If you like winter recreation, Lake George is the place to be. Skiers love our close proximity to several mountains, as well as the abundance of après ski activities, restaurants, shopping and events. Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly ski trip, or advanced trails and a terrain park, you’ll find it all within a short-drive of Lake George.
Top 5 Ski Areas Near Lake George
These five ski areas are within 15-minutes to two hours of Lake George, and offer some of the best conditions, trails and facilities in New York State.
West Mountain – Queensbury NY
Only a 15-minute drive from Lake George, West Mountain offers skiers and snowboarders more than 126 acres and 35 trails, as well as a terrain park, a tubing park, restaurant, bar and ski shop for rentals, tuning and more. The mountain features 100% mounted snowmaking and 100% lighted trails, making it the only ski area in the region to offer night skiing and riding.
Gore Mountain – North Creek NY
Located approximately 45 minutes northwest of Lake George, Gore Mountain offers more terrain than any other ski area in New York State. Covering nearly 440 acres and over 2,500 vertical feet, Gore features 108 trails, plenty of glades, a sweet terrain park, and 14 lifts, including an 8-passenger gondola. You’ll also find a ski bowl and Nordic center, ski lessons, rentals, tuning and repair services, as well as five on-mountain dining options.
Oak Mountain – Speculator NY
Just over an hour from Lake George, Oak Mountain is an affordable, family-friendly ski center offering 650 feet of vertical, 22 trails and 3 lifts (plus a T-bar). The park also features four lanes of snowtubing, and miles of snowshoe trails, as well as rentals and expert ski and snowboard instruction. After a day on the slopes, enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and wide selection of menu items at Oak Mountain’s Acorn Pub and Eatery.
Whiteface Mountain – Wilmington NY
A top choice for Adirondack skiing and snowboarding, Whiteface Mountain is just over 90 minutes from Lake George, and offers the greatest vertical drop east of the Rockies. Enjoy more than 90 trails, stretching 25 miles across three peaks, plus five terrain parks and a series of steep, narrow chutes offering double-black-diamond skiing, known as The Slides. Rentals, lessons, tuning and repairs are also available, as well as lodge dining.
McCauley Mountain – Old Forge NY
The furthest of all the ski centers on the list, McCauley Mountain is a hidden gem about two hours northwest of Lake George. Much like Oak Mountain, McCauley offers family-friendly skiing and snowboarding at affordable rates. It boasts a mere 633-foot vertical drop, but offers as much fun as ski areas three times its size. You’ll find 21 ski trails of between 3,000-5,000 feet, two T-bar tows, two rope tows, and one double chairlift, as well as rentals and lessons.
Lake George Lodging Near Ski Areas
Lake George is a popular winter destination, offering access to the region’s best ski areas, as well as restaurants, shopping and events. While many of the resorts and hotels in the area are seasonal, the Lake George vacation home rentals at Cramer’s Point Lake Breeze are available year-round. These fully furnished, private homes are perfect for a ski trip with family or friends. Book online or call (518) 668-2292, and start planning your Lake George ski trip.