The Best Snow Tubing Spots in New York

The best tubing spots in New York are just a little more reason for joining in on a chorus of "I love New York". The Empire State is full of recreational opportunities from the Hampton's on Long Island to Niagara Falls on the state's western border. The topography of the state is perfect for hiking, downhill skiing, snowmobiling, cross country skiing and winter sports for enthusiasts of all ages. You can also put those sports aside for a bit and instead give snow tubing a try at some of these best snow tubing spots in New York.

Holiday Valley, Ellicottville, NY Plenty of New Yorkers are well familiar with Holiday Valley as a ski and snowboarding center. But if your focus has always been limited to those two sports, you may have missed out on one of the best snow tubing spots in New York

Located just four miles from Holiday Valley Ski Area and accessible from there by shuttle is the Holiday Valley Tubing Company. This is a well put together operation that includes 8 separate lanes of tubing and two handle tows to take you back to the top effortlessly and deposit you there ready for your next run. For those who have snow tubed at locations that have two or three lanes this will be a very interesting change. Because this is a high volume tubing area there are restrictions. Users must be 7 years of age and 42 inches tall in order to participate on the main chutes. Fortunately Holiday Valley Tubing Company also provides a smaller tubing hill for younger children. No one is left out of the fun at Holiday Valley.

Holiday Valley Tubing Company is open on Thursdays 4- 9 p.m.; Friday 4- 10 p.m; Saturday 12- 10 p.m. and Sunday 12:-9 p.m. All sessions of course are dependent on the weather conditions at the time . For information about weather on the slopes, rates , group reservations or directions you may call ahead at 716-699 - 2345.

Hunter Mountain , Popular among New York City folks because it is only a few hours away, Hunger Mountain is a well frequented ski area in the northern reaches of the Catskill Mountains. As one might expect, Hunter Mountain caters to those on skis or snowboards. That doesn't mean,however, that the snow tubing crowd is neglected.

In fact there is a separate but connected snow tubing area that one can easily access as part of the Hunter Mountain Ski Area. There are sometimes as many as 9 chutes running and kept busy by lots of people of all ages having the time of their lives, without having to learn a skill or buy expensive equipment. The multi chute tubing park has chutes that have been sculpted out for different degrees of difficulty. And just like those who are on skis, those who have chosen to go snow tubing will find that Hunter Mountain has provided them with their own set of lifts to get them back to the top quickly for more fun.

For information on prices, sessions and weather conditions call in advance at 1- 800 -486-8376

Windham Mountain , NY. Windham calls itself, "New York's favorite family resort for outdoor recreation". Skiing and snowboarding aficionados and beginners are fully tended to at Windham Mountain . About 120 miles from New York City and only half that distance from Albany , Windham Mountain, NY is easy to reach and lots of fun when you get to this popular spot in the Catskills. It is also viewed by some as one of the best snow tubing spots in New York. Windham Ski Area has been open nearly a half century and knows its business well enough

Windham Mountain, thanks to some serious snow making equipment is open from late November until early April affording both skiers and snow tubers a long a enjoyable season of winter fun. The snow tubing area , nearly adjacent to Windham Ski Area, was built as a site just for tubing and named appropriately Mountaintop Adventure Park. This is a state of the art tubing center with a full 15 tubing chutes and 3 tow lines to return you effortlessly to the top of the run . For more information about rates and times call in advance at 1-800-754-9463

Gore Mountain, North Creek, NY. The Adirondacks are a favorite vacation spot for New Yorkers and New Englanders as well . You can enjoy this area year round for sure. In winter there are a host of activities to choose from in the Adirondacks, one of the new and fast growing choices being snow tubing. Gore Mountain is certainly well known for its skiing with snow making allowing for a long and consistent ski season.

Snow tubing is gaining in popularity too. Tubing is offered on a rather limited scale compared to some areas with only 4 lanes opened but there is a tow back to the top for your next ride. There are also special tubing events here like the Gore Mountain Full Moon Tubing Party on Feb. 20 when two hour tubing sessions will only cost you $10. Those who are part of this special event are also welcome to enjoy complimentary s'mores around a camp fire. You can't get those kinds of deals every day at Gore Mountain but you can enjoy one of the best snow tubing spots in New York State. Tubing is available from 11 a.m.- 9 p.m.

For more information about times and rates you may want to call ahead at 518-251-2411.