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East Coast Skiing & Snowboarding in the New York Adirondacks

The Adirondack Region's alpine ski mountains offer a wide range of downhill skiing and snowboarding opportunities. The Adirondack Park is located in Northern New York, ridged in mountains that stretch into some of the highest elevations in the northeast - making for excellent downhill skiing and snowboarding conditions. The Adirondacks' east coast ski resorts are unique in that they are a comparable experience to skiing at the bigger resorts in the west, yet are affordable, easy to get to, and boast family-friendly terrain that everyone can enjoy.

Whiteface Ski mountain in the Adirondacks of Eastern New York

If there's only one thing we can lay claim to here in the Adirondacks, it's that we do winter vacations extremely well. Sure, we've got 2,000 miles of hiking, trophy fishing, and a reputation for epic trips and deep lakes, but winter? Winter is when the Adirondack Mountains pull out all the stops.

The Adirondack Region's ski resorts are treasured places, the mountains of first tracks at dawn, races to the base lodge, and stories that fill every turn, tuck, and huck in between. We're not just talking backcountry skiing style "skin-up, ski down" treks, or bunny slope victories, we're talking about some of the best skiing in the Northeast, period.

These are New York mountains, where beginners who have never been on skis or snowboards before beginning a lifelong passion for carving turns and taking GoPro worthy spills before getting back up, brushing off, and going again. This is where all you intermediate and expert skiers and riders conquer the greatest vertical drop east of the Rockies, and crush trails marked in diamonds. 

Did we say snow tubing? Don't forget to make your way with the whole family to West Mountain or Titus Mountain for snow tubing fun! Line up for fun snowtube racing or just zip down the tubing-only hills as you enjoy the Adirondack views. Tubes are provides with your ticket.

This is the Adirondacks, NY. This is where winter comes to play at ski resorts that offer terrain for all abilities. This is the place for heroic ski days. These are days everyone from your four-year-old to your grandmother will be talking about until spring comes again.

 

Simply The Best Ski Mountains In The East

Larger Alpine Ski Mountains & Resorts

  • Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington - Home of the greatest vertical drop east of the Rockies (3,430 feet), and known as the Olympic Mountain, Whiteface boasts 90 trails serviced by twelve lifts. Open from November through early spring, it is one of the premier alpine ski resorts of the northeast and a short drive from Lake Placid.
  • Gore Mountain in North Creek - A Family-friendly place to ski for those looking for a variety of terrain and activities, Gore Mountain offers 121 trails to explore - 110 alpine ski trails and 11 Nordic/snowshoe loop trails. Find expert-only, ample intermediate, and acres of beginner terrain. Vertical drop is 2,537 feet and the longest run is over four miles long.
  • Titus Mountain in Malone - Stretching across three mountains, Titus offers 50 trails and glades, three terrain parks, and 8 lifts. It's a prime location for honing those racing skills as its trails catering to all levels of skiers and riders. Enjoy night skiing and snow tubing at Titus Mountain as well!
  • West Mountain in Glens Falls - Located near the Lake George Area, West Mountain is a resort with a "home-mountain" feel, offering night skiing, tubing, lodging packages, and 1,010 feet of vertical. Enjoy 31 skiing trails for all abilities spanning 124 acres.

​​​Smaller Alpine Ski Slopes & Resorts

  • Oak Mountain in Speculator - Located in the heart of the Adirondack Park in Hamilton Country, enjoy great family-friendly skiing and riding on beginner to intermediate terrain.
  • Mount Pisgah in Saranac Lake – Mount Pisgah is an alpine and Nordic ski center offering 15 acres of skiable terrain and night skiing and is a great place to start linking your turns. Enjoy tubing in the evenings as well.
  • Snow Ridge in Turin - Snow Ridge Ski Area boasts the "East's heaviest snowfall" in the Adirondacks due to its proximity to Lake Ontario and therefore experiences excellent grooming. Find wide lanes and plenty of steep pitches for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities.
  • Otis Mountain in Elizabethtown - Otis Mountain is a small mountain with a big heart, welcoming locals and visitors alike. It doubles as a music festival venue and mountain biking facility in the warmer months.
  • Hickory Ski Center in Warrensburg - Hickory offers a 1,200' vertical drop, family and expert skiing, glades and gentle learning terrain. Enjoy the laid back community atmosphere. Hickory is open on weekends, weather permitting.

 

skiing and snowboarding in the Adirondacks

Ski Shops & Tuning Locations

  • High Peaks Cyclery - 2733 Main Street Lake Placid, NY 12946 (518) 523-3764
  • Whiteface Mountain - 5021 Route 86 Wilmington NY 12997 (518) 946-2223
  • Lake Placid Ski & Board - 2532 Main Street Lake Placid NY (518) 523-7245
  • Blur Line Sports - 81 Main Street #1 Saranac Lake NY 12983 (518) 891-4680
  • Pedals & Petals - 176 New York 28 Inlet, NY 13360 (315) 357-3281
  • Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center - 139 Lapland Lake Road Northville, NY (518) 863-4974
  • Sports Page Ski & Patio - 138 Quaker Road Queensbury, NY 12804. (518) 792-1304.

More Winter Activities

snowmobiling in the Adirondacks Tug Hill region

Snowmobiling

bunch of snowshoes in a circle

Snowshoeing

cross country skiing at Mt VanHoevenberg in the Adirondacks

Cross Country Skiing