New York’s ski resorts are putting their chairlifts to work before the snow arrives. Bristol Mountain began its seasonal Fall Sky Rides on Sept. 12, while Gore Mountain’s dedicated leaf-peeping gondola weekends begin Sept. 26, giving visitors a way to reach mountain views without hiking all the way up.
The options extend from the Finger Lakes to the Catskills and Adirondacks, but operating schedules and ticket rules vary considerably. Some lifts run only on weekends, and festival dates can come with different prices or restrictions. Here are six places to ride this fall.
Bristol Mountain: An Open-Air Ride Above the Finger Lakes
Bristol Mountain’s Fall Sky Rides take visitors up the Comet Express chairlift for a roughly 15- to 20-minute trip overlooking the Bristol Hills and valley below. Rides operate Saturdays and Sundays during the fall, with an additional operating day Monday, Oct. 12.
Tickets for ages 3 and older cost $15 when purchased at least three days ahead or $20 closer to the visit. Children 2 and younger ride free. Booking ahead matters: Bristol says sold-out online time slots will not have additional walk-up availability.
At the top, visitors can take a short walk before riding down or follow a marked hiking route back to the base. The Morning Star viewpoint is about 0.4 miles round trip from the lift, offering a relatively short outing with views south along the valley.
Gore Mountain: Three Weekends of Adirondack Gondola Rides
Gore Mountain’s Northwoods Gondola is scheduled to operate Sept. 26-27, Oct. 3-4 and Oct. 10-11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The ride reaches the summit of Bear Mountain, where visitors can explore scenic overlooks, hiking routes and picnic areas.
Tickets cost $26 for ages 13-64 and $20 for children ages 7-12 and adults 65 and older. Children 6 and younger ride free but still need a ticket. Online purchases must be exchanged for an RFID card at the ticket windows before boarding. Gore also notes that the Adirondack Express chairlift may substitute for the gondola, so check the operating report before visiting.
For an earlier trip, Gore’s Hudson Chair at the North Creek Ski Bowl is scheduled to run Sept. 19-20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. That is a different departure location from the gondola at Gore’s main base area.
Belleayre: Catskill Views and Two Festival Weekends
Belleayre’s Catskill Thunder Gondola operates Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 11. The enclosed cabins carry visitors to the summit for views of the Catskill Forest Preserve, with opportunities to walk, picnic or hike back down.
Regular round-trip tickets cost $20 for adults ages 20-64, $15 for ages 7-19 and adults 65 and older, and $5 for children ages 4-6. Children 3 and younger ride free with a paid adult. Tickets are available online or inside the Discovery Lodge.
The mountain’s Fall Festival takes place Oct. 3-4 and Oct. 10-11, with live music, vendors, food and family activities. Festival admission and parking are free, but visitors should plan separately for gondola tickets. Belleayre specifically excludes special events, including the festival, from the complimentary scenic rides offered to winter season passholders.
Whiteface: A Gondola Ride to Little Whiteface
The Cloudsplitter Gondola at Whiteface makes a roughly 15-minute trip to Little Whiteface, not the mountain’s main summit. From there, visitors can look across Lake Placid and the surrounding Adirondack peaks. Regular fares are $30 for ages 13-64, $25 for ages 7-12 and adults 65 and older, and free for children 6 and younger.
The fall schedule includes Friday-Sunday service through Sept. 20, daily operation Sept. 28-Oct. 1, and Friday-Monday service Oct. 2-12. The Sept. 26-27 Oktoberfest weekend has separate event ticket requirements for gondola riders, so check those packages before booking.
Whiteface also made the top five in Unofficial Networks’ reader-selected ski resorts for fall foliage, with readers highlighting its Adirondack views and gondola access.
Hunter Mountain: A Chairlift Ride With an Optional Fire Tower Hike
Hunter Mountain’s Scenic SkyRide operates on the Kaatskill Flyer Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 18, with posted hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting. Tickets are sold online and at the Main Lodge ticket window; check the booking calendar for the price on your selected date.
Visitors looking for a longer outing can follow the marked hiking trail from the top of the lift to the Hunter Mountain fire tower. The resort describes that extension as a roughly 4-mile round-trip hike requiring about three hours. Hikers must return to the SkyRide’s upper terminal by 3:45 p.m. for the ride down.
Families should review the boarding requirements before purchasing. Riders must be at least 3 years old and 36 inches tall, and children in carriers are not permitted on the chairlift.
Holiday Valley: Ride to Spruce Lake or Catch Fall Festival
In western New York, Holiday Valley’s Spruce Lake chairlift operates Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 25. The resort lists October hours of noon to 4 p.m. Visitors can explore the lake area and either walk down or take the chairlift back. Tickets are available at the Sky High Harness Shop.
The resort’s Fall Festival on Oct. 10-11 adds rides on the Mardi Gras 6 Express, with food and live music at the top. Saturday lift tickets cost $15 when purchased online by Oct. 9 or $20 on-site. Sunday tickets cost $12 online or at the ticket window. Those are festival prices, not the regular Spruce Lake scenic-ride rate.
Check the Leaves, Not Just the Lift Calendar
An operating lift does not guarantee peak foliage. New York’s I LOVE NY foliage reports begin Wednesday, Sept. 16, with weekly updates tracking color changes across the state. Use those reports to help choose a region, then check the resort’s operating calendar before heading out. Have fun leaf peeping!
