Hickory Ski Center

A day of skiing at Hickory is like a trip back in time. Don’t expect a typical groomed ski resort. Hickory is one of the smaller ski areas in New York, with 18 tight trails totaling only five miles, but what it lacks in quantity it makes up for in quality. Hickory has over 200 acres of glades full of birches and maples (but inexplicitly, no hickory trees). With no snowmaking and little grooming, Hickory is more like backcountry skiing: a 1150' vertical drop on uncrowded narrow trails littered with unmarked tree stumps, rock outcroppings and gnarly six-foot drops. It has some of the most extreme territory in the East, with little to offer for beginners. The area is served by two Poma lifts (no chair lifts), so just getting up the mountain is a challenge. Be sure to phone ahead or check their Facebook page to see when they'll be open. Hickory operates only a few days a year (and in some years, not at all), so it's a rare treat when skiing is available there. When there's adequate snow cover, the mountain is open on weekends and holidays at 9am, but don’t be in too much of a hurry to get there. The north facing trails will be in flat light until about 10. With no lift lines to contend with, a late start will still give you time for plenty of runs.

The Gnar.

Great Ski Mountain and great service.