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
WhitefaceWilmington, NY
Wilmington, NY
MOUNTAIN SCORE
56
- Terrain diversity
- Truly extreme, naturally formed Slides runs
- Long vertical drop
- Phenomenal resort views
- 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.
#2 in New York
GoreNorth Creek, NY
North Creek, NY
MOUNTAIN SCORE
49
- Standout glade terrain
- Lower crowds than other East Coast resorts
- Value
- 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.
#3 in New York
Holiday ValleyEllicottville, NY
Ellicottville, NY
MOUNTAIN SCORE
46
- Strong snow totals and snowmaking
- Diverse layout for the size
- Value
- 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.
#4 in New York
WindhamWindham, NY
Windham, NY
MOUNTAIN SCORE
45
- Strong regional snowfall
- Lack of crowds
- Excellent tree terrain
- Available night skiing
- Easy access to lift-accessed backcountry terrain
- 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.
#5 in New York
HunterHunter, NY
Hunter, NY
MOUNTAIN SCORE
41
- Reliable snowmaking
- Ease of navigation
- High-speed lifts in major areas
- 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.
#6 in New York
BelleayreHighmount, NY
Highmount, NY
MOUNTAIN SCORE
40
- Strong snowmaking
- Only gondola in the region
- Fewer crowds than some competing mountains
- 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.
#7 in New York
Peek'n PeakClymer, NY
Clymer, NY
MOUNTAIN SCORE
39
- Impressive snow totals and snowmaking
- Charming, Tudor-style hotel and facilities
- Available night skiing
- Strong lift redundancies
- Value
- 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.
#8 in New York
PlattekillRoxbury, NY
Roxbury, NY
MOUNTAIN SCORE
38
- Exceptionally low crowds
- Local feel
- Strong advanced terrain for the region
- 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.