Diamond in the Rough - Belleayre Mountain Ski Area
Written: Feb 26 '01 (Updated Feb 02 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Varied Terrain, Great Ski School, Good Snowmaking
Cons: Not Much Off Slope Activity
The Bottom Line: This mountain has terrain, snow, lifts and almost no crowds - why not be there?
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| jps246's Full Review: Belleayre |
Belleayre Mountain is one of those places that no one ever seems to have heard of, even though it is close to New York City and Albany – it’s hidden in the shadow of the Catskills’ other ski areas. If you have skied there thoug, then you will always remember it.
Belleayre is located in New York State’s Catskill Forest Preserve and is therefore a bit less commercially developed than most ski areas in the Catskills and in the rest of New York. Located about 2 hours from New York City, less than an hour from Albany and about 3 hours from Boston, Belleayre is easily reached from all directions.
Details
There are no condominiums or hotels along the slopes and no strip development up to the base lodge. That lagging development has been a great asset for the mountain if you are looking for just skiing, there are few crowds and the main attraction is skiing. The problem then is if you are looking for exciting nightlife, this is probably not the place to be, and the town of Fleischmans, where Belleayre is located, is no party location either. You will find a few bed and breakfasts and a few small hotels, that's about it.
Belleayre has two main ski lodges, one at the very bottom of the mountain and then a mid-lodge which is actually the larger and more full-service of the two. There is also a smaller lodge located on the summit of the mountain. The two main lodges are both are good sized and have plenty of space for changing and storing gear (lift-tickets can be purchased at either lodge). Food services are available in both lodges (cafeteria style) and prices are the prices you would expect to pay at a ski area. There are bars/lounges in both lodges. Both lodges include ski shops and rental stores and generous parking is available in either location. The summit lodge provides a place to warm up along with restrooms and vending machines.
The mountain offers 38 trails and 171 skiable acres of terrain. About 22% of the trails are for beginners, 58% for intermediates, and 20% for experts. There are several double-diamond trails that may not be double-diamond material out west, but nonetheless are fairly steep and can provide a very exhilarating run from the top of the mountain.
The lower mountain (between the Lower and Upper Lodges) has most of the beginners and low intermediate trails. These are wide-open trails that are very good for the beginner. None of these trails are all that intimidating and provide ample space to practice without fear of hitting someone else, or someone else hitting you.
The upper mountain has the upper-intermediate and expert trails. Several of the trails off the summit ridge are incredibly steep - you should definitely look down before you try it. There are intermediate trails from the summit so you are not stuck running one of these double-diamond trails.
There is also a single maintained glade trail and almost 10 kilometers of cross-country ski trails at the mountain’s base that are open to the public for free. These cross-country ski trails are located below the lower lodge and have their own parking area. The trails run the gambit from easy to expert, with several very nice loops to choose from. Last time I skied at Belleayre, there was no fee to use the cross-country trails. These trails run the gambit from easy to expert, with several very nice loops to choose from.
Belleayre has a snowmaking system that can cover 96% of the mountain in white fluffy stuff overnight (this does not include the cross-country ski portion of the mountain). They just recently upgraded their snowmaking system to provide even more coverage than they had in the past. Their lift system is top notch, also being recently upgraded. I have never seen a line waiting for the lifts that is more than maybe 3 minutes at the most. There are 2 quad lifts, 1 triple chair, 2 double chairs and 3 rope-tows.
The mountain also has a top notch Ski School with very encompassing programs. This is a great mountain if you want to learn how to ski, improve your technique, or want to help someone else learn.
Ski and snowboard rentals are available in both the lower and the mid-lodge. Additionally there is a full service ski shop in the lower lodge that can take care of any ski problems if they develop on the mountain.
Should I ski there?
I’ve very rarely seen a line at Belleayre, the staff and the skiers have all been pleasant, and the snow conditions are always good when I’ve been there. When I’m back in NY and visiting my folks in the Catskills, I make a point of getting at least a day or two of skiing in at Belleayre, I just really enjoy it and enjoy the fact that it’s a skier’s mountain and hasn’t fallen prey to the commercialism that exists at many areas in the northeast. I couldn’t recommend a trip to Belleayre enough!
Belleayre is a great all-around ski mountain because there are few crowds (as a result of it being less commercially developed) and there is almost always a good base of snow, whether it be man-made or natural.
Go there to ski and enjoy the outdoors in the Catskills!
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Recommended:
Yes
Level of Experience Needed: All
Best Time to Visit: March
Best Suited For: Friends
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