Outdoors · Winter Sports
Winter Sports in New York
New York winter brings Olympic mountains, lake-effect snow, frozen lakes, and quiet trails when the conditions line up.
New York is one of the East's great winter states, and much of the fun is on public land. The people of New York State own Whiteface, Gore, and Belleayre, plus the Olympic venues in Lake Placid. ORDA, a state agency, runs all of them.
Downhill skiing is only part of it. You can cross-country ski, snowshoe, try a bobsled run where Olympians trained, or ride marked snowmobile trails. Much of that space is on public land managed by the state's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
Snow can be deep upstate, especially where cold air crosses the Great Lakes and brings lake-effect bands. Check the signature spots and the official pages before you go. Fees, dates, and rules change every year, so confirm the current details on the agency's own website.
Good first stops
Whiteface Mountain
Whiteface hosted all six alpine ski events at the 1980 Winter Olympics. It has the greatest continuous vertical drop in the East — about 3,430 feet — including the hike-to expert terrain called The Slides.
Gore Mountain
Gore is New York's largest ski area, spread across four peaks with the most skiable acreage in the state, plus a gondola and its own set of cross-country trails.
Belleayre Mountain
Belleayre is the only state-owned ski center in the Catskills and the only Catskills resort with a gondola — the Catskill Thunder Gondola. The summit reaches about 3,429 feet.
Before you go
A few checks make the day easier.
- Lift tickets and the 3-mountain pass: buy through ORDA's mountain sites
- Cross-country and snowshoe on DEC land: free, no permit
- Snowmobiles: register with NY DMV and carry your papers — check current rules
- Season generally late fall to spring — exact dates vary, check ORDA
- Lake-effect snow makes upstate the most reliable; Tug Hill is the snowiest
Where to go
Whiteface Mountain
Whiteface hosted all six alpine ski events at the 1980 Winter Olympics. It has the greatest continuous vertical drop in the East — about 3,430 feet — including the hike-to expert terrain called The Slides.
Getting there: In Wilmington, near Lake Placid in the Adirondacks. Buy lift tickets, passes, and check opening dates through ORDA's Whiteface site. Reachable by car off Route 86.
Plan the visit →Gore Mountain
Gore is New York's largest ski area, spread across four peaks with the most skiable acreage in the state, plus a gondola and its own set of cross-country trails.
Getting there: In North Creek in the Adirondacks, off Peaceful Valley Road. Tickets, passes, and Nordic trail info are on ORDA's Gore Mountain site.
Plan the visit →Belleayre Mountain
Belleayre is the only state-owned ski center in the Catskills and the only Catskills resort with a gondola — the Catskill Thunder Gondola. The summit reaches about 3,429 feet.
Getting there: In Highmount in the Catskill Park, off Route 28. It's the closest of the three state mountains to New York City. See ORDA's Belleayre site for tickets and dates.
Plan the visit →Mt Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex
This is the home track of the U.S. bobsled, skeleton, and luge teams. Visitors can ride a real bobsled, and the venue has roughly 55 km of cross-country and biathlon trails with powerful snowmaking.
Getting there: Just outside Lake Placid off Route 73. Book bobsled or skeleton experiences and Nordic passes through ORDA's Mt Van Hoevenberg site.
Plan the visit →Lake Placid Olympic Jumping Complex
Home to the 90-meter and 120-meter Olympic ski jumps built for the 1980 Games. A 26-story elevator carries you to the top of the tower for sweeping High Peaks views.
Getting there: On Route 73 just south of Lake Placid. Take the glass elevator to the top; check ORDA for hours and tickets.
Plan the visit →DEC State Forest & Forest Preserve snowmobile trails
New York maintains more than 10,500 miles of snowmobile corridor trail, with roughly 1,800 miles in the Adirondack Park alone — one of the largest systems in the country.
Getting there: Across the Adirondacks, Catskills, and state forests statewide. Find marked trails and rules on DEC's snowmobiling page; register your sled with the NY DMV first.
Plan the visit →Tug Hill & DEC cross-country and snowshoe trails
Tug Hill is the snowiest spot in the East, often over 200 inches a year from lake-effect snow, making it a magnet for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Getting there: The Tug Hill Plateau east of Lake Ontario, plus DEC trails statewide. All DEC trails are open to skiing and snowshoeing in winter — see DEC's skiing and snowshoeing page.
Plan the visit →Passes, permits, and getting on the snow
Whiteface, Gore, and Belleayre sell lift tickets and season passes through ORDA. A combined pass can cover all three. Prices and pass options change each season, so buy and confirm on the official sites.
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on DEC public lands are free — no permit needed. Nearly all of DEC's roughly 2,000 miles of trail are open to skiing and snowshoeing in winter. The groomed Nordic centers at Mt Van Hoevenberg and the ski mountains do charge a trail fee.
Snowmobiles are different. Every sled ridden in New York must be registered with DMV and show a valid sticker, even if it is registered in another state. Carry registration and proof of insurance while you ride. Check the current rules and fees before the season starts.
- •Lift tickets and the 3-mountain pass: buy through ORDA's mountain sites
- •Cross-country and snowshoe on DEC land: free, no permit
- •Snowmobiles: register with NY DMV and carry your papers — check current rules
Official source — DEC Snowmobiling →
When to go for the best snow
New York ski season usually runs from late fall into spring. Opening and closing dates depend on weather and change each year. ORDA announces each mountain's dates, so check the mountain's site before you plan.
Upstate New York gets reliable snow thanks to the lake effect. When cold air crosses the warmer Great Lakes, it picks up moisture and drops heavy snow downwind. The Tug Hill Plateau east of Lake Ontario is the snowiest place in the East, often topping 200 inches a year.
Midweek days are usually quieter than holiday weekends. Early-season days can be quieter too. For current snow totals and storm timing, check the National Weather Service forecast for your destination.
- •Season generally late fall to spring — exact dates vary, check ORDA
- •Lake-effect snow makes upstate the most reliable; Tug Hill is the snowiest
- •Watch the NWS forecast for storm timing before you drive
Official source — NWS Winter Weather Awareness (Western NY) →
Staying safe in the cold
Winter weather can turn dangerous fast. Lake-effect snow and snow squalls can drop visibility to near zero and add several inches of snow in an hour. Check the forecast, keep alerts on your phone, and avoid travel during a Lake Effect Snow Warning when you can.
If you head into the backcountry to ski, snowshoe, or hike, plan carefully. DEC advises staying on marked trails, never going alone on long tours, and being very careful on ice over water — snow on top can hide thin ice. Tell someone your route and when you'll be back. Cold weather gives you a small margin for error.
State snowmobile rules say helmets are required on the state trail system, and it is illegal to ride while impaired by alcohol or drugs. Stay on the trail and ride at a reasonable speed. A snowmobile safety course is a smart idea, especially for newer riders.
- •Heed Lake Effect Snow Warnings — visibility can vanish in minutes
- •Backcountry: stay on trails, don't go alone, test ice, share your plan
- •Snowmobiles: helmets under state trail rules; do not ride impaired
Official source — DEC Winter Hiking Safety →
Quick reference
The people of New York State own Whiteface, Gore, and Belleayre
They are operated by ORDA, the Olympic Regional Development Authority, a state agency. ORDA also runs the Lake Placid Olympic venues.
ORDA sells a combined pass that covers Whiteface, Gore, and Belleayre
Yes. Pass options and prices change each season, so check the current details on ORDA's site before buying.
Belleayre is the closest of the three state-owned mountains, sitting in the Catskill Park off Route 28
It also has the Catskill Thunder Gondola.
Mt Van Hoevenberg, just outside Lake Placid, is the home track for the U
Yes. S. bobsled, skeleton, and luge teams, and it offers public bobsled and skeleton experiences. Book through ORDA's Mt Van Hoevenberg site.
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on DEC public lands are free and need no permit
No. Nearly all of DEC's trails are open to both in winter. Groomed Nordic centers do charge a trail fee.
Every snowmobile must be registered with the New York DMV and display a valid sticker, even if registered in another state
Carry your registration and proof of insurance on you. Helmets are required on the state trail system. Check the current rules and fees before the season.
A lot, thanks to lake-effect snow off the Great Lakes
The Tug Hill Plateau east of Lake Ontario is the snowiest place in the East, often more than 200 inches a year.
It usually runs from late fall into spring
Opening and closing dates depend on weather and change every year. ORDA announces each season's dates, so check the mountain's site before planning.
Whiteface hosted all six alpine skiing events at the 1980 Winter Olympics and has the greatest continuous vertical drop in the East, about 3,430 feet
Yes. Whiteface hosted all six alpine skiing events at the 1980 Winter Olympics and has the greatest continuous vertical drop in the East, about 3,430 feet.
Official sources
Use the agency page when dates, fees, closures, permits, or safety rules matter. Reviewed June 2026.
- ORDA — Olympic Regional Development Authority home State agency that operates Whiteface, Gore, Belleayre, and the Lake Placid Olympic venues.
- Whiteface Mountain — Mountain Stats Official stats for Whiteface, the 1980 Olympic alpine venue with the East's biggest vertical.
- Gore Mountain (ORDA) Official site for Gore, New York's largest ski area, in North Creek.
- Belleayre Mountain — The Mountain Official site for Belleayre, the state-owned Catskills ski center with a gondola.
- Mt Van Hoevenberg (ORDA) Olympic Sports Complex: bobsled, luge, skeleton, biathlon, and cross-country.
- DEC — Snowmobiling Official rules, trail mileage, and registration guidance for snowmobiling in NY.
- DEC — Skiing and Snowshoeing Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing access on DEC public lands.
- DEC — Winter Hiking Safety Official backcountry winter safety advice from the state.
- NY DMV — Register a Snowmobile Current snowmobile registration requirements and fees.
- NWS — Winter Weather Awareness, Western NY National Weather Service guidance on lake-effect snow and winter hazards.
- Olympic Jumping Complex Official ORDA-managed venue page for visits, events, and ski jumping activities.
- OPRHP — Snowmobiler's Guide (NY State Parks) State Parks snowmobiling page and official rider's guide.
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