Best of New York
Best Ski Resorts in New York 2026/27: Largest, Highest & for Beginners
By Book & Ski · Sources checked
The short answer
By mapped runs, the biggest ski areas in New York are Gore Mountain (61 km), Whiteface Mountain Ski Center (37 km) and Belleayre Mountain Ski Center (33 km). The highest is Whiteface Mountain Ski Center, with runs from 1,335 m (4,380 ft); the biggest vertical is at Whiteface Mountain Ski Center (962 m); and Greek Peak Mountain Resort has the largest share of easy terrain (43%).
| Resort | Top elevation | Vertical | Mapped runs | Easy terrain | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gore Mountain | 1,093 m | 773 m | 61 km | 13% | source |
| Whiteface Mountain Ski Center | 1,335 m | 962 m | 37 km | 22% | source |
| Belleayre Mountain Ski Center | 1,045 m | 419 m | 33 km | 19% | source |
| Holiday Valley | 708 m | 241 m | 31 km | 39% | source |
| Windham Mountain Club | 927 m | 432 m | 29 km | 29% | source |
| Hunter Mountain | 969 m | 467 m | 27 km | 19% | source |
| Titus Mountain | 609 m | 289 m | 22 km | 35% | source |
| Greek Peak Mountain Resort | 636 m | 252 m | 21 km | 43% | source |
Highest ski resorts in New York
Higher resorts generally hold snow longer into spring. These have the highest mapped runs in New York.
Whiteface Mountain Ski Center: 1,335 m (4,380 ft) →Gore Mountain: 1,093 m (3,586 ft) →Belleayre Mountain Ski Center: 1,045 m (3,428 ft) →Hunter Mountain: 969 m (3,179 ft) →Windham Mountain Club: 927 m (3,041 ft) →Biggest vertical drop
Vertical is the height difference between the highest and lowest mapped runs: a guide to how long the longest descents can be.
Whiteface Mountain Ski Center: 962 m vertical →Gore Mountain: 773 m vertical →Hunter Mountain: 467 m vertical →Windham Mountain Club: 432 m vertical →Belleayre Mountain Ski Center: 419 m vertical →Best for beginners (most easy terrain)
Ranked by the share of mapped run length graded novice or easy. A big share of gentle runs gives beginners more room to progress; also check where the ski school meets.
Greek Peak Mountain Resort: 43% easy (21 km total) →Holiday Valley: 39% easy (31 km total) →Titus Mountain: 35% easy (22 km total) →Windham Mountain Club: 29% easy (29 km total) →Whiteface Mountain Ski Center: 22% easy (37 km total) →How we chose
“Best” here means measurable: size (km of mapped downhill runs), top elevation, vertical drop and the share of easy terrain, across the 8 ski areas with at least 20 km of runs and five lifts in New York. Figures come from OpenStreetMap via OpenSkiMap, retrieved 2026-10-01, and can differ from resorts’ own published numbers.
All ski resorts in New York →Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest ski resort in New York?
By mapped runs, Gore Mountain, with about 61 km and 14 lifts.
What is the highest ski resort in New York?
Whiteface Mountain Ski Center, with mapped runs starting at about 1,335 m (4,380 ft).
Which New York ski resort is best for beginners?
By share of easy terrain, Greek Peak Mountain Resort (43% of runs graded novice or easy). Also consider ski school locations and lift access.
Official sources
Checked on . Prices and timetables change; confirm with the operator before you pay. How we research.