A Day's Ski Trip From Chappaqua And Mount Kisco

Chappaqua-Mount Kisco, NY—One of the advantages of living in the Hudson Valley is the proximity to ski slopes. There are quite a few highly rated slopes for downhill skiing and plenty of picturesque towns to visit on the way. Don't know how to ski? No worries. Most ski centers offer lessons and beginner trails. A few specialize in them. Here's our list of skiing opportunities.

Downhill Skiing

Plattekill Mountain, 469 Plattekill Road, Roxbury

Plattekill mountain has an elevation of 3,500 feet, with a vertical of 1,100 feet. The family-owned ski lodge has four lifts and the longest trail is two miles.

Hunter Mountain, 64 Klein Avenue, Hunter
Hunter Mountain has a base elevation of 1,600 feet, with a summit elevation of 3,200 feet and a vertical drop of 1,600 feet. There are 12 lifts and 58 trails.

Belleayre Mountain Ski Center, 181 Galli Curci Road, Highmount

The ski center has a total of 171 acres, with a summit of 3,429 feet and a vertical drop of 1,404 feet. There are eight lifts, with an uphill capacity of 10,980 people an hour.

Windham Mountain, 19 Resort Drive, Windham

The 223-acre ski resort has 38 trails open and four lifts. Trails range from easy to advanced. And there's night skiing.

Mount Peter, 51 Old Mount Peter Road, Warwick

One of the oldest operating ski areas in New York, the center has trails for advanced intermediate or beginner levels, as well as day and night skiing and snowboarding.

Tuxedo Ridge Ski Center, 581 Route 17a, Tuxedo Park

The longest run on this mountain is 5,280 feet with a vertical drop of 400. There are three lifts, one easy trail, four intermediate trails and three advanced trails.

Thunder Ridge Ski Area, 137 Birch Hill Road, Patterson

This ski center has 22 trails, ranging from easy to most difficult, as well as three chairlifts and four magic carpets. The ski center also offers lessons on the basics.

Best Bets For Beginners

Sawkill Family Ski Center, 167 Hill Road, Kingston

With four trails and one lift, this center is designed specifically for snowboarders, beginner skiers and snow tubers. They provide lessons and rental equipment.

Holiday Mountain Ski and Fun Park, 99 Holiday Mountain Road, Monticello

The slogan at Holiday Mountain Ski and Fun Park is "Where Great Skiers Begin." The park offers lessons for newbies and seven trails of varying skill levels. There are two lifts, snow tubing, a ski club and a snow board club.