Best

Peaks Overall

The rank-order of New York State ski resorts we’ve been to based on overall mountain experience.

#1 in New York

Wilmington, NY

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Terrain diversity
Truly extreme, naturally formed Slides runs
Long vertical drop
Phenomenal resort views

    –   Cons

Extraordinary susceptibility to wind problems and lift shutdowns
Inconsistent trail openings in some places, especially the Slides
Slow, wind-exposed lifts in some areas
Frigid on-mountain conditions

Severe wind problems and unreliable trail openings detract from one of the most unique, challenging resorts on the East Coast.

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#2 in New York

North Creek, NY

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Standout glade terrain
Lower crowds than other East Coast resorts
Value

    –   Cons

Lackluster on-mountain maintenance
Strange resort layout
Lower snowfall than Vermont resorts
No on-site lodging

New York State’s largest ski resort stands out with excellent glade terrain, but it can’t match the snow quality or on-mountain infrastructure of the best East Coast mountains.

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#3 in New York

Ellicottville, NY

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Strong snow totals and snowmaking
Diverse layout for the size
Value

    –   Cons

Short vertical drop
Some crowd flow and navigational issues

Strong natural snowfall and varied terrain make this Western New York resort a strong local option, but a short vertical drop and complicated layout prevent it from competing with bigger East Coast destinations.

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#4 in New York

Windham

Windham, NY

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Strong regional snowfall
Lack of crowds
Excellent tree terrain
Available night skiing
Easy access to lift-accessed backcountry terrain

    –   Cons

Compact, basic footprint
Crowds hard to avoid on weekends and holidays
Freeze-thaw cycles can disrupt conditions throughout the season
Value

This Catskill resort can’t beat out the true East Coast destinations in snow, acreage, or terrain diversity, but it lacks some of the major issues that plague nearby competitors. Peak ticket values are among the worst of any North American ski area.

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#5 in New York

Hunter

Hunter, NY

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Reliable snowmaking
Ease of navigation
High-speed lifts in major areas

    –   Cons

Horrendous crowding issues on weekends and holidays, even at bunny hill lifts
Small, relatively basic footprint
Some mountain areas almost never open

High-speed lifts, reasonably varied terrain, and proximity to New York City make this Catskill mountain an appealing choice on paper. However, poor crowd management really hurts the overall experience.

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#6 in New York

Belleayre

Highmount, NY

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Strong snowmaking
Only gondola in the region
Fewer crowds than some competing mountains

    –   Cons

Vanilla footprint, even for the Catskills
Scarce advanced and expert terrain
Inadequate facilities for the demand
No on-site lodging

This Catskill mountain offers family-friendly terrain and reasonable crowds for the region, but a few factors make it a tough sell for those planning a weekend getaway.

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#7 in New York

Peek'n Peak

Clymer, NY

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Impressive snow totals and snowmaking
Charming, Tudor-style hotel and facilities
Available night skiing
Strong lift redundancies
Value

    –   Cons

Small footprint and short vertical drop
Undistinguished slopes
Lack of even remotely challenging terrain
Aging lifts in need of a refresh
For such a small resort, requires a surprising number of lifts to traverse from end to end

This Western New York ski resort offers a good value for beginners, but the mountain lacks the challenge or aesthetic to compete with many other East Coast resorts.

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#8 in New York

Plattekill

Roxbury, NY

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Exceptionally low crowds
Local feel
Strong advanced terrain for the region

    –   Cons

Small footprint and vertical drop
Limited grooming and snowmaking
Lackluster beginner terrain
Ancient lifts
Closed on off-peak weekdays

The Catskill region’s northernmost ski hill offers surprisingly strong advanced terrain, but infrastructure and grooming operations are severely lacking.

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