Snow on the ground and a chill in the air usually mean one thing in the Catskills: ski season. On Tuesday, the region’s first major snowfall blanketed the region with about eight inches of snow. Nearly four million skiers visited New York resorts in 2022-23, the most recent year for which data is available. An estimated 150,000 people learned to ski or snowboard during that period. According to a report from Ski NY, the industry is a major economic driver for mountain towns, supporting roughly 12,000 jobs statewide and generating close to $1.2 billion in economic output.

To help skiers plan, The Overlook spoke with representatives from Belleayre Mountain, Hunter Mountain Resort, and Windham Mountain Club about what’s new this year, how much lift tickets cost, and what conditions guests can expect as the season begins.

Belleayre Mountain

Skiers carve down an early-season run at Belleayre Mountain in Highmount on Wednesday as the Catskills welcomed fresh powder of the season. Michael Sofronski/The Overlook.

Open Date: Nov. 21

Hours: Lodges open at 8 a.m. Ski lifts run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Trail information can be found here.

Daily Lift Tickets: $55–$119, depending on age and day of week. 

Season Passes: $110–$1,099, depending on age.

New Amenities: A 28,000-square-foot addition to the lodge with more restrooms, bag storage and a new food area. The mountain also has a new rental center and tune shop.

The base area at Belleayre Mountain in Highmount on Wednesday. Michael Sofronski/The Overlook.

Upcoming Events:

• Holiday Bazaar, Dec. 20–21: The Discovery Lodge becomes a holiday marketplace featuring local vendors.

Fun Fact: Belleayre was built and operated by the state Department of Environmental Conservation in 1950. In 2012, operations transferred to the Olympic Regional Development Authority.

Website: https://www.belleayre.com/

What They’re Saying: “We are 100% a family-friendly resort. My mom worked at the mountain when I was four. I grew up skiing here and then got a job here. That is the story for many of our employees. Even if it isn’t by blood, we are all family here.” – Alexandra Sines, general manager.

Hunter Mountain Resort

Hunter Mountain opens new lifts, expanded trails and renovated lodge spaces for the season. Roy Gumpel/The Overlook.

Open Date: Nov. 22

Hours: 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Monday–Friday; 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. weekends and holidays. Trail information can be found here.

Daily Lift Tickets: $87–$149, depending on age and day of week.

Season Passes: $399–$1,185, depending on age.

New Amenities: Two new lifts, three new trails, lodge renovations, and new restaurants and a coffee bar.

Snowmaking guns fire across Hunter Mountain this week, part of the resort’s effort to build early-season coverage despite variable conditions. Roy Gumpel/The Overlook.

Upcoming Events: 

• Salute to Service Day, Dec. 13: Complimentary breakfast and custom token for veterans and active service members. Begins at 8 a.m. An empty-chair salute follows at 8:30 a.m.

• New Year’s Eve Celebration and Fireworks, Dec. 31: Live music and DJ beginning at 3 p.m.

• LGBTQ+ Ski and Ride Weekend, Jan. 24: Special programming, food and live music.

Fun Fact: The first operator of Hunter Mountain in 1960 was a group led by James Hammerstein, the son of iconic Broadway producer Oscar Hammerstein. 

Website: https://www.huntermtn.com/

What They’re Saying: “The weather on the East Coast is unpredictable. But we are the snowmaking capital of the world. When you come to Hunter it’s not just about the skiing, but the experience. We make the snow, but when you are hanging out with buddies or family, that’s the magic.” – Trent Poole, vice president and general manager.

Windham Mountain Club

Windham Mountain. Michael Sofronski/The Overlook.

Open Date: Dec. 5

Hours: 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Monday–Friday; 8 a.m.–4 p.m. weekends. Trail information can be found  here.

Daily Lift Tickets: $60–$155, depending on age and day of week.

Season Passes: $449–$2,279, depending on age.

New Amenities: The restaurant Seasons is now Seasons Mexicana. A food truck will also operate in the tubing parking lot.

The Deer Room in The Grill, a members-only grill and club room on the third floor of Windham Mountain Club, sits near Seasons Mexicana, which will open on the same floor on Dec. 18. Michael Sofronski/The Overlook.

Upcoming Events:

• Skiing Santa Day, Dec. 14: $50 lift tickets for skiers dressed as Santa or Mrs. Claus. Ticket pickup begins at 10 a.m.

• Torchlight Parade and Fireworks, Dec. 31: 6:30 p.m.

Fun Fact: Lights were installed on several lower trails in 1997, making Windham the only resort in the Catskills to feature night skiing.

Website: https://www.windhammountainclub.com/

What They are Saying: “We didn’t care to be in the chase of who opens first this season. We were concerned about quality. We restrict how many people are on the mountain to 4,500 skiers at a time. If prices are a little more expensive, that’s why. We want you to get as many runs in by lunch as possible.” – Kristen Leach, president

Jim Rich is a senior reporter for The Overlook. You can reach him at jim@theoverlooknews.com.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the subject of a photo. The image shows The Grill, not Seasons Mexicana.