Biggest to us means VERTICAL DROP and the more of it, the better! Stop! You ask, what is vertical drop? Vertical Drop = Mountain elevation at the top of the highest chairlift minus the elevation at the base of the lowest chairlift. More vertical usually means longer runs and less chair lift rides for the family enjoying a day on the slopes with the kids in tow or the “tear up the slopes” skier/boarder.
We have compiled a list of the top 5 (out of 34) tallest vertical drop resorts (all over 1,200 feet) with a combined vertical drop of over 10,000 feet:
- Whiteface Mountain Ski Resort
- Gore Mountain Ski Resort
- Windham Mountain Ski Resort
- Hunter Mountain Ski Resort
- Belleayre Mountain Ski Resort
Go ahead, take a look, decide and go hit the slopes.
Here we go…
#1 – Whiteface Mountain Ski Resort
Wilmington, New York
Whiteface Mountain provides the largest vertical drop in New York State and is located in the northern part of the beautiful Adirondack Mountains. The mountain has the greatest lift-serviced vertical drop of any mountain in the Northeast and at 3,430 feet of drop, it is also has the largest vertical drop in New York State. The mountain summit is also the highest in the state at 4,650 feet.
The 220 skiable acres, 88 trails, glades area, and 11 lifts including the Cloudsplitter Gondola with great views including a glimpse of Vermont and even Canada on a clear day. The mountain provides terrain for all levels of snowboarders and skiers providing a terrific variety of vertical fun for all.
Nearest Town: World renowned Lake Placid, Home of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. Visit Mt Van Hoevenberg and its 55 KM of recreational cross-country ski trails.
Closest Airports: Burlington, VT – 78 miles, 2 hrs 13 minutes travel time OR Montreal, QC – 110 miles at 2 hrs 11 minutes travel time.
Average daily average adult lift ticket price: $124. RFID Direct-To-Lift Gates ticketing available.
Lodging: There is no lodging directly on the mountain. Just 15 minutes away in Lake Placid there are many lodging options ranging from local motels to hi-end resorts. A variety of mountain sponsored lodging sites are here. A favorite is the Hampton Inn located just off main street. There is a pub/restaurant next door and only minutes from many of the local favorite dining locations.
Dining: There are a variety of on mountain dining locations from the main base lodge, the bear den lodge at base of beginner area and the legacy lodge located mid-mountain. While at the base of the Gondola. TASTE THE WAFFOLOGY at the Waffle Cabin where Liège-style belgian sugar waffles make every Whiteface adventure memorable. Now serving the Original or drizzled with belgian chocolate!
Once you decide to head off the mountain to the village of Lake Placid, there are a variety of food options that should round-out an awesome day on the ski mountain. Family favorites are Smoke Signals and Jimmy’s 21 Lake Side Italian.
See Whiteface Mountain large trail map, full mountain stat’s, amenities, weather forecast and more.
#2 – Gore Mountain Ski Resort
North Creek, New York
Gore Mountain Resort is also located in the Adirondack Mountains and is 79 travel miles south of Whiteface mountain. Gore rises to a 3,600′ summit with 2,537′ of vertical drop for intense mountain fun.
The ski mountain’s 436 acres actually cover three mountains plus Gore and offers four distinct ski and boarding area’s. The Northwoods gondola, the new Interconnect lift and 12 other lifts provide terrific access to the 110 total trails and the longest gladed trail in the Northeast providing more runs than any other mountain resort in the state. While in the base area,
Nearest Town: North Creek, NY.
Closest Airports: Albany, NY – 80 miles, 1 hrs 23 minutes travel time.
Average daily average adult lift ticket price: $114. RFID Direct-To-Lift Gates ticketing available.
Lodging: There is lodging directly on and at the mountain or stay within 35 minutes of the mountain in or around scenic Lake George. Here are a variety of mountain sponsored sites.
Dining: While at the mountain, you can dine at the base area or the variety of on mountain lodges While at the base area, follow the sugary aroma to the Waffle Cabin near the sundeck to check out a tasty sugar waffle with or without a melted chocolate drizzle!
Once you decide to head off the mountain to the village of North Creek or beyond, there are nearby dining gems awaiting to please your palette. If you are staying in the Lake George area, there are some good dining options.
See Gore Mountain large trail map, full mountain stat’s, amenities, weather forecast and more.
#3 – Windham Mountain Ski Resort
Windham, New York
Windham Mountain Resort is an IKON ticket resort and consists of both an East and West peak that are both at essential the same summit of 3,100′ with a 3rd place skiable vertical drop of 1,600′.
The resort is known for its “get lost and found again” attitude and you can see why with its beautiful 285 acres of fresh and man-made skiable terrain, 54 trails and a 2.1 mile longest run.
If you somehow get bored of the slopes, the mountain offers many other amenities including snow tubing and cross country skiing.
Nearest Town: Windham, NY.
Closest Airports: Albany, NY – 64 miles, 1 hrs 7 minutes travel time. Resort is also approximately 2 hrs from New York City.
Average daily average adult lift ticket price: $145.
Lodging: The resort has seven (7) lodging options within 3 miles of the resort. Ski-in/ski-out, shuttled lodging and family homes are possibilities for your stay. See below:
- The Winwood Inn & Condominiums (1 mile away – free shuttle)
- Whisper Creek Condominiums (Ski-in, ski-out)
- Windham Mountain Village (walk to the slopes)
- Windham Ridge Club (1 mile away)
- The Quads Condominiums (2 miles away)
- Crystal Pond Condominiums (3 miles away)
- Elm Ridge Condominiums (3 miles away)
- Private Homes (various distances)
Dining: There are a few on-mountain dining options. The main base lodge and the Wheelhouse mountain lodge located mid-mountain at the top of the Whiteway triple lift provide a nice selection of dining options ranging from a nice table service meal at Tavern 23 to food trucks serving tacos, sushi and mac & cheese to standard American cuisine.
Just 1 hour from the Albany area, a daily trip to the mountain isn’t a far reach. Albany lodging options are plentiful with many dining and shopping possibilities.
#4 – Hunter Mountain Ski Resort
Hunter, New York
The Catskill Mountains are a scenic gem of New York State and the same can be said for Hunter Mountain Ski Resort.
The mountain summits at 3,200′, has 1,600′ of vertical drop and 4 separate mountain faces providing plenty of diverse terrain to keep you challenged and having fun.
The mountain offers 62 trails serviced by 12 lifts providing direct access to 320 acres of terrain that will keep skiers or boarders entertained.
The 1000′ snow tubing park is available to round out your snow fun activities.
Nearest Town: Tannersville, NY.
Closest Airports: Albany, NY – 65 miles, 1 hrs 16 minutes travel time.
Average daily adult lift ticket price: $93. RFID Direct-To-Lift Gates ticketing available. The resort is part of the EPIC pass program.
Lodging: The mountain has some good choices for a slope-side stay with ski-in/ski-out features. The Kaatskill Mountain Club & Spa and Liftside/Pinnacle Condo’s are located in the base lodge area and offer easy access to the full mountain.
Dining: The mountain has dining at the base lodge and summit lodge at the top of the Kaattskill Flyer and F lifts for your ski and snowboarding eating pleasure. Van Winkle’s is a full service restaurant serving breakfast thru dinner and is located at the Mountain Club Spa. Stop at Pika’s Waffle Cabin for a delicious liège-style belgian sugar waffle.
See Hunter Mountain large trail map, full mountain stat’s, amenities, weather forecast and more.
#5 – Belleayre Mountain Ski Resort
Highmount, New York
Belleayre Mountain Ski Resort also located in the Catskill Mountain Range just 26 miles from Hunter Mountain Ski Resort and rounds out our top 5 New York mountain resort list with 1,404′ of vertical drop with the mountain summit at 3,429′.
Belleayre offers skiing and snowboarding terrain for everyone and is known for not being too crowed, even on weekends. The vertical drop offers 57 trails and glades with 175 acres of terrain. Take the Thunder Gondola to the top and drop into a variety of intermediate and advance trails including Deer Run, the longest run of 2.2 miles which leads our Top 5.
Nearest Town: Highmount, NY.
Closest Airports: Albany, NY – 88 miles, 1 hrs 37 minutes travel time.
Average daily adult lift ticket price: $99. RFID Direct-To-Lift Gates ticketing available.
Lodging: Close by the mountain there are two (2) internationally-acclaimed hotel and spa properties as well as a variety of other stay locations.
Dining: Finding food on the mountain is easy with three (3) lodge locations including the base Discovery lodge, the mid-mountain Overlook lodge and the summit Sunset lodge. Check-out the food options in more detail here. Don’t forget to follow the sweet sugary aroma and stop by the Waffle Cabin!
Less than 1 hour away in the Kingston, NY, a daily trip to the Belleayre isn’t a far reach. Kingston lodging options are plentiful with many dining possibilities.
See Belleayre Mountain large trail map, full mountain stat’s, weather forecast and more.
There’s More…
The above 5 mountain ski resorts are just the start of options for skiing and snowboarding in New York State. There are 29 additional New York ski mountain resorts to choose from. From Holiday Valley Ski Resort in Ellicottville, to Titus Mountain Ski Resort in Malone, to Mount Peter Ski Area in Warwick. They are all great options to get out and spend the day (or evening) on the slopes with family or friends.
Be sure to check out an individual mountain resort detail page to see all of the mountain options for tubing, equipment rentals, lessons, cross country skiing and more. You will also find buttons to access the resort website and get directly to the information you need.
Here are a few other resources that could be helpful in finding your next ski, snowboarding or tubing trip:
Explore all of the great skiing around the U.S.
Compare side-by-side any of North America’s ski and snowboarding mountain resorts
Definition of Vertical Drop
