How to Pick the Right Winter Sports Resorts

Where to go to play all day

By Deborah Jeane Sergeant

 

If you and your family love several winter sports, you can enjoy the same winter getaway or day trip at any of these facilities (and more!) with winter fun to please everyone.

 

Belleayre Mountain in Highmount provides opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Tucked in the Catskills, Belleayre has numerous restaurants and places of lodging nearby. www.belleayre.com

 

Brantling Ski & Snowboard Area in Sodus offers skiing and snowboarding. A smaller, rural ski center, you can skip the crowds at Brantling and spend more time on the slopes. www.brantling.com

 

Bristol Mountain in Canandaigua offers downhill skiing, cross country skiing, ski racing, and snowboarding. Stay in suites at the base of the mountain for easy access. www.bristolmountain.com

 

Camillus Parks And Recreation in Camillus operates a small downhill skiing, snowboarding and tubing hill. Although not a ski resort, the facility has rope towing and ski lifts, making it a fun day trip. www.CamillusSkiHill.com

 

Catamount Ski Area in Hillsdale provides snow tubing and downhill skiing. Resort-owned lodging is available at the base of the mountain. https://catamountski.com

 

Dry Hill Ski Area in Watertown offers downhill skiing, snow tubing, and night skiing. Dining is available, but not lodging. www.skidryhill.com

 

Gore Mountain in North Creek has downhill skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, twilight skiing and “uphill” cross country skiing. Gore recommends a few places of lodging nearby to help visitors plan a getaway. https://goremountain.com

 

Greek Peak in Cortland snow tubing, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing. Plus, there’s an indoor waterpark that operates year-round. Dine and stay on-site in this all-inclusive resort. www.greekpeak.net

 

Holiday Valley in Ellicottville has downhills skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and a mountain coaster (open year-round). The resort is ranked #4 ski resort in the East in the 2025-26 Readers Resort Rankings by SKI Magazine. Stay, dine and play on-site. www.holidayvalley.com

 

Hunter Mountain in Hunter offers downhill skiing, snowboarding and snowboarding. Check the website about lodging options and package deals. www.huntermtn.com

 

Labrador Mountain in Truxton has downhill skiing, night skiing, snowboarding, and ski racing, along with on-site dining. www.skicny.com/labrador

 

Mt. Pisgah Recreation Center in Saranac Lake has downhill skiing and snowshoeing. The website lists places to stay and dine nearby. www.saranaclake.com/alpine-skiing/mt-pisgah-recreation-center

 

Peek’n Peak Resort in Clymer offers skiing, snowboarding, night skiing, and tubing as well as a spa and indoor pool and water park. Check the website for lodging packages. www.pknpk.com

 

Rocking Horse Ranch in Highland provides a skating rink, horseback riding, tubing, and downhill skiing. Dining and lodging are both available at the ranch. www.rockinghorseranch.com

 

Song Mountain in Tully welcomes skiers, snowboarders and tubers. Dine at Heuga’s Alpine Restaurant and Bar at the base of the mountain. www.skicny.com/song

 

Swain Resort in Swain offers skiing, ski racing and snowboarding. The resort lists places of lodging nearby, making it easy to plan a weekend away. https://swain.com

 

Thunder Ridge Ski Area in Patterson offers downhill ski trails and snowboarding terrain park. Nearby lodging and onsite dining are available. https://thunderridgeski.com

 

Titus Mountain in Malone has downhill skiing, night skiing, tubing, and a snowboarding terrain park. Visitors can also rent a “skibana” while on the slopes: a heated mini house for warming up between runs. On-site overnight lodging and nearby lodging are both available. www.titusmountain.com

 

West Mountain in Queensbury provides downhill skiing, snowboarding and tubing. Lodging partners offer good deals for visitors. https://westmountain.com

 

Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington offers downhill skiing, snowboarding terrain park, gondola rides, Olympic jumping complex, and bobsled experience. A true ski town, places to eat and stay abound. https://whiteface.com

 

Willard Mountain in Greenwich has downhill skiing, night skiing, and tubing, along with on-site dining. www.willardmountain.com

 

Woods Valley Ski Area in Westernville provides downhill skiing, night skiing and tubing. On-site dining is available. https://woodsvalleyskiarea.com