Catamount Ski Area is the name of a family-owned ski area on the border between New York and Massachusetts. One of the oldest ski areas in the entire Northeast, the Catamount Ski Resort opened in 1939. In 1974, two men by the name of Bill Gilbert and Don Edwards took over the operations, and it didn't take them long to start making improvements. Various trails and lifts have been added in the last few decades, and as is customary of so many other ski resorts across the country, the Catamount Ski Area installed snowmaking equipment that can adequately cover most of the terrain.

There's enough in the way of variety at the Catamount Ski Resort to keep even the most advanced skiers and snowboarders happy. The top elevation is 2,000 feet and the vertical descent is 1,000 feet, with the longest run stretching two and a half miles. There are 32 total trails, and they range from challenging black diamond trails to easier blue and green trails. Of the 120 skiable acres, 40 percent is part of The Meadows area, which is the largest learning area in the Berkshires. The resort also boasts the steepest runs in the Berkshires region and has a terrain park and a half pipe to round things out. Six total lifts are in place to help skiers and snowboarders access the various runs and approximately half of the terrain is illuminated for night skiing.

The Catamount Ski Resort has all of the amenities that you would expect to find at a mid-size ski resort. Visitors can rent equipment at the resort if they need to, and it's also possible to take lessons. Two lodges offer dining options, restrooms, and general places to rest, while the Children's Playroom offers supervision for children ages two to six, thus allowing for parents to get out on the slopes. Future plans include the building of Catamount ski condo rentals and the addition of other dining, shopping, and recreational establishments. Much like the Belleayre Mountain Ski Area, which is another New York ski resort that can be found in the same general region, the Catamount Ski Area has been around for a while, but is still a work in progress. The same could be said about most ski resorts when it comes down to it.

New York Map

Until the Catamount ski condo rentals are ready, visitors who are planning on staying within easy reach of the slopes will essentially have hotels, motels, and bed and breakfast inns at their disposal. Appearing as if it was plucked right out of Switzerland, the Swiss Hutte is arguably the Catamount Ski Area lodging of choice. No other hotel or motel in the area is closer to the slopes. In fact, this country inn overlooks the resort's slopes.

Unless the Catamount ski condo rentals are ready when you decide to drop by for a visit, another lodging establishment that might pique your interest is the Holiday House Motel. This budget motel is only two miles from the resort and offers clean rooms that feature cable TV, a coffee maker, heating, air conditioning, a phone, and a private bathroom. If you want a little more, such as a complimentary breakfast or a microwave in your room, then the Berkshire Comfort Inn & Suites is arguably the area hotel of choice.

It is worth noting that since cities such as New York City, Albany, and Springfield Massachusetts, are within a few hour's drive or less of the Catamount Ski Area, there are plenty of lodging options in the region, so you shouldn't have trouble finding a room that offers relative proximity to the New York ski slopes.