One of the best ways to experience New York’s winter wonderland is cross-country skiing. Thousands of miles of scenic trails cover a breathtaking variety of white-frosted landscapes, from seaside to mountaintop. Gliding through the snowy fields and forests can ease your mind, condition your muscles and give you a great aerobic workout, far from the confines of a gym.
New York has trails for every style and skill level. Whether you want to ski for an afternoon, a weekend or longer, you won’t have to go far for your winter getaway.
State parks, forest preserves, ski resorts, and more than 50 cross-country ski centers are located across the state, usually within a few hours’ drive from major cities. Most ski centers offer equipment rental and lessons, and nearby accommodations range from rustic cabins to cozy inns and posh
resorts.
In the
Hudson Valley, just north of New York City, you can follow enchanting woodland trails at
Minnewaska State Preserve and on the grounds of the historic
Mohonk Mountain House. Stay and play at
Kutsher’s Country Club in the
Catskills or spend the day at
Belleayre Mountain, considered a model in the ski industry.
The
Olympic Sports Complex near
Lake Placid is one of the premier Nordic venues of North America. With 31 miles of groomed trails—used during the 1980 Winter Games—the experience is among the best you can find anywhere. Don’t worry if you’re not an Olympian. There are trails suitable for skiers of all levels, and lessons are available at the lodge.
A former Olympic skier provides legendary hospitality and first-rate trails at
Lapland Lake, a unique Nordic vacation center. Another
Adirondacks treasure,
Garnet Hill Lodge offers spectacular views, hearty cuisine, and more than 40 miles of magnificent back-country trails.
In the Snowbelt, east of Lake Ontario, lake-effect snow covers the entire Tug Hill Plateau with an average of 300 inches annually. This guarantees fun and easy sliding for cross-country skiers at
Osceola Tug Hill and Winona State Forest, about 50 miles north of
Syracuse.
Delightful options in the
Finger Lakes include
Greek Peak, a resort with groomed cross-country trails as well as
downhill skiing, and
Bristol Mountain, where new cross-country trails to the summit are lit with nightlights. Further west,
Allegany State Park gets five stars for some of the finest cross-country ski trails in the Northeast---along with 150 winterized cabins and cottages.
Your wonderland awaits. Ready…set… glide!