15 Places to Go Ice Skating, Skiing, and Tubing in the Hudson Valley
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Skiers at Windham Mountain / Photo by Don Landwehrle, Adobe Stock
These are the best winter destinations to take in scenic views, explore snowy trails, and satisfy your inner thrill-seeker.
While travel to northern states such as Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine isn’t a top pick for things to do this winter, the Hudson Valley remains full of socially distant winter thrills. Throughout the region, there exists miles of cross country trails, ski slopes, snow-covered terrain. Here are some of the winter activities to try close to home this season.
Bear Mountain Ice Rink
Go ice skating at the Hudson Valley’s largest open-air rink from November 7 to March 7, weather permitting, on Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and weekends (see website for schedule). Pricing is affordable: adults pay $5 to skate, parking is $10 on weekends and holidays, and skate rental is $5 per pair. The rink operates at 50-percent capacity. Masks are required, and skaters must keep six feet of distance between others at all times.
3020 Seven Lakes Dr, Tomkins Cove
845.786.2701
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Belleayre Mountain
This popular regional winter destination located in Highmount has 50 trails, eight lifts, lessons for all experience levels, and four cozy lodges. The summit’s vertical drop of 1,404 feet presents a stunning view. Season passes and day tickets allow for a marvelous getaway of any length. Lifts are boarded individually to maintain social distancing, unless two skiers are traveling together.
181 Galli Curci Rd, Highmount
845.254.5600
Bowdoin Park
Bowdoin Park is a Hudson Valley classic for a reason. You can glide across a 76-by-80-foot ice skating rink while enjoying expansive views of the nearby Hudson River. Families also love the gentle sledding hills in this bucolic, 301-acre park. All New York State COVID-19 guidelines apply when visiting this county-run park.
85 Sheafe Rd, Wappingers Falls
845.298.4600
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Catamount Ski & Snowboarding Area
Straddling the Massachusetts border, Catamount features eight lifts, 42 trails, a snowboarding terrain park, and lots more for lovers of the winter sports scene. It’s also home to one of the steepest trails in the Northeast, a double black diamond trail aptly named Catapult. If that isn’t enough for adrenaline junkies, last year the destination added the 5,523-foot-long Catamount Zip Tour, the longest zipline in the U.S. The team at Catamount urges visitors from Massachusetts and neighboring states to follow New York State travel regulations, which may mean quarantining for 14 days upon arriving in New York.
78 Catamount Road, Hillsdale
518.325.3200
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Dayton Grant Park at Burger Hill
Perhaps the best-known sledding spot in the Hudson Valley, Burger Hill is the perfect destination for a family outing. The half-mile summit’s panoramic views stretch from the Catskills all the way to the Berkshires. The Scenic Hudson site also offers extensive cross county skiing and snowshoeing. After spending a cold winter day outside sledding, warm up at any one of Rhinebeck’s cozy and delicious restaurants.
3137 New York 9G, Rhinebeck
845.876.4213
Fahnestock Winter Park
Part of the 16,000-acre Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park, the Winter Park provides groomed, mapped trails for skiers and snowshoers of all abilities. Visitors will also find a nifty sledding hill plus ski and tube rentals, food, and beverages at this all-in-one Hudson Valley park.
1570 Rte 301, Carmel
845.225.3998
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Full Moon Resort
This getaway, tucked into the Catskills in Big Indian, offers 100 acres of fields that are perfect for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Bring your own equipment or head to the nearby Frost Valley YMCA – which features over 20 miles of trails, including groomed trails to walk or glide through the woods and meadows. It also happens to be the dream destination for a winter wonderland wedding.
12 Valley View Rd, Big Indian
845.254.5117
Hand Hollow State Forest
More than 500 acres of wooded land offer endless options for hiking and winter biking, an activity that’s grown in popularity quite a bit in recent years. There are also snowmobile/ski trails and cross-country skiing. Vivid scenery and plentiful wildlife make this a marvelous destination for those seeking a rejuvenating experience in the Hudson Valley. Hikers and skiers should wear face coverings when unable to maintain adequate social distancing.
4079 Rte 9, East Chatham
518.357.2155
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Hunter Mountain
Hunter Mountain transitions from fall foliage paradise to winter wonderland nearly overnight. Impressive 1,000-foot tubing lanes make Hunter’s experience especially thrilling. Guests can explore 67 different ski trails of all intensity levels while taking in gorgeous Hudson Valley sights. Hunter’s summit stands 3,200 feet above sea level, granting a view of a large portion of the Catskills. Reservations are required to access the mountain this year due to a reduced capacity. To promote cashless interaction, everything can be purchased online and in advance. The resort offers extensive rental packages; for more information on equipment pricing and availability, visit the website.
64 Klein Ave, Hunter
800.486.8376
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Mohonk Mountain House
Mohonk offers open-air ice skating under an elegant, barn-like, 9,375-square-foot pavilion. Thirty miles of trails with stellar views of the Catskills are also available for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Most winter activities are included in each stay, and Mohonk offers winter activity packages for daytime visitors as well. Trail passes are $29 for adults, and an all-new $99 winter sports package grants guests access to the rink, trails, lounges, and more, along with the equipment needed to tackle the snow. This weekend destination is the perfect staycation right here in the Hudson Valley. Guests will have their temperatures taken with non-contact thermometers upon arrival and must fill out wellness screenings in advance. Travel health forms also need to be completed if guests have left the state.
1000 Mountain Rest Rd, New Paltz
845.765.3286
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Mount Peter
Mount Peter is an all-in-one winter destination, boasting the oldest ski operation in New York State and one of the last family-operated ski areas in the country. 14 trails give visitors ample opportunities to explore this beautiful mountainside in Orange County. If you’re not a ski/snowboard pro, don’t fret! The team at Mount Peter has been instructing beginners to winter sports for more than a generation. Those seeking some fun on an inner tube can take advantage of the mountain’s 600-foot tubing run and a carpet lift. To ensure fun for the entire family, they even have an under 42″ section. Due to COVID-19 regulations reservations are strongly encouraged, as certain areas of the park have limited capacities to promote adequate social distancing. Mount Peter is also using Ultraviolet light technology for air and surface sterilization.
51 Old Mt. Peter Road, Warwick
845.986.4940
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Plattekill Mountain
Looking for a fun weekend day trip? Come to the Catskills to ski down one of Plattekill Mountain’s 38 trails. The trails range from double black diamonds for the experts or two-mile-long trails for beginners. For the truly adventurous, try out the terrain park to catch some air and ride the rails. The state-of-the-art Conveyor Carpet Lift can take guests and their tubes to the top of the mountain on Saturdays and Sundays starting the day after Christmas.
469 Plattekill Rd, Roxbury
607.326.3500
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Rocking Horse Ranch
It’s tough to be bored at this 500-acre, family-oriented, four-season destination in Highland. Choose from the winter snow park, snow tubing, an ice skating rink, skiing, and cross country skiing. And what’s more postcard-perfect than a horse-drawn sleigh ride on a snowy afternoon at the ranch?
600 Rte 44-55, Highland
845.691.2927
Saratoga Spa State Park
More than 12 miles of groomed trails make this an ideal choice for cross country skiing and snowshoeing as you wind through the picturesque park on the outskirts of Saratoga. The park also includes an outdoor ice skating and hockey rink.
19 Roosevelt Dr, Saratoga Springs
518.584.2535
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Windham Mountain Adventure Park
Windham Mountain is best known for skiing, but its Adventure Park offers a bunch of non-ski activities, like tubing, kids’ snowmobiling, and skating on a 120’ x 60’ outdoor rink. The vast range of trails and beautiful lift make Windham a destination for mountain biking in warmer months and even photoshoots for Hudson Valley weddings. The rink is open on weekends and holidays, and the cost is $10 per session and $5 for rentals. In addition to providing sanitation stations and face coverings, Windham alternates red days and green days to designate when capacity is severely reduced. Prospective guests can visit the online calendar to determine when to visit.
19 Resort Dr, Windham
800.754.9463