Where to Ski and Snowboard in the Northeast

UPDATED JANUARY 2020: Skiing and snowboarding with the family this winter? Our guide includes resorts and mountains just outside of the New York metropolitan area, to the slopes of Connecticut, New Jersey, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania. Beginner lessons and kid-friendly slopes for new skiiers and snowboarders are readily available at most mountains. No need to haul your gear, either—you can rent skis, snowboards, helmets, and all of your winter sporting needs right on site. Please note: Hours and programs are subject to change. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details before your visit.
 

RELATED: Download Our Free Guide to Fun Winter Activites
 

Select a region:

Southeast New York
Upstate New York (Worth the Travel!)
Connecticut
New Jersey
Berkshires, Massachusetts
Poconos, Pennsylvania
Southern Vermont
New Hampshire

RELATED: Best Indoor Activities for When It's Too Cold Outside 

Southeast New York

Belleayre Mountain
181 Galli Curci Road, Highmount
845-254-5600
Features 50 trails, parks, and glades. Offers ski and snowboard lessons with age groups 4-6, 7-12, and 13 and older. Round-trip bus service from NYC via Adirondack Trailways (trailwaysny.com) includes lift ticket and luggage lock-up. Rental equipment is available for all ages. There is an on-site nursery for children ages 6 months to 6 years.

Catamount
78 Catamount Rd., Hillsdale
518-325-3200
Has 36 trails; five lifts including a summit quad chairlift; five terrain parks; and a novice area for beginning boarders. Children 6 and ski free on weekends. Season passes available.

Holiday Mountain Ski and Fun Park
99 Holiday Mountain Road, Monticello
845-796-3161
Boasts six trails, four lifts, night skiing, and snow tubing. Beginner lessons available.

Hunter Mountain
64 Klein Ave., Hunter
518-263-4223
Spans four mountains and includes 67 trails and 13 lifts. Programs for kids include Explorers lessons for ages 4-6 (ski only) include a lift ticket, a lesson with a certified instructor, and a full day pass with lunch included. Lessons for ages 7-12 (skiing and snowboarding) also include a lift ticket, a full day pass, and lunch included. Private, one-on-one lessons with a certified instructor are available. Snow tubing for those 42 inches and taller on Friday evenings and weekends. Play care is available for children ages 2-6 on weekends and holidays—reservations are required. Several bus services offer round-trip transportation from the New York metro area; see website for details.

Mount Peter
51 Old Mt. Peter Road, Warwick
845-986-4940
Features 14 trails, from beginner to black diamond, a terrain park, tubing, and a new quad lift. Offers free beginner lessons on weekends and holidays with the purchase of a lift ticket (for ages 5 and older). There’s also a Tiny Tots program for children ages 4 and older (must be potty trained), which includes a lesson, equipment rental, lift ticket, and hot chocolate. Ski racing program for ages 6-18. Valley View is a new accelerated learning area.

Plattekill Mountain
469 Plattekill Mountain Road, Roxbury
607-326-3500
Features 38 trails and a terrain park. Group ski lessons for kids as young as 4. Lift-serviced snow tubing on weekends and holidays; children must be at least 3 feet tall. Kids younger than 6 ski for free. Round-trip bus service available from New York metro area locations online.

Rocking Horse Ranch
600 Route 44/55, Highland
GPS address: 13 Pancake Hollow Road, Highland
800-647-2624
A family resort that includes downhill skiing, snow tubing, horse-drawn sleigh ridges, and skating. Best for the ski “dabbler.” Offers beginner classes (in the Never Ever Area) and free equipment rentals (snowboards not available) with your stay. Free pickup service available from the Amtrak train station in Poughkeepsie and Stewart International Airport in Newburgh.

Thunder Ridge Ski Area
137 Birch Hill Road, Patterson
845-878-4100
Boasts 22 trails with many slow and gentle slopes for beginners and intermediates. Has a ski racing program for kids ages 6-10. Public transportation by Metro North available but could not confirm the additional info from website or FB. Couldn’t get through to someone on the phone.

Windham Mountain
19 Resort Drive, Windham
800-754-9463
Boasts 54 trails over two peaks and six terrain parks (for beginner to expert riders), plus an Adventure Park with ice-skating that is weather dependent, kids' snowmobiling, and snow tubing with a conveyor lift. Ski and snowboarding programs for kids ages 4-12 (private lessons for kids as young as 3). Lessons for children with disabilities are offered through the Adaptive Sports Foundation (call 518-734-5070 for more information). Child care is available for ages 2 and up. Bus service available from NYC via Adirondack Trailways (trailwaysny.com).

Upstate New York (worth the trek!)

Bristol Mountain Resort
5662 Route 64, Canandaigua
585-374-6000
Has 35 trails and six lifts. Ski lessons for children as young as 4; snowboard lessons for children as young as 6. Childcare program for children as young as 18 months and babysitting services for children with reservations 48 hours in advance.

Gore Mountain
793 Peaceful Valley Road, North Creek
518-251-2411
Boasts 110 trails, including 28 glades, and eight freestyle areas. Daily ski and snowboard lessons for children as young as 4. Daycare available for children ages 6 months to 6 years. The new Nordic Center offers 5k for cross-country skiers and snowshoers.

Whiteface The Olympic Mountain
5021 Route 86, Wilmington
518-946-2223 or Coca-Cola Snow Phone 877-754-3223
A U.S. Olympic training site. There are expert trails as well as Bear Den Mountain Area for kids and families learning to ski or snowboard. Lessons for ages 4 and older, all skill levels. Nursery available for ages 1-6. Ski racing and freestyle program for ages 7 and older.

Connecticut

Mohawk Mountain Ski Area
46 Great Hollow Road, Cornwall
860-672-6100
The Parent & Tots program teaches parents (who must be at least intermediate-level skiers) how to ski safely with their 3- and 4-year-old children, while the children learn to ski; available Wednesdays at 1:30pm, weekends, and holidays at 10am and 2pm (registration required). Skiing and snowboarding lessons available for kids and adults.

Mount Southington
396 Mount Vernon Road, Plantsville
860-628-0954
Features 14 trails, most of which are beginner and intermediate level, and two terrain parks. The parent and preschooler class for parents and 3-year-olds introduces toddlers to skiing while teaching parents to use tip connectors and harnesses while skiing (registration required). Introductory ski lessons for ages 4-10 are offered on weekends and holidays. Private ski and snowboard instruction also available.

Powder Ridge Mountain Park and Resort
99 Powder Hill Road, Middlefield
866-860-0208
Features 19 trails and four terrain parks, plus snow tubing and snowbiking. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced lessons for kids and adults, as well as lessons for ages 3-5. You can take the Metro-North train to Bridgeport. Offers year-round skiing, snowboarding, and tubing in the new artificial 365 Synthetic Snow Park.

Ski Sundown
126 Ratlum Road, New Hartford
860-379-7669
Has 16 trails, two terrain parks, and night skiing or snowboarding in more than 70 scenic skiable areas. Group ski lessons for ages 3 and older; snowboarding lessons for ages 7 and older. Registration required for private lessons. Offers 4- and 8-hour "start anytime" lift tickets and rentals, walk-in daily lessons, and family events.