Whiteface Mountain

The **3,430 feet of vertical** make this the tallest ski mountain east of the Rockies, a distinction climbers and racers feel in their legs by mid-afternoon. Whiteface served as the alpine venue for the 1980 Winter Olympics, and the legacy runs remain part of the trail map—long, steep corridors that test technique and nerve. The terrain spans **90 trails** ranging from wide groomers on Little Whiteface to the exposed chutes of the Slides, natural ravines that require avalanche control and consistently rank among the East's most committing descents. On powder days and select weekends, the Slides open to skiers willing to hike or traverse from the summit; they've been accessible roughly a dozen times in recent seasons. The lift network includes the **Cloudsplitter Gondola**, a fifteen-minute ride from base to Little Whiteface, plus high-speed quads and fixed-grip chairs that distribute traffic across Bear Den, the main face, and summit approaches. A new fixed-grip double on Little Whiteface debuted for the 2025–26 season, offering mid-station access at the top of Mountain Run or a ride all the way up. The Notch chair, added a few years prior, improved connectivity between Bear Den's learning terrain and the upper mountain. Whiteface's grooming fleet includes nine PistenBully machines—seven 600-series cats, two 400 Park Pros, and a hybrid 600 E+—with winch capability that allows crews to groom even the steepest named runs. Recent seasons have seen opening day with summit terrain in play, a feat enabled by snowmaking that covers **100% of the trail network** and draws on upgraded, more efficient equipment. The mountain recorded more than 220 inches of natural snow during the 2025–26 winter and operated for **144 days**. Terrain parks have expanded in recent seasons, with dedicated features and progressive lines managed by the Whiteface Parks team. Base facilities include rental shops, ski and snowboard instruction through the Whiteface Snowsports school, day lodges with food service, and the Cloudspin Deck, which hosts live music on spring weekends. Parking is on-site at the base; no shuttle is required. Whiteface ranked third overall in the East in *Ski Magazine*'s 2026 reader survey, with specific recognition for lift network, grooming, terrain variety, and challenge. The mountain lies roughly **300 miles north of New York City**, **280 miles from Boston**, **160 miles from Albany**, and **100 miles south of Montréal**. Summer operations include gondola rides, uphill foot and bike races, disc golf, and access to the Whiteface Veterans' Memorial Highway, which climbs by car to within an elevator ride of the 4,867-foot summit.