is especially well known as kid- and beginner-friendly). However if you’re looking for a challenge, one of the expert trails can also easily provide it.