Gore Mountain Ski Area

Comparisons between Gore and its sister resort – Whiteface – are inevitable. However, other than being owned by the State of New York, Gore and Whiteface have little in common. Unlike Whiteface, it is difficult to ski the entirety of Gore’s impressive 2,537’ vertical drop in one run. Whiteface is tall and narrow; Gore is shorter and wider. The ski resort is chopped up into seven separate pods of terrain with vertical drops on each pod varying from between 700 and 1700’. Longer runs are possible, but require skiing from a higher pod into a lower one and usually some degree of traversing.

Navigating between these different areas can be a bit confusing at first. However, Gore’s trail network is actually quite well laid out. A series of short connector trails makes moving around the mountain fairly easy, but does require a little studying of the trail map and the ability to keep up speed on some of the flatter connecting sections.

Straightbrook Area

Located at the summit of Gore Mountain, the Straightbook area is home to the resort’s toughest advanced and expert trails. A fixed grip quad services approximately 900 vertical feet of steeps, headlined by two of the hardest trails in the Northeast (The Rumor and Lies) and a handful of sporty black diamonds. Gore claims The Rumor is the steepest trail in the East.

Northwoods Area

The front side of the mountain is known as the Northwoods Area. It is home to a bulk of Gore’s terrain and is serviced by the 8-passenger Northwoods gondola and the new Adirondack Express II Quad. Here skiers will find long intermediate trails cut through a hardwood forest.

High Peaks/Darkside Area

Every ski resort has its secret stashes and the High Peaks Area at Gore is that spot at Gore. The terrain on this portion of the mountain is affectionately known to locals as “The Dark Side.” The runs here were amongst the original trails on the mountain, meaning they were cut by hand not by a bulldozer. These north-facing slopes both hold the snow and offer long views out at Mount Marcy and the Adirondack High Peaks. The trails are rugged and steep. The expert Lower Steilhang trail stands out as  the best trail in the High Peaks area and is a prime example of a New England-style, narrow, ski trail.

Topridge Area

The Topridge area is a relatively recent addition to Gore’s skiable terrain. Three main trails are serviced by a triple chair. All of the trails face South, meaning temperate skiing on a cold day or slush and bare spots on a warm one.

North Side

Home to Gore’s most mellow blue terrain, the North Side has several easier intermediate runs and a single beginner trail. This face is serviced by its own fixed grip quad chair, which is the slowest ride on the mountain. 

Burnt Ridge Area

Burnt Ridge is Gore’s newest development. The Burnt Ridge area offers several long trails with 1,400’+ of vertical drop and great views of the Hudson River. The trails are a mix of long glades and advanced intermediate terrain. Sagamore is the longest black diamond run on the mountain.

North Creek Ski Bowl/Little Gore Mountain

Only a few hundred yards from the village of North Creek, the Ski Bowl is serviced by the Hudson Triple Chair and has a community bunny slope serviced by its own short triple chair. The Ski Bowl is open only during midwinter due to its low base elevation and limited snowmaking.

The North Creek Ski Bowl is the site of the original skiing at Gore. Many of the trails at the Ski Bowl are the historic runs of 1930’s North Creek, including several gladed runs. Rising almost 1,000 ft from the outskirts of town to the summit of Little Gore Mountain, the skiing at the Ski Bowl is surprisingly legitimate.

A new development is planned for the ski bowl, but at present only a few homes have been built.