Downhill Skiing

Listings for downhill ski centers include trail information, costs and other features. Lift ticket information refers to available minimum/maximum day-pass prices. Opening dates are weather-dependent and are therefore subject to change. Some hills charge an hourly rate for skiing beyond an eight-hour pass. Unless noted, all feature ski instruction classes, equipment rental and a cafeteria.

Upstate New York

Bristol Mountain. 5662 Route 64, Canandaigua. (585) 374-6000; www.bristolmountain.com. Skiing and riding on 33 trails with 97 percent snow-making. Vertical rise of 1,200 feet and longest run of two miles. Six lifts. Other features include a ski school, day-care center, two base lodges, two terrain parks, 425-foot half-pipe and summit demo center. Call for 2008 rates, hours and opening date.

Dry Hill. Watertown, off Exit 44, Route 81. 782-8584; www.skidryhill.com. Has eight trails, five with snow-making. The longest trail is 2,200 feet, with a 300-foot vertical drop. Three lifts. Some day skiing available. Opening in mid-December. Hours: Tuesdays to Thursdays, 5 to 8 p.m., $10; 5 to 10 p.m., $15; 7 to 10 p.m., $12. Fridays, noon to 10 p.m., $18; noon to 5 p.m., $14; 5 to 8 p.m., $10; 5 to 10 p.m., $15; 7 to 10 p.m., $12. Saturdays and holidays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., $25; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., $14; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., $20; 1 to 5 p.m., $16; 5 to 10 p.m., $12; 7 to 10 p.m., $10. Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., $20; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., $14; 1 to 5 p.m., $16. Used ski shop, rental shop, snack bar and cocktail lounge. Tubing is available Fridays, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., $10/juniors, $12/adults. Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m., $12/juniors; $14/adults; 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., $10/juniors; $12/adults. Sundays, noon to 5 p.m., $12/juniors, $14/adults. Tubing season passes available.

Four Seasons. 8012 E. Genesee St., Fayetteville. 637-9023; www.fourseasons golfandski.com. Newly installed double chairlift, and conveyor lift for skiing, snowboarding and tubing. Open Dec. 1-March 15, weekends and holidays, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Thursdays and Fridays, 5 to 9:30 p.m. Downhill skiing and snowboarding, $14-$17 per day. Cross-country skiing, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., no trail fee, renting available. Tubing, $21 all day; $18 for three hours.

Greek Peak. 2000 Route 392, Cortland. (607) 835-6111, (800) 955-2SKI; ski report: (800) 365-7669; www.greekpeak.net. Eight lifts. Snow-making on 83 percent of 32 trails. Features a vertical drop of 952 feet, with the longest run at 1.5 miles. Open Mondays to Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fridays, 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sundays, 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. $58/adults, $49/juniors, free/ages 6 and under. Season passes available. Tubing, with six chutes and one lift, $21 for five hours; Fridays, 5 to 10 p.m.; weekends and holidays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Trail pass for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at Nordic Center. Snowshoe and snowboarding rental, half-pipe and terrain park. Also offers free beginner instruction, adventure lessons, children’s learning center, NASTAR racing and four dining facilities. Tentative opening: Dec. 6.

Labrador Mountain. Box 105, Route 91, Truxton. (607) 842-6204; ski reports: (800) 446-9559; www.labradormtn.com. Vertical drop of 700 feet, longest run of 4,500 feet, and 90 percent of 22 trails have snow-making. One triple, two double lifts, one T-bar and two surface lifts. Opening Dec. 1, weather permitting. $43/adults, $32/juniors. Free lessons with once-a-week passes. Season-pass holders get discounts at Whiteface/Gore, Stowe and Stratton mountains. Hours: Mondays to Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sundays, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Night skiing on 12 trails. One half-pipe and a lighted terrain park with rails and jumps for snowboarders. The resort also features Kids’ Town, baby-sitting, four base lodges, new covered deck, restaurant, two cafeterias, cocktail lounge, rentals and ski shop, and RV camping-parking facilities.

Snow Ridge. West Road (Route 26), Turin. 348-8456, (800) 962-8419; www.snowridge.com. Twenty-two trails, the longest of which is 3,600 feet; vertical drop of 500 feet. Boasting the East’s heaviest snowfall and an average of more than 100 skiable days per season, Snow Ridge also has snow-making on 40 percent of its slopes. Seven lifts. Tentatively opening Nov. 23. Hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Weekend and holiday rates: $30-$35/adults, $30/students; weekdays: $14-$20/adults, $16/students. Restaurant, rental shop, cafeteria, cocktail lounge, nursery and RV parking. 

Song Mountain. Song Mountain Road, Tully. 696-5711; ski reports: 696-5711; www.songmountain.com. Located off Route 81, features a longest run of one mile and a vertical drop of 700 feet, with 80 percent snow-making. Five lifts. Opening in mid-December. Hours: Mondays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesdays to Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fridays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sundays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Season passes available, and are also good for Snow Ridge. Eight-hour rates: $43/adults, $34/students; four-hour rate, $40/adults. Central New York’s only private ski club, child-care center, rental shop, cocktail lounge and restaurant. Two new terrain parks.

Toggenburg. Toggenburg Road (half-mile off Route 80), Fabius. 683-5842, (800) 720-TOGG; www.skitog.com. Snow-making on 95 percent of 24 trails. Features a 700-foot vertical drop and a longest trail of one mile. Opening tentatively Dec. 1. Hours: Mondays and Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Wednesdays to Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sundays, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Six lifts, $45/adults; $35/students; $15/ages 6 and under; free/seniors over 70. The two terrain parks and one terrain trail are open to all visitors. Facilities include child care, rental shop, restaurant, cocktail lounge, RV parking area and musical entertainment.

Woods Valley. Box 215, Dopp Hill Road, Westernville. 827-4721; www.woodsvalleyski area.com. Ski reports: 827-4206. Thirteen trails with snow-making capabilities on most. Vertical drop of 500 feet; longest run, 3,300 feet. Three lifts, $17-$36. Wednesdays to Fridays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sundays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Open Monday holidays. Cocktail lounge, occasional entertainment. 

Catskills

Hunter Mountain. Off Route 23A, Hunter. (800) HUNTER-MTN; www.huntermtn.com. Snow-making on all 53 trails, with 11 lifts. Vertical drop of 1,600 feet. Adults, $54-$63; young adults (ages 13 to 22), $49-$57. Discounts available for juniors and seniors. Nine lift-serviced snowtubing chutes and a snowboarding half-pipe available. Lower Hunter lifts open daily, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Hunter West lifts open 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Snowshoeing, instruction, rental shop, cocktail lounge, sushi bar, food court, restaurant, atrium bar and lodge. 

Adirondacks

Gore Mountain. Off Route 28 (Peaceful Valley Road), North Creek. (518) 251-2411; ski reports: (800) 342-1234; www.goremountain.com. Opening Nov. 28. Offering 75 trails, 97 percent with snow-making. Vertical drop of 2,100 feet, longest run of three miles and two terrain parks. Eleven lifts, eight-passenger gondola. Open daily, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. $32-$71/adults; $52-$55/students and seniors; $35-$38/ages 7 to 12; free/ages 6 and under and over 70. Season passes available. Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, tubing park, ski school, child-care center, ski and rental shop, pub and a base lodge restaurant.

McCauley Mountain. Off Route 28, Old Forge. 369-3225. www.mccauleyny.com. Dubbed the “Best Little Mountain in Central New York,” McCauley features 21 trails, six lifts and a 633-foot vertical drop, all on 80 skiable acres with 80 percent snow-making. Lodge with cafeteria and bar, complete rental shop and ski school. Targeted opening: Dec. 13. The mountain, celebrating its 50th anniversary, is open daily (except Tuesdays), 9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.; open all week, Feb. 17 to 20. Winter Carnival, Feb. 6 to 8. $8-$30/adults; $8-$25/juniors.

Titus Mountain. 215 Johnson Road, Malone. (800) TITUS-MN; www.titusmoun tain.com. Snow-making on 90 percent of 27 ski trails. Vertical drop, 1,200 feet; longest run, 3.5 miles. Eight lifts. Open Mondays to Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Thursdays, 1 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fridays to Sundays and holidays, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. $22-27/adults, $18-$21/seniors and students. Season passes now available. Tubing park, snowboard park and half-pipe. Cocktail lounge, two triple chairlifts and two day lodges.

Whiteface Mountain. Route 86, Wilmington. (518) 946-2223; ski reports: (518) 946-7171; (800) 462-6236, Ext. 500; www.whiteface.com. Celebrating 50 years. Offering 76 trails, 97 percent with snow-making. Vertical drop, 3,430 feet, highest in the East. Snowboarding and terrain parks. Ten lifts. Eight-passenger gondola. Tentative opening date: Nov. 15. Open daily, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. $74-$79/adults; $60-$64, teens and seniors; $46-$50/juniors 7-12; free/children 6 and under and seniors over 70. Child care and cocktail lounge available. Lodging and cross-country skiing nearby; 31 miles of trails. Bobsled, luge and figure skating at nearby Olympic facilities.

Cross-Country Ski Areas

All private cross-country ski areas listed have marked and mapped trails, warming huts, rentals and food available. Some offer lodging and vacation packages. All county and state parks and other public ski areas are free, unless noted. 

Adirondack-North Country

Adirondack Loj. Off Route 73, Lake Placid. (518) 523-3441. Offering 20 kilometers of trails, ski and snowshoe rentals, back country access; $9 parking fee. Open daily, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nightly lodging costs $49-$150 per person. Educational programs available.

Bark Eater Ski Center. Bark Eater Inn, Alstead Mill Road, off Route 73, Keene. (518) 576-2221, (800) 232-1607. www.barkeater.com. Starting point of 25-mile Jackrabbit Trail located two miles from the inn, linking all of the Lake Placid area touring centers and ending at Saranac Lake. Twenty kilometers of on-site trails, 10 groomed. Overnight lodging and meals, rentals. Open year-round.

Cunningham’s Ski Barn. 1 N. Main St., North Creek. (518) 251-3215. www.cunning hamsskibarn.com. Two private and groomed trail systems: Hudson River Gorge trail (25 kilometers) and Beaver Meadows wilderness trail (15 km). $20 trail fee. Open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Snowshoeing, nearby lodging, ski shop, rentals and lessons available.

Friends Lake Inn and Nordic Ski Center. Friends Lake Road, Chestertown. (518) 494-4751; www.friendslake.com. Professional ski center with 32 kilometers of groomed, wooded trails. Open daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Full-service shop with rentals and lessons available. Inn accommodations: $349-$399 for two, including dinner and breakfast.

Garnet Hill. 13th Lake Road, North River. (518) 251-2444; www.garnet-hill.com. Offering 55 kilometers of groomed trails with a 2,000-foot elevation and natural snowfall. Single-day trail pass, $17; ticket packages, youth, senior and night skiing discounts available. Open daily, days and nights. The lodge and cross-country ski center also feature guided tours, instruction, lodging, tobogganing and skating. “Ski down, ride back” shuttle bus available.

Gore Mountain. Off Route 28, North Creek. (518) 251-2411. www.goremountain.com. Snow phone: (800) 342-1234. Offering 9 kilometers of trails. Instruction available; call ahead.

Lapland Lake. 139 Lapland Lake Road, Northville. (518) 863-4974; conditions: (800) 453-SNOW; www.laplandlake.com. Award-winning center offers 50 kilometers of trails (38 kilometers of groomed track-skiing and skating lanes, which were designed by Olympic skier Olavi Hirvonen). Twelve kilometers of snowshoe trail. $18/adults; $16/seniors and students; $14/juniors; free/under 6; discount rates and packages available. Open Mondays to Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; weekends and holidays, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Night skiing available Saturdays until 9 p.m. Instruction, ski shop, rentals, cottage lodging, Finnish snack bar and grill, sauna, ice skating, sledding and tubing. 

McCauley Mountain. Off Route 28, Old Forge. 369-3225. Twenty kilometers of groomed trails. Open daily, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Trail fee: $5. Season passes available. Ski rentals, lessons and tours available.

Central New York

Four Seasons. 8012 E. Genesee St., Fayetteville. 637-9023. www.fourseasons golfandski.com. Offering three kilometers of trails; no trail fee. Open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Instruction, rental available.

The Nordic Center. Across from Greek Peak, Virgil. (607) 835-6111, (800) 955-2SKI; www.greekpeak.net. Trail pass, $9. Ski rentals, $14; snowshoe rentals, $10. Lodging and restaurant available at Greek Peak. Guided tours and discount package rates available. Tentative opening: Dec. 6.  

Onondaga County Parks

Call 451-PARK for more information. Beaver Lake, Highland Forest and Pratt’s Falls charge car parking fees of $2. No fees at other county parks. www.onondagacountyparks.com.

Beaver Lake Nature Center. 8477 E. Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville. 638-2519. Offering about 10 miles of trails around the lake and through flat woods. Eight trails total, ranging from 0.3 to 3 miles long. Snowshoes available for loan. Daytime skiing and some night skiing; call for conditions and availability. Visitor center with nature and art exhibits. Open 7:30 a.m. to dusk.

Highland Forest. Off Route 80, Fabius. 683-5550. Twenty miles of trails from novice to expert on this 2,800-acre tract dubbed “the Adirondacks of Central New York.” Hilly and wooded. Eight-mile hiking trail. Horse-drawn sleigh rides available on weekends, $5 per person. Ski and snowshoe rentals and lessons available, warming house and concessions. Open daily, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Oneida Shores. 9400 Bartell Road, Brewerton. Flat trails. 676-7366. The park also features snowmobile access to the lake and ice fishing. Open sunrise to sunset.

Onondaga Lake Park. Onondaga Lake Parkway (Route 370), Liverpool. 453-6712. Flat East Shore Recreation trail. Two-mile loop. Skiing and sledding at Long Branch Park. Free admission. Open 6 a.m. to sunset.

Pratt’s Falls. Pratt’s Falls Road, Pompey. 682-5934. Offers about 10 miles of hilly and flat trails overlooking 137-foot falls. Longest trail is about three miles. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Spafford Forest. Off Cold Brook Road, Spafford. 683-5550. Skiing and snowshoeing on forest roads southwest of Otisco Lake. No facilities. The trails are unmarked on 701 acres of undeveloped land, free of charge. Open from dawn until dusk. 

State Parks Central Region

Battle Island State Park. 2150 Route 48, three miles northwest of Fulton. 593-3408. Offering 2.5 miles of groomed trails. Rentals, full bar, concessions.

Delta Lake State Park. 8797 Route 46, six miles northeast of Rome. 337-4670. Six kilometers of trails. Also features snowmobiling and ice fishing.

Green Lakes State Park. 7900 Green Lakes Road (Route 290), Fayetteville. 637-6111. Offering 10 miles of beginning, intermediate and advanced trails. Varied terrain through woods and golf course.

Lorenzo State Historic Site. 17 Rippleton Road, Cazenovia. 655-3200. Flatland area available for cross-country skiing. Trails owned by the Cazenovia Preservation Foundation and are available for use. Grounds open until dusk. Free. 

Selkirk Shores State Park. 7101 Route 3, five miles west of Pulaski, off Exit 36. 298-5737. Eight kilometers of trails near Lake Ontario. Offers snowshoeing and snowmobiling.

Vanderkamp Center. 337 Martin Road, Cleveland. 675-3651. www.vk.org. Ungroomed ski trails for all levels from novice to expert. No trail fee, but donations welcome. Offers sledding and tobogganing. Lodging accommodations available.   

Finger Lakes 

Buttermilk Falls State Park. Route 13, south of Ithaca. (607) 273-5761. Visitors may ski on lawn areas.

Fillmore Glen State Park. 1686 Route 38, one mile south of Moravia. 497-0130. About five kilometers of trails are open to skiers, but watch out for snowmobiles and ATVs.

Robert H. Treman State Park. Route 13, south of Ithaca. (607) 273-3440. Park roads open for cross-country skiing. 

Taughannock Falls State Park. Route 89, eight miles north of Ithaca. (607) 387-6739. Six kilometers of trails.

Watkins Glen State Park. Route 14 to Route 329, Watkins Glen. (607) 535-4511. Offering 10 kilometers of trails.

Thousand Islands

Call regional office at 482-2593 for general information.

Robert Moses State Park. On Route 131, off Route 37, three miles north of Massena. 769-8663. Ten miles of trails. Park offers ski rentals and snowshoe loans. 

St. Lawrence State Park. 4955 Route 37, five miles west of Ogdensburg. 393-2286. This park and golf course offers six kilometers of trails and sledding. Warming hut available.

Southwick Beach State Park. 8119 Southwicks Place, off Route 3, two miles west of Woodville in Henderson. 938-5083. Three miles of fairly level trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Wellesley Island State Park. Exit 51 off Route 81, four miles west of Alexandria Bay. 482-2722. Five miles of marked trails. Ski rentals and snowshoe loans available; kid sizes available. 

Westcott Beach State Park. Route 3, two miles west of Sackets Harbor at Henderson Bay. 646-2239. Unmarked, ungroomed trails open throughout the park.  

FILM The new Warren Miller ski doc Children of Winter celebrates downhill diversions By Bill DeLapp

Sure signs that Central New York’s seasons are a-changin’: Hoops fans are trudging up to the Dome to see Syracuse University basketball exhibition games; Gannon’s Isle is scooping out its last ice-cream cones for 2008 (the Valley landmark is open through Saturday, Nov. 8); and the new Warren Miller ski documentary is just around the bend. This year’s frigid frivolity, titled Children of Winter (Warren Miller Entertainment; 104 minutes; unrated; 2008), will play Saturday, Dec. 6, 8 p.m., at the Landmark Theatre, 362 S. Salina St.

 

Winter Wonders

Public parks provide cross-country skiing for little or no cost By Ashley Stites 

 

Cross-country skiing draws an exasperated “ugh” from some people’s mouths and an enthusiastic “Let’s go!” from others. Whether the sport exhausts or excites you, the pushing and gliding through altering terrains and sceneries attract anyone looking to explore during the winter. Some skiers glide along well-groomed trails, while others choose off-track territories. However, for all cross-country enthusiasts, snow on the ground means an opportunity to throw on the skis, break trail and hit some fresh powder.

 

The pleasure and sport associated with cross-country skiing today have not always been the norm. Before people practiced it for recreation, skiing offered the sole mode of transportation for Scandinavians centuries ago. Rather than slogging through snow in wet boots to get from place to place, people strapped on wooden skis to move their feet a little faster. Today’s more advanced fiberglass and aluminum skis still transport people from point to point, but skiers gliding along the trails today also do it for competition, exercise and fun.

 

 

MICHAEL DAVIS PHOTO

City skiing: Sunnycrest Park offers of 2½ miles of groomed cross-country ski trails, making them one of four urban oases in the country to do so.  

 

In addition, cross-country skiing gives people a chance to experience nature. On a crisp morning, just before breaking trail, sun glistens on fresh snowflakes and coyotes howl in the distance. In between the trees or even right along the groomed trails lay tracks from any variety of animals out for a winter’s prowl.

 

Jack Lancette, a member of the Onondaga Ski Club and an avid cross-country skier, values the connection and solitude with nature while skiing. “You’re bonding with nature, just moving along out there,” he says.

 

When you mostly ski in wooded areas or parks, as opposed to alpine ski hills, your surroundings become part of the experience. “Once you’re in the backwoods, you can be anywhere,” says Mike Behnke, community affairs director for the Sunnycrest Park Association.

 

Skiers can find backwoods scenery, wildlife sightings and quiet solitude throughout Central New York, at no or little cost. Public parks in the area provide many opportunities to experience nature, compete, exercise or just have fun as either a beginning rookie or a seasoned veteran.

 

Highland Forest, Beaver Lake Nature Center and Sunnycrest (see the Ski Guide directory on pages 14 to 17 for park details) offer variety in their opportunities to glide through their terrains. Regardless of where you choose to explore, inexpensive trail fees and ski rentals provide easy and quick access to the trails.

 

An Onondaga County park, Highland Forest asks for an optional $2 donation fee to access their trails, and the ski rentals cost $15 for adults, $10 for children for the entire day. Another county park, Beaver Lake, doesn’t rent skis, but a day’s use of the trails costs only $2 for parking. Sunnycrest, smack dab in the middle of the city, charges $5, which includes ski rental and trail access.

 

With such reasonable fees, no excuses should keep you from gliding and sliding around on fresh, crunchy snow. “It’s easy to get out there, and we try to keep it that way,” says Brian Kelley, Highland Forest park superintendent.

 

With 22 miles divided into nine different loops and cutoffs, Highland Forest accommodates stumbling beginners and smooth professionals. You can choose the longest eight-mile trail, or opt for one of their shorter spurts. The main trails, South Loop and Westwind, each ease off at a point near the middle that makes it less rigorous and hilly, thus more accessible. If you cruise on the South Loop trail on the right day, you could end up on the third highest point in Onondaga County; stop and look at the entire city through your goggles, says Kelley.

 

Each mile trekked always feels new each season, but the parks department has improved Westwind for the winter. The trail endured three months of rehabilitation in the off-season and now features added width, leveled surface and two tracks instead of one, making Highland Forest’s most popular trail something different to anticipate this winter.

 

Beaver Lake hasn’t made any drastic changes for the upcoming season, but it still boasts seven miles of popular cross-country ski trails. The trails wind through a wooded area, cross over a boardwalk, wrap around the lake and brush over marshland.

 

With all this coverage, every trail takes you through what makes Beaver Lake special, says Meg Valovage, volunteer coordinator at Beaver Lake who straps her skis on for a glide every chance she gets. “You’re not just walking on the beaten path,” says Valovage, “but you’re walking on your own.”

 

This off-the-track solitude gives all skiers the chance to spot a fox trotting to its den or an eagle flying overhead, but it doesn’t cover the most treacherous terrain. While avid cross-country skiers like more of a challenge than the mostly flat trails at Beaver Lake, the nature center still gets a lot of use, especially from beginners. However, bring your own gear because the nature center does not offer equipment rentals.

 

Valovage says regulars ski nine or 10 miles in the morning and get their workout in for the day, and the same person often breaks trail each morning. Once people know what they like, they stick to it, and Beaver Lake offers consistency on their groomed trails, and a feeling of nature 20 minutes from the city.

 

Sunnycrest’s 2½ miles of groomed trails feature a different setting than the county parks. Being one of four urban parks in America that offers cross-country skiing, according to Behnke, the chance to be in your boots and on the snow five minutes from downtown makes Sunnycrest stand apart. The trails even cross one city road.

 

However, the area dedicated to cross-country skiing mainly covers the golf course with some venturing off to the surrounding woods for a few strides. The rustic experience still exists at Sunnycrest, but the park primarily gives people the opportunity to have some winter recreation inside the city. The park also has 50 pairs of skis on hand for adults to rent for $5 and children to use for free.

 

Many people have already taken advantage of Sunnycrest’s skiing, Behnke notes, as 2,000 people used the park for cross-country skiing last year in only its second year of operation. As the trail enters its third year, Behnke hopes to expand Sunnycrest Park’s cross-country reach and perhaps even produce an Olympian. For now, Sunnycrest remains a close destination for keeping in shape, getting outside and having fun in the winter. ❄

 

 

 

SKI AREAS Compiled by Ashley Stites  

 

Downhill Skiing

Listings for downhill ski centers include trail information, costs and other features. Lift ticket information refers to available minimum/maximum day-pass prices. Opening dates are weather-dependent and are therefore subject to change. Some hills charge an hourly rate for skiing beyond an eight-hour pass. Unless noted, all feature ski instruction classes, equipment rental and a cafeteria.

 

Upstate New York

 

Bristol Mountain. 5662 Route 64, Canandaigua. (585) 374-6000; www.bris tolmountain.com. Skiing and riding on 33 trails with 97 percent snow-making. Vertical rise of 1,200 feet and longest run of two miles. Six lifts. Day rates: $48-$51/adults, $39-$42/students and seniors. Open: Nov. 22-April 6, weekdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; weekends, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 7-March 9, weekdays, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; weekends, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Other features include a ski school, day-care center, two base lodges, two terrain parks, 425-foot half-pipe and summit demo center.

 

Dry Hill. Watertown, off Exit 44, Route 81. 782-8584; www.skidryhill.com. Has eight trails, five with snow-making. The longest trail is 2,200 feet, with a 300-foot vertical drop. Three lifts. Some day skiing available. Opening in mid-December. Hours: Tuesdays to Thursdays, 5 to 10 p.m., $15; Fridays, noon to 10 p.m., $18; Saturdays and holidays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., $25; Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., $20. Used ski shop, rental shop, snack bar and cocktail lounge. Tubing is available Fridays, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., $8/juniors, $10/adults; Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 5 p.m., $10/juniors, $12/adults. Tubing season passes available.

 

Four Seasons. 8012 E. Genesee St., Fayetteville. 637-9023; www.fourseasons golfandski.com. Newly installed double chairlift, and conveyor lift for skiing, snowboarding and tubing. Open Dec. 1-March 15, weekends and holidays, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays, 5 to 9:30 p.m. Downhill skiing and snowboarding, $14-$17 per day. Cross-country skiing, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., no trail fee, renting available. Tubing, $20 all day; $17 for three hours.

Greek Peak. 2000 Route 392, Cortland. (607) 835-6111, (800) 955-2SKI; ski report: (800) 365-7669; www.greekpeak.net. Eight lifts. Snow-making on 83 percent of 32 trails. Features a vertical drop of 952 feet, with the longest run at 1.5 miles. Open Mondays to Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fridays, 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sundays, 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. $56/adults, $48/juniors, free/ages 6 and under. Season passes available. Tubing, with six chutes and one lift, $21 for five hours; Fridays, 5 to 10 p.m.; weekends and holidays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Trail pass for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at Nordic Center. Snowshoe and snowboarding rental, half-pipe and terrain park. Also offers free beginner instruction, adventure lessons, children’s learning center, NASTAR racing and four dining facilities. Tentative opening: Dec. 2.

 

Labrador Mountain. Box 105, Route 91, Truxton. (607) 842-6204; ski reports: (800) 446-9559; www.labradormtn.com. Vertical drop of 700 feet, longest run of 4,500 feet, and 90 percent of 22 trails have snow-making. One triple, two double lifts, one t-bar and two surface lifts. Opening Dec. 1, weather permitting. $38/adults, $32/juniors. Free lessons with once-a-week passes. Season-pass holders get discounts at Whiteface/Gore, Stowe and Stratton mountains. Hours: Mondays to Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sundays, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Night skiing on 12 trails. One half-pipe and a lighted terrain park with rails and jumps for snowboarders. The resort also features Kids’ Town, baby-sitting, four base lodges, new covered deck, restaurant, two cafeterias, cocktail lounge, rentals and ski shop, and RV camping-parking facilities.

 

Snow Ridge. West Road (Route 26), Turin. 348-8456, (800) 962-8419; www.snowridge.com. Twenty-two trails, the longest of which is 3,600 feet; vertical drop of 500 feet. Boasting the East’s heaviest snowfall and an average of more than 100 skiable days per season, Snow Ridge also has snow-making on 40 percent of its slopes. Seven lifts. Tentative opening Nov. 23. Hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sundays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. $33/adults, $27/students. Restaurant, rental shop, cafeteria, cocktail lounge, nursery and RV parking.

 

Song Mountain. Song Mountain Road, Tully. 696-5711; ski reports: 696-5711; www.songmountain.com. Located off Route 81, features a longest run of one mile and a vertical drop of 700 feet, with 80 percent snow-making. Five lifts. Opening in mid-December. Hours: Mondays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesdays to Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fridays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sundays, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Season passes available, and are also good for Snow Ridge. Central New York’s only private ski club, child-care center, rental shop, cocktail lounge and restaurant. Two new terrain parks.

 

Toggenburg. Toggenburg Road (half-mile off Route 80), Fabius. 683-5842, (800) 720-TOGG; www.skitog.com. Snow-making on 95 percent of 24 trails. Features a 700-foot vertical drop and a longest trail of one mile. Opening tentatively Dec. 1. Hours: Mondays and Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Wednesdays to Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sundays, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Six lifts, $40/adults; $35/students; $15/7 and under; seniors over 70/free. The two terrain parks and one terrain trail are open to all visitors. Facilities include child care, rental shop, restaurant, cocktail lounge, RV parking area and musical entertainment.

 

Woods Valley. Box 215, Dopp Hill Road, Westernville. 827-4721; www.woodsvalley skiarea.com. Ski reports: 827-4206. Thirteen trails with snow-making capabilities on most. Vertical drop of 500 feet; longest run, 3,300 feet. Three lifts, $15-$30. Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wednesdays to Fridays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sundays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Open holiday Mondays. Cocktail lounge, occasional entertainment.

 

Catskills

 

Hunter Mountain. Off Route 23A, Hunter. (800) HUNTER-MTN; www.huntermtn.com. Snow-making on all 53 trails, with 11 lifts. Vertical drop of 1,600 feet. Adults, $53-$59; young adults (ages 13-22), $48-$53. Discounts available for juniors and seniors. Nine lift-serviced snowtubing chutes and a snowboarding half-pipe available. Lower Hunter lifts open daily, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Hunter West lifts open 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Snowshoeing, instruction, rental shop, cocktail lounge, sushi bar, food court, restaurant, atrium bar and lodge.

 

Adirondacks

 

Gore Mountain. Off Route 28 (Peaceful Valley Road), North Creek. (518) 251-2411; ski reports: (800) 342-1234; www.goremountain.com. Offering 75 trails, 97 percent with snow-making. Vertical drop of 2,100 feet, longest run of three miles and two terrain parks. Eleven lifts, eight-passenger gondola. Open daily, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. $57-$66/adults, $51-$54/students and seniors, $33-$35/ages 7-12, free/ages 6 and under and over 70. Season passes available. Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, tubing park, ski school, child-care center, ski and rental shop, pub and a base lodge restaurant.

 

McCauley Mountain. Off Route 28, Old Forge. 369-3225. www.skimaccauley.com. Dubbed the “Best Little Mountain in Central New York,” McCauley features 21 trails, six lifts and a 633-foot vertical drop all on 80 skiable acres with 80 percent snow-making. Lodge with cafeteria and bar, complete rental shop and ski school. Targeted opening: Dec. 15. The mountain is open daily, except Tuesdays; open all week, Feb. 18-22. Winter Carnival, Feb. 8-10. $8-$30/adults; $8-$25/juniors.

 

Titus Mountain. 215 Johnson Road, Malone. (800) TITUS-MN; www.titusmoun tain.com. Snow-making on 90 percent of 27 ski trails. Vertical drop, 1,200 feet; longest run, 3.5 miles. Eight lifts. Open Sundays to Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Thursdays to Saturdays, 4:30 to 10 p.m. $24-$30/adults, $19-$24/seniors and students. Season passes now available. Tubing park, snowboard park and half-pipe. Cocktail lounge, two triple chairlifts and two day lodges.

 

Whiteface Mountain. Route 86, Wilmington. (518) 946-2223; ski reports: (518) 946-7171; (800) 462-6236, Ext. 500; www.whiteface.com. Offering 76 trails, 97 percent with snow-making. Vertical drop, 3,430 feet, highest in the East. Snowboarding and terrain parks. Ten lifts. Eight-passenger gondola. Open daily, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. $67-$72/adults, $56-$62, teens and seniors, $40-$45/juniors 7-12; free/children 6 and under and seniors over 70. Child care and cocktail lounge available. Lodging and cross-country skiing nearby; 31 miles of trails. Bobsled, luge and figure skating at nearby Olympic facilities.

 

 

Cross-Country Ski Areas

 

All private cross-country ski areas listed have marked and mapped trails, warming huts, rentals and food available. Some offer lodging and vacation packages. All county and state parks and other public ski areas are free, unless noted.

 

Adirondack-North Country

 

Adirondack Loj. Off Route 73, Lake Placid. (518) 523-3441. Offering 20 kilometers of trails, ski and snowshoe rentals, back country access; $9 parking fee. Open daily, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nightly lodging costs $45-$145 per person. Educational programs available.

 

Bark Eater Ski Center. Bark Eater Inn, Alstead Mill Road, off Route 73, Keene. (518) 576-2221, (800) 232-1607. www.barkeater.com. Starting point of 25-mile Jackrabbit Trail located two miles from the inn, linking all of the Lake Placid area touring centers and ending at Saranac Lake. Twenty kilometers of on-site trails, 10 groomed. Overnight lodging and meals, rentals. Open year-round.

 

Cunningham’s Ski Barn. 1 N. Main St., North Creek. (518) 251-3215. www.cunninghamsskibarn.com. Two private and groomed trail systems: Hudson River Gorge trail (25 kilometers) and Beaver Meadows wilderness trail (15 km). $15 trail fee. Open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Snowshoeing, nearby lodging, ski shop, rentals and lessons available.

 

Friends Lake Inn and Nordic Ski Center. Friends Lake Road, Chestertown. (518) 494-4751; www.friendslake.com. Professional ski center with 32 kilometers of groomed, wooded trails. Open daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Full-service shop with rentals and lessons available. Inn accommodations: $329-$479 for two, including dinner and breakfast.

 

Garnet Hill. 13th Lake Road, North River. (518) 251-2444; www.garnet-hill.com. Offering 55 kilometers of groomed trails with a 2,000-foot elevation and natural snowfall. Single-day trail pass, $15; ticket packages, youth, senior and night skiing discounts available. Open daily, days and nights. The lodge and cross-country ski center also feature guided tours, instruction, lodging, tobogganing and skating. “Ski down, ride back” shuttle bus available.

 

Gore Mountain. Off Route 28, North Creek. (518) 251-2411. www.goremountain.com. Snow phone: (800) 342-1234. Offering 9 kilometers of trails. Instruction available; call ahead.

 

Lapland Lake. 139 Lapland Lake Road, Northville. (518) 863-4974; conditions: (800) 453-SNOW; www.laplandlake.com. Award-winning center offers 50 kilometers of trails (38 kilometers of groomed track-skiing and skating lanes, which were designed by Olympic skier Olavi Hirvonen). Twelve kilometers of snowshoe trail. $13-$16, discount rates and packages available. Open daily, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Night skiing available Saturdays until 9 p.m. Instruction, ski shop, rentals, cottage lodging, Finnish snack bar and grill, sauna, ice skating, sledding and tubing.

 

McCauley Mountain. Off Route 28, Old Forge. 369-3225. Twenty kilometers of groomed trails. Open daily, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Trail fee: $5. Season passes available. Ski rentals, lessons and tours available.

 

Central New York

 

Four Seasons. 8012 E. Genesee St., Fayetteville. 637-9023. www.fourseasons golfandski.com. Offering three kilometers of trails; no trail fee. Open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Instruction, rental available.

 

The Nordic Center. Across from Greek Peak, Virgil. (607) 835-6111, (800) 955-2SKI; www.greekpeak.net. Trail pass, $10. Ski rentals, $14; snowshoe rentals, $10. Lodging and restaurant available at Greek Peak. Guided tours and discount package rates available. Tentative opening: Dec. 2.

 

Onondaga County Parks

 

Call 451-PARK for more information. Beaver Lake, Highland Forest and Pratt’s Falls charge car parking fees of $2. No fees at other county parks. www.onondagacoun typarks.com.

 

Beaver Lake Nature Center. 8477 E. Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville. 638-2519. Offering about 10 miles of trails around the lake and through flat woods. Eight trails total, ranging from 0.3 to 3 miles long. Snowshoes available for loan. Daytime skiing and some night skiing; call for conditions and availability. Visitor center with nature and art exhibits. Open 7:30 a.m. to dusk.

 

Highland Forest. Off Route 80, Fabius. 683-5550. Twenty miles of trails from novice to expert on this 2,800-acre tract dubbed “the Adirondacks of Central New York.” Hilly and wooded. Eight-mile hiking trail. Horse-drawn sleigh rides available on weekends, $5 per person. Ski and snowshoe rentals and lessons available, warming house and concessions. Open daily, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

 

Oneida Shores. 9400 Bartell Road, Brewerton. Flat trails. 676-7366. The park also features snowmobile access to the lake and ice fishing. Open sunrise to sunset.

Onondaga Lake Park. Onondaga Lake Parkway (Route 370), Liverpool. 453-6712. Flat East Shore Recreation trail. Two-mile loop. Skiing and sledding at Long Branch Park. Free admission. Open 6 a.m. to sunset.

 

Pratt’s Falls. Pratt’s Falls Road, Pompey. 682-5934. Offers about 10 miles of hilly and flat trails overlooking 137-foot falls. Longest trail is about three miles. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

Spafford Forest. Off Cold Brook Road, Spafford. 683-5550. Skiing and snowshoeing on forest roads southwest of Otisco Lake. No facilities. The trails are unmarked on 701 acres of undeveloped land, free of charge. Open from dawn until dusk.

 

Central Region

 

Battle Island State Park. 2150 Route 48, three miles northwest of Fulton. 593-3408. Offering 2.5 miles of groomed trails. Rentals, full bar, concessions.

 

Delta Lake State Park. 8797 Route 46, six miles northeast of Rome. 337-4670. Six kilometers of trails. Also features snowmobiling and ice fishing.

 

Green Lakes State Park. 7900 Green Lakes Road (Route 290), Fayetteville. 637-6111. Offering 10 miles of beginning, intermediate and advanced trails. Varied terrain through woods and golf course.

 

Lorenzo State Historic Site. 17 Rippleton Road, Cazenovia. 655-3200. Flatland area available for cross-country skiing. Trails owned by the Cazenovia Preservation Foundation and are available for use. Grounds open until dusk. Free.

 

Selkirk Shores State Park. 7101 Route 3, five miles west of Pulaski, off Exit 36. 298-5737. Eight kilometers of trails near Lake Ontario. Offers snowshoeing and snowmobiling.

 

Vanderkamp Center. 337 Martin Road, Cleveland. 675-3651. www.vk.org. Ungroomed ski trails for all levels from novice to expert. No trail fee, but donations welcome. Offers sledding and tobogganing. Lodging accommodations available.

 

Finger Lakes

 

Buttermilk Falls State Park. Route 13, south of Ithaca. (607) 273-5761. Visitors may ski on lawn areas.

 

Fillmore Glen State Park. 1686 Route 38, one mile south of Moravia. 497-0130. About five kilometers of trails are open to skiers, but watch out for snowmobiles and ATVs.

 

Robert H. Treman State Park. Route 13, south of Ithaca. (607) 273-3440. Park roads open for cross-country skiing.

 

Taughannock Falls State Park. Route 89, eight miles north of Ithaca. (607) 387-6739. Six kilometers of trails.

 

Watkins Glen State Park. Route 14 to Route 329, Watkins Glen. (607) 535-4511. Offering 10 kilometers of trails.

 

Thousand Islands

 

Call regional office at 482-2593 for general information.

 

Wellesley Island State Park. Exit 51 off Route 81, four miles west of Alexandria Bay. 482-2722. Five miles of marked trails. Ski rentals and snowshoe loans available; kid sizes available.

 

Robert Moses State Park. On Route 131, off Route 37, three miles north of Massena. 769-8663. Ten miles of trails. Park offers ski rentals and snowshoe loans.

 

St. Lawrence State Park. 4955 Route 37, five miles west of Ogdensburg. 393-2286. This park and golf course offers six kilometers of trails and sledding. Warming hut available.

 

Southwick Beach State Park. 8119 Southwicks Place, off Route 3, two miles west of Woodville in Henderson. 938-5083. Three miles of fairly level trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

 

Westcott Beach State Park. Route 3, two miles west of Sackets Harbor at Henderson Bay. 646-2239. Unmarked, ungroomed trails open throughout the park.

 

 

 

On the Slopes

The ski world is a scenic Playground in the new Warren Miller documentary By Bill DeLapp

 

You know winter’s around the corner when the new ski documentary from Warren Miller Entertainment is making its annual nationwide tour. This season’s frozen frolic, Playground (Warren Miller Entertainment; 98 minutes; unrated; 2007), checks into downtown Syracuse’s Landmark Theatre, 362 S. Salina St., on Saturday, Dec. 1, 8 p.m., with plenty of ski-crazy stunts ensconced within a globetrotting travelogue of snowy destinations.

 

With a cheery, why-the-hell-not? mantra in full force, Playground’s protagonists are in the hunt for snowflakes galore. A few don’t have to look any further than their own back yard, like Colorado’s Gretchen Bleiler, an Aspen townie who silver-medaled at the 2006 Winter Olympics’ halfpipe competition.

 

Yet in the movie’s daffiest vignette, Austin Ross and Andreas Hatvelt journey to the Middle East, where temperatures hover in the 120-degree range. So the boys duck into the super-lavish Mall of the Emirates and visit Ski Dubai, an indoor slope where the snowmaking equipment must be working overtime. From the outside, the ski resort’s conical-shaped leaning structure is quite an erection (ahem), and it just might give Bob Congel some ideas.

 

Playground is the 58th Miller feature, this time with narration provided by freestyle skier Jonny Moseley, plus “vintage wit” supplied by Miller. That means homespun sound bites culled from previous Miller documentaries, such as “The probability of anyone watching you do something is in direct proportion to the stupidity of what you’re doing” and “On a hill like this, always remember that you’re a unique person—just like everybody else.”

 

Yet beyond the always thrilling montages of slow-motion schussing and spectacular spills and wipeouts (the rush is further enhanced by an adrenalized rock score with tracks from Queens of the Stone Age, Maroon 5, Korn and Phantom Planet), producer-director Max Bervy is again on the lookout for unusual riffs on the familiar downhill method. This means ski nuts like Jamie Pierre performing cliff jumps into the glistening powdery stuff at Salt Lake City, as well as Mathias Roten and Ueli Kestenholz atop the Bernese Alps as they demonstrate “speed flying,” a wild combo of skiing and parasailing. And when guys start doing backflips while cruising on snowmobiles, the eye-popping images aren’t for faint-hearted bunny-slopers.

 

Playground gets slightly loopy when chronicling the domestic side of Chris Davenport, and it’s hard to tell what’s cooler in his life: having a hotsy model for a girlfriend, or living in the futuristic Colorado dwelling that provided a memorable backdrop in Woody Allen’s 1974 sci-fi spoof Sleeper. And the movie turns sweetly cute when it corrals the droopy-drawered young snowboarders from the Burton Smalls Team, and they look even more cherubic with their wind-burned faces.

 

Yet Playground’s funniest sequence comes halfway through, before the intermission card pops up, as the Water Wienie Squad from Brigham Young University demonstrates its prowess while riding a tube-steak inflatable down the slopes. And it makes perfect thematic sense in a movie devoted to hot-dog skiers.

 

Admission to the Landmark screening is $18.50, which includes a year’s subscription to Skiing magazine, complimentary lift tickets to Vermont’s Stratton Mountain and Smuggler’s Notch ski resorts, discount ducats to Smuggler’s and Holiday Valley Resort in Ellicottville, N.Y., and a $25 off coupon on a $150 purchase from the Ski Company, 3401 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Tickers are available at the Ski Company, the Landmark box office and Ticketmaster (472-0700). ❄