Belleayre Mountain is a hidden jewel. It may not be the biggest or most challenging trails in the Catskills but it has it own charm. The lifts are slow, the facilities are old and you have to hike just about every where to get to a slope. These may sound like a drawback, but they are not. They actually keep people away which is good for the die-hard skiers. The first time I skied there was several years ago. I was not impressed initially. I was put of by the above mentioned items. After skiing for a while I realized I was skiing without running into a traffic jam. The trails are wide and crowd free, even on a peak weekend during the winter.

The trails are designed well except for the hiking around you have to do when you get off some of the lifts. The beginner area is located on the bottom of the mountain, separated from the rest of the trails. It is a great place to learn with out fears of being run over. I recently started snowboarding after many years of skiing,. I had a chance to see all over again what it is like to learn to ski or ride. The wide slopes and lack of zooming skiers/riders whizzing by you as close as possible made this mountain the best place to learn.

So you are not a beginner, there are many challenging trails to choose from. The groomers even left a ton of trails with moguls. The walk is worth it. A few trails I was the only skier to be seen on it. The steeps are steep enough for a short thrill, they all turn into blue runs midway.

The ski school is top notch. The kids program is excellent and run well. This is important to me to have my kids enjoy skiing as much as I can. They are very attentive to children’s needs and make it an enjoyable day for all.

My only real complaint might be the facilities. They are small and the food is outrageously priced. Bring your own lunch and save a bundle. This is true at most ski areas I have been to. The staff is very friendly and attentive. Recently I was using a locker and lost my money. Before I could get mad one of the staff saw what happened and within a minute a gentleman with a key fixed everything. I was amazed. This may be a fluke but it runs constant with the friendless of the staff I have experienced so far. I would recommend this mountain to any one who enjoys skiing. Keep warm and happy skiing.

Return to our Articles page