The Best Kept Secret in the Catskills: Mountain Trails Cross Country Ski Center.

The warming hut.

     It's still autumn!  That's right it's still autumn, and we're skiing. Cross country skiing that is! Winter comes December 21st and I keep reminding myself of that fact.

     A beautiful snowfall fell December 2nd this year. The first for my area in the lower Hudson Valley and left a good 4 to 6". Upon further investigation I discovered that not only is there wonderful snow at home but one of my favorite cross country ski centers in the Catskills recieved 28"!!
The snowstorm brought the opportunity to ski powder in the Catskill Mountains. My mission: get there no matter what, pray and hope the timing is perfect and the weather behaves.  The coveted day was perfect.

     Mountain Trails Cross Country Ski Center  is on land bought by Rosemary and Mark Hyer and 1978. Originally called Hyer Meadows.  The couple created a nordic ski area which worked extremely well with the beautiful forested landscape and wide open sunny meadows. It gives families and visitors a lovely winter experience.

     I've visited this center many times in the past, although it's usually late in season around March or April.  It tends to be icy during that time. This property is an old logging and tannery camp that dates back to the 18th century.  There is no old growth left but after the industry ended at the turn of the last century, the hemlocks specifically, including white pines grew back in force. Lending to its absolute glorious beauty and I always find a lot of ice in the shade underneath these pines.

     On this day I worried not about ice because it was all powdery fluff. In fact, it was such beautiful snow that it was like sking on silk.

     December 7th was a glorious day indeed. I am an avid cross country skier but in my neck of the woods I do not always get a chance to actually ski.  In the Lower Hudson Valley our opportunities for skiing after a 4 to 6" snowstorm are iffy at best. The temperate climate created by the Hudson River causes higher humidity and a warmer environment.  We tend to end up with either a lot of slush and overnight the snow freezes to near solidity, leading to not so perfect conditions.  It also tends to melt much faster.
So it's off to the mountains!

      Mountain Trails offers 35km of groomed trackset trails marked according to degree of difficulty beginner to expert.

State-of-the-art snow cat grooming.
Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) certified ski instruction available weekends and holiday weeks.
Cross country skiing, snowshoeing and pull sled rentals.
Warming hut with ski shop, fireplace and snack bar.
Trails patrolled weekends and holidays by National Nordic Ski Patrol.

 If you need to change at the ski center the only accommodations they afford are the single woman's or man's privy.

Please click the link below for trail conditions.

mtntrails.com