Skiing and Snowboarding Close to NYC

A skier wearing a bright neon green jacket racing down a snow covered mountain trail with a black helmet and goggles.
Photo Credit: Mountain Creek Facebook

While summertime weekends may get all the attention, there’s certainly enough to keep you busy during these winter weekends, too! Living in the Northeast has its advantages – one being surrounded by fantastic skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing – all within a three-hour day or weekend trip from NYC.

We’ve rounded up our favorites in the tri-state area – so pencil a few of these on your calendar this season and we promise your summer weekends are in for some stiff competition!

From City to Slopes in an Hour

Mountain Creek Mountain House is about an hour drive from New York City in Vernon, New Jersey. Mountain Creek is friendly to the novice skier, but with the highest vertical reaching 1,040 feet, there’s some slopes that more advanced skiers and snowboarders will enjoy.

Night skiing is fun here too, and since there’s on-site lodging, you can make an entire weekend out of it! If skiing or snowboarding really isn’t your thing, you can still have yourself a snowy afternoon on the mountain with their awesome snow tubing.

Free Beginner Lessons

If you’re a rookie skier/snowboarder, don’t think that tubing is your only option!

Head up to Warwick, New York, and spend the day at Mount Peter. They’re notorious for their Beginner Ski and Snowboard School, and get this… It’s free!

Lessons are offered 10am, 11am, 12pm, and 2pm on weekends and holidays, where you’ll be introduced to sliding movements, balance and stance, stopping, and directional changes… Basically all the things you need to know to remain upright and get down the mountain! And at only an hour and forty-five minutes outside of the city, it’s close enough you can practice again and again throughout the season.

A group of skiers ski down a snow covered mountain surrounded by trees during the day.
Photo Credit: Shawnee Mountain Facebook

For The Adventurous Snowboarder

With 23 slopes and trails, and over half of them dedicated to the intermediate skier, Ski Shawnee is the ideal place for true winter sport lovers. Snowboarders will adore this spot, as they have two parks (Incubator Park and Bushkill Terrain Park) to practice their skills at – filled with obstacles and multiple jumps of varying levels. Situated in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, it’s about a two hour drive from the city.

A view of the snow covered mountain and skiing trails at Mohawk Mountain with the lodge and a bridge.
Photo Credit: Mohawk Mountain Facebook

West Coast Skiing on the East Coast

Located about two hours and forty-five minutes from NYC in Cornwall, Connecticut, is Mohawk Mountain Ski Area. Along with extensive and challenging trails for the pros, there’s an onsite ski school for children.

After you wrap up for the day, warm up with dinner at their on-mountain restaurant, Pine Lodge… It’s partway up the mountain, meaning you can literally ski in and ski out, making your dining experience just as exciting as your day on the trails. This has been compared to the “ski experiences” that you receive out West, say in Park City, Utah.

Before You Hit the Slopes…

Here’s a tip for you: save a hefty chunk of change on these spots and buy your tickets ahead of time online… Not to mention you won’t have to deal with standing in line once you’re there!

What’s your favorite spot to ski or snowboard within driving distance from NYC? Share with us on Facebook and Twitter!

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