Ski country
Encyclopedia
Niagara Frontier
The Niagara Frontier refers to the stretch of land south of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie and extending westward to Cleveland, Ohio. The term dates to the War of 1812. This only includes the land east of the Niagara River and south of Lake Erie within the United States...
and the Southern Tier
Southern Tier
The Southern Tier is a geographical term that refers to the counties of New York State west of the Catskill Mountains along the northern border of Pennsylvania. It is a loosely defined term that generally includes the counties that border Pennsylvania west of Delaware County inclusive...
of the western part of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Weather
The area is a largely hilly terrain, mostly downwind from Lake ErieLake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
, Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
and the Finger Lakes
Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes are a pattern of lakes in the west-central section of Upstate New York in the United States. They are a popular tourist destination. The lakes are long and thin , each oriented roughly on a north-south axis. The two longest, Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake, are among the deepest in...
, along the Eastern Continental Divide
Eastern Continental Divide
The Eastern Continental Divide, in conjunction with other continental divides of North America, demarcates two watersheds of the Atlantic Ocean: the Gulf of Mexico watershed and the Atlantic Seaboard watershed. Prior to 1760, the divide represented the boundary between British and French colonial...
between the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
, the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
and Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
watersheds. The result of this is that through orographic lift
Orographic lift
Orographic lift occurs when an air mass is forced from a low elevation to a higher elevation as it moves over rising terrain. As the air mass gains altitude it quickly cools down adiabatically, which can raise the relative humidity to 100% and create clouds and, under the right conditions,...
, a significant amount of lake effect snow
Lake effect snow
Lake-effect snow is produced during cooler atmospheric conditions when cold winds move across long expanses of warmer lake water, providing energy and picking up water vapor which freezes and is deposited on the leeward shores...
falls there during the months of November, December and January.
The western portion of ski country is defined by a geologic formation known as the Chautauqua Ridge.
Ski destinations
As the name implies, the area is particularly popular with skiers, and there are several ski resorts that stretch from PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
into Central New York
Central New York
Central New York is a term used to broadly describe the central region of New York State, roughly including the following counties and cities:...
.
The local ski resorts primarily offer alpine skiing
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
while the numerous state parks use their hiking trails for cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
.
Resorts
- Mountain View at EdinboroMountain View at EdinboroMount Pleasant of Edinboro is a small ski resort nestled in the "ski country" snowbelt region of northwestern Pennsylvania near Edinboro, USA. It offers an array of challenging terrain and conditions....
- in Edinboro, PennsylvaniaEdinboro, PennsylvaniaEdinboro is a borough in Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Erie Metropolitan Statistical Area. As home to Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, it is a small college town, as well as a "resort community"... - Ski Denton - in Coudersport, PennsylvaniaCoudersport, PennsylvaniaCoudersport is a borough in Potter County, Pennsylvania, east by south of Erie on the Allegheny River. The populations were these: 1,530 in 1890; 3,217 in 1900; and 3,100 in 1910. The population was 2,650 at the 2000 census...
(slightly outside the general definition of ski country) - Peek'n PeakPeek'n PeakPeek'n Peak Resort and Spa is ski resort in southwestern New York in Chautauqua County. The resort is located at the western end of the ski country snowbelt. Peek'n Peak opened in 1964. The lodge was built in the Tudor style architecture style. Peek'n Peak has 27 skiing and snowboarding trails as...
- in Clymer, New YorkClymer, New YorkClymer is a town in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 1,501 at the 2000 census. The town is named for George Clymer, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.... - Cockaigne Ski Resort - in Cherry Creek (town), New YorkCherry Creek (town), New YorkCherry Creek is a town in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 1,152 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from that of a small stream that flows through the town amid many cherry trees....
(no longer in operation) - Holiday Valley - in Ellicottville (town), New YorkEllicottville (town), New YorkEllicottville is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 1,738 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Joseph Ellicott, principal land agent of the Holland Land Company....
- Holimont - in Ellicottville (also offers Nordic skiing)
- Kissing Bridge - in Glenwood, New YorkGlenwood, New YorkGlenwood, New York is a small, unincorporated hamlet in southern Erie County, New York. Straddling the Towns of Sardinia and Colden, it lies on New York State Route 240 and includes such places as Sprague Brook Park and the well-known Kissing Bridge Ski Area....
within the town of ColdenColden, New YorkColden is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 3,323 at the 2000 census. The town derives its name from John Caldwalder D. Colden, a state senator.The Town of Colden is an interior town in the south part of the county... - Buffalo Ski Club - in Colden
- Swain Ski Resort - in Grove, New YorkGrove, New YorkGrove is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 533 at the 2000 census.The Town of Grove, in the northeast part of Allegany County, is northwest of Hornell, New York.- History :...
- Bristol Mountain - in South Bristol, New YorkSouth Bristol, New YorkSouth Bristol is a town in Ontario County, New York, USA. The population was 1,645 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from its separation from the Town of Bristol.The Town of South Bristol is in the southwest part of the county...
(also offers Nordic skiingNordic skiingNordic skiing is a winter sport that encompasses all types of skiing where the heel of the boot cannot be fixed to the ski, as opposed to Alpine skiing....
) - Greek PeakGreek PeakGreek Peak Mountain Resort is a ski resort, with a vertical drop of , located near Cortland, New York. Greek Peak offers day and night skiing 7 days a week from late December until mid March. This mountain features 32 trails with varied terrain. It also has 6 lifts, 2 magic carpet lifts, and a...
- in Virgil, New YorkVirgil, New YorkVirgil is a town in Cortland County, New York, United States. The population was 2,287 at the 2000 census. The name is from the Roman poet Virgil...
near the city of CortlandCortland, New YorkCortland is a city in Cortland County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 18,740. It is the county seat of Cortland County.The City of Cortland, near the west border of the county, is surrounded by the Town of Cortlandville.... - Labrador Mountain - in Truxton, New YorkTruxton, New YorkTruxton is a town in Cortland County, New York, United States. The population was 1,225 at the 2000 census. The town was named for Commodore Thomas Truxton, a naval officer of the American Revolution....
- Dry Hill Ski Area - in Watertown, New York
- Toggenburg Mountain - in Fabius, New YorkFabius, New YorkFabius, New York may refer to either:*Fabius, New York , located in Onondaga County*Fabius, New York , located within the Town of Fabius...
- Brantling Ski Slopes - in Sodus, New YorkSodus, New YorkSodus, New York may refer to:*Sodus , New York in Wayne County*Sodus , New York in Wayne County...
State parks
- Art Roscoe Ski Area at Allegany State ParkAllegany State ParkAllegany State Park is a state park in western New York State, located in Cattaraugus County just north of Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania. The park is divided into two sections: The Red House Area and the Quaker Run Area. It lies within the Allegheny Highlands forests ecoregion.The Red...
in Red House, New YorkRed House, New YorkRed House is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 38, making it the least populous town in the state. The name comes from a small stream, Red House Creek.... - Letchworth State ParkLetchworth State ParkLetchworth State Park is a New York state park located 35 miles southwest of Rochester and 60 miles southeast of Buffalo in Livingston and Wyoming counties. The park is roughly 17 miles long, covering of land along the Genesee River...
in Livingston County, New YorkLivingston County, New YorkAs of the census of 2000, there were 64,328 people, 22,150 households, and 15,349 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 24,023 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile... - Long Point State Park on Lake ChautauquaLong Point State Park on Lake ChautauquaLong Point State Park is located in the Town of Ellery, near the hamlet of Maple Springs in Chautauqua County, New York. The park is located on a short peninsula on the east side of the lake and can be reached on Route 430....
near Maple Springs, New YorkMaple Springs, New YorkMaple Springs is a hamlet located within the Town of Ellery in Chautauqua County, New York in the United States at an elevation of 1312 ft above sea level. It is situated along the east shore of Chautauqua Lake, between the villages of Mayville and Bemus Point. The postal code is 14756... - Keuka Lake State ParkKeuka Lake State ParkKeuka Lake State Park is a state park located on the north end of the west branch of Keuka Lake in Yates County, New York. Keuka Lake is one of the Finger Lakes...
in Jerusalem, New YorkJerusalem, New YorkJerusalem is a town in Yates County, New York in the United States. The population was 4,525 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the ancient city of Jerusalem in the Middle East....
A complete list of cross-country ski areas in New York can be found at New York State's ski portal.