Three Catskills mountains, all roughly an hour from Albany, and families pick between them mostly on which one they’ve heard of. That’s usually Hunter, and it’s usually the wrong answer for a first ski day.
The short answer
First time on skis: Belleayre or Windham. Most terrain, most people: Hunter. Best value: Belleayre. Easiest weekend: Windham.
Side by side
| Hunter | Windham | Belleayre | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From Albany | 1 hr 10 | 1 hr | 1 hr 15 |
| Vertical | 1,600 ft | 1,600 ft | 1,404 ft |
| Ownership | Vail (Epic) | Private | State-run (Ski3) |
| Weekend crowds | Heaviest | Moderate | Lightest |
| Beginner terrain | Moderate | Good | Strongest |
| Tubing too | Yes | Yes | — |
| Pass | Epic | — | Ski3 — with Gore and Whiteface |