The Catskills are not big mountains by any means. Sometimes the chairlift ride up takes longer than the run down. For New Yorkers who are new to skiing or snowboarding, or advanced riders who crave a quick powder fix, nearby Hunter and Windham Mountains can still meet basic day-trip needs.

Hunter Mountain

Located in Hunter, New York, Hunter Mountain is about two hours north of Manhattan and a half hour from the New York State Thruway. Its summit elevation is 3,200 feet and the vertical drop is 1,600 feet. Hunter Mountain offers slightly more trail choices for beginners and intermediate riders and skiers -- 30 percent of the trails are for beginners, another 30 percent are for intermediate, 27 percent are for advanced, and only 13 percent are for experts. Other features to know include:

  • Ski and Snowboard Lessons and Rentals – The ski and ride Learning Center offers group and private lessons for adults and kids, including a variety of equipment rental options.
  • Snowtubing – The Snowtubing Park has nine chutes, each about 1,000 feet long. There are also snowtube tows to help sliders get back to the top. (One note -- Kids must be at least 42 inches tall.)
  • NASTAR – Speed skiers can test their chops at Hunter's NASTAR (National Standard Racing) race course. Pre-registration is required, so be sure to visit the website for details.

Windham Mountain

Windham Mountain is about 10 miles north of Hunter Mountain. Its mountain stats resemble Hunter's. Windham is only slightly smaller, with the top elevation at 3,100 feet, and the vertical rise is 1,600 feet. The mountain features 46 trails, 10 lifts, and 730 skiable acres. Other highlights include: