As a kid born and raised in NYC, the city was my personal playground. From Times Square to Williamsburg to the Rockaways, anything I needed, my whole world, was just a train ride away. It wasn’t until I started snowboarding that I realized that that world was just the tip of the iceberg.

With the most ski resorts of any state in the U.S., the Empire State is nothing short of a paradise in winter. And while the mountains in the Northeast might not be as imposing as some on the West Coast, they are still pretty gnarly. Frigid temps, icy runs, and tight glades all make for extremely technical terrain and can humble even expert skiers and snowboarders. At the same time, New York ski resorts, with their smaller acreage and down-home vibes, are also great places for beginners and families.

So let’s dive into the best Empire State offers with our expert guide to the seven best ski resorts in New York.

1. Best for the Family: Windham Mountain Club

Stats:

• Location: Windham, NY
• Elevation: 3,100ft
• Runs/Lifts: 54/11
• Skiable Acres: 285
• Average Snowfall: 80in annually
• Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate

Spot Overview

Just over two hours from New York City, Windham is one of the more well-known mountains in the state, attracting skiers and riders from throughout the tri-state area. However, while its close neighbor, Hunter, is known for bringing the noise, Windham has a more reserved, family-friendly vibe. With a trail breakdown of almost 68% beginner and intermediate runs and 32% advanced or expert, Windham has a wide variety of terrain for skiers or shredders of widely differing skill levels.

Having recently changed ownership, Windham Mountain Club aims to bring the aprés vibe of exclusive Colorado and Alps resorts to the Catskills. This includes offering guests a game room, spa packages, fitness center, and world-class dining all on the slopes.

Expert Review

Windham has something for every level of rider. Beginners can keep busy on the mountain’s long, looping, evergreen-lined green runs, while older, more experienced riders can test their skills on double blacks like Wedel and Upper Wheelchair. Another thing I personally like is that most of the trails drain to the same large base area, with Adirondack chairs facing the runs, making it easy for me to spot members of my crew or watch them shred in style.

While the terrain isn’t as challenging as what you might find in the Adirondacks or Green Mountains, between the excellent snowmaking, fun expert runs, and family vibes, Windham Mountain Club captures that feel-good vibe that is the essence of snow sports.

2. Best View: Whiteface Mountain

Stats:

• Location: Wilmington, NY
• Elevation: 4,867ft
• Runs/Lifts: 94/13
• Skiable Acres: 299
• Average Snowfall: 147in annually
• Difficulty: Expert

Spot Overview

To say the view from Whiteface is stunning is an understatement. One of the High Peaks of the Adirondacks, trails at this mountain resort offer visitors scenic vistas of Lake Placid Lake and the surrounding Adirondack State Park. Once you’ve wrapped your day on the slopes, nearby Lake Placid is a great destination for aprés ski vibes, with a variety of restaurants, shops, and bars dotting the picturesque mountain town. The mountain has also been the site of the Winter Olympics.

Whiteface is remote, roughly five hours from NYC and three from Albany. But it’s worth it for the views and challenging terrain that embody what East Coast snowboarding is all about. And non-skiers can enjoy off-slope activities like bobsledding and ice skating.

Expert Review

Don’t let the views fool you: Whiteface is challenging. Affectionately nicknamed “Iceface,” temps in winter can frequently drop into the negatives, leaving much of the above treeline skiing windblown and icy. This can make for a fairly hit-or-miss time at the mountain. Because of this, I recommend prospective guests take more care when planning a trip to Whiteface, triple-checking the weather reports, even up until the morning of. The weather can also impact what trails are open. As most of the expert terrain is above treeline, such as the infamous double black diamond run “The Slides,” it is prone to receiving the worst elements and being closed off for safety reasons.

However, for tried-and-true East Coast riders looking to challenge themselves, Whiteface’s bevy of steep, technical runs, including the longest sustained vertical drop in the East, is well worth braving the conditions and long drive.

3. Best Glades: Gore Mountain

Stats:

• Location: North Creek, NY
• Elevation: 3,563ft
• Runs/Lifts: 115/14
• Skiable Acres: 453
• Average Snowfall: 109in annually
• Difficulty: Expert

Spot Overview

Though located near Whiteface, about four hours north of the city, Gore Mountain has a very different personality. Where Whiteface is steep with few true tree runs, Gore is spread over 453 acres of heavily forested terrain, making it the largest ski resort in New York State. That also makes it the place to go for gladed runs.

However, like Belleayre and Whiteface, Gore is run and maintained by the state, so it can be a bit lacking in amenities and doesn’t have a base town or village on par with Lake Placid to make up for it.

Expert Review

Its 28 tree runs allow you to test your skills in the tight undergrowth while taking in the natural beauty of Adirondack State Park. Beyond gladed runs, Gore has many runs, with beginner and intermediate runs clustered towards the middle and bottom of the mountain and expert terrain near the top and backside.

The lift system at Gore is also top-of-the-line. The mountain is big by New York standards, so it’s great that riders can access it quickly. This keeps lift line wait times down and runs pretty uncrowded. If you’re like me, this means plenty of space on the trails to lay down fat eurocarves from peak to base. However, as a snowboarder, I’d be remiss not to mention that while the spread-out terrain decreases crowds, it increases the number of flats to traverse in order to access. Long story short: Be prepared to skate.

4. Best for a Day Trip: Plattekill Mountain

Stats:

• Location: Roxbury, NY
• Elevation: 3,500ft
• Runs/Lifts: 38/4
• Skiable Acres: 75
• Average Snowfall: 84in annually
• Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate

Spot Overview

This small mountain nestled in the Northwestern Catskills is a true hidden gem. At three hours from NYC, accessible by bus via Manhattan, and with nary a lift line that lasts longer than five minutes, Plattekill is perfect for a day trip, with guests able to bank run after run on its 40 uncrowded trails. With fires burning around the grounds and inside the lodge, the atmosphere here is a whole vibe, with the bar serving an array of amazing locally brewed craft beers. I also highly recommend doing yourself a favor and grabbing a bite at the nearby Phoenicia Diner for some excellent pre or post-shred grub.

Expert Review

Don’t be fooled by the trail count. Between its diverse runs, respectable elevation, and downhome chalet vibes, Plattekill feels and rides like a much bigger mountain, and this comes from someone who grew up riding Killington.

Its blacks are steep and technical and, when left ungroomed, build up some nice moguls to add to the challenge. Blue runs tend to be pretty straightforward and are where you can find modest-sized park features and great side hits. Greens are long and curvy, if a little bit flat, which may frustrate beginners.

Plattekill also has great glades that cut across multiple trails. But keep in mind that the trees here are tight with a lot of undergrowth and should be tackled by advanced and expert riders only.

5. Best for the Party: Hunter Mountain

Stats:

• Location: Hunter, NY
• Elevation: 3,200ft
• Runs/Lifts: 66/12
• Skiable Acres: 320
• Average Snowfall: 120in annually
• Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate

Spot Overview

Ah, Hunter Mountain. I have often rounded the bend on Belt Parkway only to have to navigate the fallen bodies of beginner skiers and riders strewn like land mines across the trail. Yes, Hunter Mountain gets crowded. Yes, its close proximity to New York City means that masses of learners and weekend warriors descend on its slopes every weekend in winter. But this accessibility lends the mountain a feel-good, devil-may-care kind of atmosphere that makes for an incredibly good time.

The mountain routinely hosts DJs that keep the beats bumping throughout the day and turn the lodge into a dancefloor. Hunter is also located near the college town of Tannersville, NY, so guests can head over once the lifts stop running for an aprés scene that spans a multitude of bars, coffee shops, and restaurants. So, if you roll with a large crew looking for challenging runs during the day and good vibes at night, this Hudson Valley staple has you covered.

Expert Review

While it might get crowded and is a popular spot for beginners, Hunter Mountain is more than just a “party” mountain. Hunter West is an expert slope loaded with steep double blacks and tree runs. “Claire’s Way” and “Annapurna” are two of my favorites when ungroomed. “Hell Gate” is also a great run and a nice way to navigate down to the middle of the mountain, where the terrain park is.

The terrain park is highly rated (#7 in the state) and has the smoothest jump landings I’ve ever hit. Hit it right, and you’ll barely feel when you’ve landed. Just try to pick a day when the rest of the world hasn’t descended on its slope, as you’ll not only be dodging natural features but humans, too.

6. Most Affordable: Belleayre Mountain

Stats:

• Location: Highmount, NY
• Elevation: 3,429ft
• Runs/Lifts: 61/8
• Skiable Acres: 171
• Average Snowfall: 130in annually
• Difficulty: Intermediate

Spot Overview

Owned and operated by the state government, Belleayre is a sleeper mountain. While it doesn’t have the same kind of cozy mountain vibes as its close neighbor Plattekill, if you’re looking for affordable, no-frills skiing and riding, Belleayre is the mountain for you.

With lift tickets starting at around $57 online and the mountain's frequent skier program offering discounted tickets, Belleayre gives visitors an incredible bang for the buck. With an average of 130 inches of snow per year spread over 61 trails, it receives more snow and has more trails than neighboring Plattekill. Just keep in mind that Belleayre’s amenities are fairly basic, so it might not be the best for those looking for an elevated guest experience. That being said, restaurants like the nearby Peekamoose will scratch the fine dining itch.

Expert Review

Cruising through Belleayre’s intermediate and expert all-mountain terrain and lack of crowds is a great way to spend the weekend for those who value skiing or riding above everything else. The mountain does a good job of keeping beginners and intermediate riders separate from the advanced and expert crowds through its intuitive lift system that keeps beginners at lower elevations. For the experts, the high-speed gondola takes you straight to the peak, where you can find some fun, if less than challenging blacks and double blacks. However, my favorite part of Belleayre is just how scenic it can be. Riding along the blue-rated trail “Route 9” gives you incredible news of the Catskills with the option to drop into technical terrain or glades at any moment or keep cruising and taking in the sights.

7. Best Powder: Holiday Valley

Stats:

• Location: Ellicottville, NY
• Elevation: 2,250ft
• Runs/Lifts: 60/13
• Skiable Acres: 290
• Average Snowfall: 180in annually
• Difficulty: Beginner

Spot Overview

Nestled in Western New York with only 750 feet of vertical drop, it would be easy to dismiss Holiday Valley as just another small local mountain that makes do with what it has. But that would be a mistake. Though small, Ellicottville is a true mountain town, with multiple ski lodges situated throughout and brimming with great bars, restaurants, a casino, and a spa. No wonder the mountain resort has made the top 10 East Coast resorts by SKI magazine.

Top-notch lifts keep lines to under five minutes, meaning riders looking to get their laps in will have no problem doing so. However, those looking to sit back and enjoy the atmosphere between runs will also find themselves at home. Holiday Valley makes up for its lack of vertical drop by spreading out its ski trails and lodges across its 290 skiable acres.

But what really makes this mountain stand out is the snow. Located about an hour's drive from Buffalo near Lake Erie, Holiday Valley gets the most snow in the state, with lake effect storms known to dump feet of the white fluffy stuff.

Expert Review

The powder and good vibes are great for families and beginners, especially when the forecast calls for snow. Even when it’s not dumping, the snowmaking quality is exceptional. It takes advantage of the lower elevation and lack of vertical to ensure trails are less icy and windblown than the bigger, steeper resorts. For snow quality, Holiday Valley can’t be beaten by other resorts in the state. However, the lack of expert terrain and steeps will be an issue for expert-level riders. So you might be disappointed if you’re going just for the skiing or riding and aren’t one for amenities.

The Best Time to Visit New York

Now that we’ve tackled the top ski resorts in New York State, when should you start planning your trip? Well, with skiing and snowboarding, timing is everything. This is especially true for New York State.

With the lower elevations of the mountains and temperamental winters, your safest bet for visiting any of the resorts listed above is mid-January through February. Keep in mind that holiday weekends like Presidents’ Day and Martin Luther King Day tend to bring holiday crowds.

Also, larger resorts like Whiteface and Gore routinely stay open through March and into April, so a trip later in the season is doable and avoids frigid temperatures. Whatever you choose, take some time to cruise up and down the I-87 and neighboring routes to take in the natural beauty the Empire State has to offer.

However, any good time on the mountain can go awry if you’re not equipped properly, especially on the “ice coast.” So, if you need assistance knowing what to prep for and what to buy, reach out to our Curated Skiing Experts. They're here to answer all your questions and give you free, personalized advice.

Happy shredding, and see you on the slopes.