Get ready for an action-packed holiday of adventure sports at the Holiday Valley Resort. Plan to ski in winter and bike, hike and play golf in summer. Dine at mountainside restaurants and sample craft beer at a brewpub. Because of its location in the scenic Allegany Mountains, the outside activities are accompanied by breathtaking views.
The resort’s ski area spreads across four mountain faces, with terrain suitable for first-time skiers and seasoned experts. It features 13 lifts, 58 runs and miles of cross-country skiing terrain. Ski and snowboard down calm cruisers, demanding steeps and forested glades. Hone your freestyling skills at one of the five snow parks.
Learn about the mountain, its history and plant and animal life on a free guided ski hike. Have fun at the tubing park, which has a 22-lane, 900-foot-long (274-metre) slide. Sit in a car and hold on tight as you zigzag through woodland on the Mountain Coaster.
After the snow melts, Sky High Adventure Park opens with 13 treetop courses where you can challenge your agility on bridges, platforms and zip lines. Sky High also includes a Climbing Forest and summer operations of the Mountain Coaster. Check the Sky High website for the season schedule and rates. An extensive network of biking and hiking trails take you to the top of the resort and beyond. Admire the stunning landscapes of the Allegany Mountains and McCarty Hill Forest while you traverse rolling hills. Go swimming at Spruce Lake.
Play a round of golf at the par-70 Double Black Diamond course. It blends well-maintained fairways with bunkers, ponds and mountainous terrain.
Take a break from athletic activities to enjoy the resort’s après-ski and dining options. Sample brick-oven baked pizza and visit a brewpub that serves more than 20 artisanal beers on tap.
Located in the quaint town of Ellicottville, Holiday Valley Resort is about a 1-hour drive from Buffalo. Many visitors stay overnight at the resort’s base lodges or other accommodation in Ellicottville and enjoy the unique shopping, restaurants and night life of this lively little village.
The ski season runs from late November to mid-April. Equipment rental is available at the base lodges, where there are also children’s daycare facilities. Visit the Holiday Valley Resort’s official website for information about lift passes, rental prices and holiday packages.