Gabbagool, New Jersey — Looking for a good sledding hill, backcountry ski spot, or abandoned exploration in New Jersey?
Situated north of the Delaware River, which George Washington made famous, Belle Mountain Ski Area is a great option for a fascinating exploration.
The ski hill featured seven trails, four lifts (including a double chairlift), a base lodge, night skiing, and snowmaking. With only a 190-foot vertical drop on a hill slightly above sea level, the mountain closed in the late 1990s due to poor weather conditions.
While some equipment has been removed, many features of the mountain remain, including the snowmaking pond, lights for night skiing, and various components of its surface lifts. While much of the mountain has grown in, there are still many parts of the slopes that are ideal for sledding, skiing, or a short hike.
Back in 2022, NJ.com published a video profile of the abandoned Belle Mountain Ski Area in Lambertville, which operated from 1965 to 1998.
A more detailed exploration came from YouTuber Avery Zucco, who checked it out in 2020. He dives into the history and gives a more in-depth look at the remaining ski infrastructure.
You can learn more about Belle’s history via NELSAP here.
Image/Video Credits: NJ.com, Avery Zucco
