
Bristol Mountain
160 acres, 34 runs near Rochester. Highest vertical between the Adirondacks and Rockies, night skiing.
Bristol Mountain's summit reaches 2,201 feet, dropping 1,200 vertical feet to a base at 1,001 feet across 34 runs spread over 160 acres in South Bristol, New York. Terrain splits 45 per cent intermediate, 35 per cent beginner and 20 per cent advanced, with no expert-rated runs, and average annual snowfall of roughly 60 inches. Five lifts, including three quad chairs and one double chair, serve the mountain alongside one triple chair and one surface lift.
Bristol Mountain markets itself as offering the highest vertical drop of any ski area between the Adirondacks and the Rocky Mountains, a distinction that has anchored its identity in the Finger Lakes region since opening. Its comprehensive night-skiing programme, covering the resort's full trail network, extends the useful ski day considerably for visitors from the nearby Rochester and Canandaigua areas.
Bristol Mountain has operated since 1964, developing into the Finger Lakes region's premier ski destination over subsequent decades. Specific details of the resort's founding circumstances and original ownership structure are not confirmed in available resort information.
The resort continues to operate as a standalone Finger Lakes destination without major multi-resort pass affiliation, offering its own Bristol Season Pass alongside daily and college-student discounted tickets. Adult daily tickets run from 59 to 79 US dollars, with dedicated pricing for college students seeking twilight sessions.
Bristol Mountain covers 160 acres (65 hectares) in the Finger Lakes region of western New York, with 34 runs falling 1,200 ft (366 m) from a 2,200 ft (671 m) summit to a base near 1,000 ft (305 m). That is a lot of vertical for upstate New York. Intermediate trails take 45% of the mountain, beginner runs 35% and advanced 20%, with no expert-rated terrain. Three quad chairs, a triple, a double and a surface lift handle the traffic, keeping lines short for a day-trip hill close to Rochester.
Skiers and riders who want to jump have two choices, Morning Star Park and the gentler Shooting Star Progression Park. The longest run on the mountain stretches about two miles, so the fall line gives long, sustained descents rather than short pitches. Around 96% of the trails are lit for night skiing, which suits after-work sessions from Rochester and Canandaigua. Bristol is best for beginners and intermediates who want real vertical and long cruisers, and advanced skiers will find enough pitch to stay busy, though they will not find extreme terrain.
The 2025-26 season at Bristol Mountain ran from 6 December 2025 to 5 April 2026, a roughly seventeen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 60 inches. Extensive snowmaking supports consistent conditions throughout the season given the resort's more modest natural snowfall relative to higher-elevation Northeast resorts.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to the mountain's intermediate and beginner-weighted terrain. Given Bristol's comprehensive night-skiing programme, the resort draws strong weekday evening visitation from the nearby Rochester metropolitan area and Canandaigua, extending well beyond typical daytime-only ski areas.
As an independently operated resort offering its own season pass, Bristol's visitor base draws heavily from the Finger Lakes region and greater Rochester area rather than national destination traffic. College student twilight pricing reflects the resort's proximity to several regional colleges and universities. School holiday periods bring increased family visitation given the resort's substantial beginner and intermediate terrain.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations and night skiing is not confirmed in available resort information. Bristol Mountain's operation since 1964 continues to anchor Finger Lakes skiing for the Rochester region each winter. The mountain's marketed status as having the highest vertical between the Adirondacks and the Rockies remains a defining seasonal draw.
Daily snow reports at Bristol Mountain go back to 2025, 2 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
Bristol Mountain sits in South Bristol, New York, in the Finger Lakes region, roughly 30 miles from Rochester and 10 miles from Canandaigua along New York State Route 64, with a base elevation of 1,001 feet and a summit at 2,201 feet across a 1,200-foot vertical drop over 160 acres. This setting places the resort within easy reach of the Finger Lakes wine region.
Canandaigua, a lakeside town with dining, lodging and Finger Lakes wine-country attractions, lies a short drive from the resort. Rochester, a considerable regional city, provides the resort's primary metropolitan visitor base within a roughly 30-mile drive, making Bristol a practical day-trip or evening destination for the city's population.
New York State Route 64 provides direct access to the resort from both Canandaigua and Rochester. Winter driving conditions on this route can include snow and ice, though the well-travelled state highway is regularly maintained given the resort's popularity with the Rochester metropolitan area. There is no direct public transport service to the mountain.
Greater Rochester International Airport, roughly 30 miles away, is the nearest airport with substantial commercial service, making Bristol Mountain a genuinely convenient option for visitors flying into the Rochester area. This proximity to a major regional airport supports the resort's role as the Finger Lakes region's premier ski destination.
Hotels and lodges near Bristol Mountain, powered by Stay22.

The Val Gardena-Alpe di Siusi lift link isn’t dead after all. A South Tyrol court has overturned Santa Cristina’s rejection of the new Monte Pana-Saltria link on procedural grounds, after the council skipped required public information sessions. Opponents want the missing sessions held and a fresh vote, and nothing has been approved. For now it’s still a bus between the two, but a plan first floated in 2017 is back in the conversation.

A section of Whistler Peak terrain will stay closed all 2026-27 season, Vail Resorts has confirmed, with rockslide mitigation work continuing into summer 2027. Peak Express is still expected to run this winter, but locals are already arguing about what’s actually off limits, whether the Whistler Bowl is gone, and why the news landed after pass sales wound down. Here’s where things stand.

Loveland is open. The Colorado ski area started Chet’s Dream turning on Saturday 7 November to kick off 2026-27, with $60 adult lift tickets to mark 60 years of snowmaking. Expect three runs, nearly 1,000 vertical feet (about 300 metres) of top-to-bottom skiing, live music on the Basin Patio and no beginner terrain yet. Here’s what’s open, what it costs and when Loveland Valley follows.

Fried chicken is heading up the Dolomites. From 5 December KFC will run two restaurants on the slopes - one at 2,123 metres at Cortina, one at 1,700 metres at Madonna di Campiglio - and the polenta-and-canederli crowd has opinions. Local politicians, conservation groups and plenty of Facebook commenters are calling it a step too far, while others just want a cheaper lunch. Here’s what’s on the menu and what’s the fuss.

Mt Rose is going for the first-in-Tahoe title, with the Lakeview Express due to spin at 9 a.m. on Friday, November 6. One main lift, three runs and plenty of snowmaking, sitting on the highest base elevation in the region at 8,260 ft. Here is what is open, what is not (sorry, tubing fans), and how the early North American openings are stacking up.

Europe has had a quiet start to November, but our 10-day forecast has Serre Chevalier on 82 cm and Les 2 Alpes on 71 cm. Two pushes are lined up: a western Alps top-up from Friday, then a bigger, wider system on Thursday, November 12 and Friday, November 13 that reaches Italy and Switzerland. Full leaderboard inside.

Mammoth just moved opening day forward to Thursday, November 5, eight days ahead of schedule. A snowy weekend and cold snowmaking nights did the work, and our forecast shows up to 33 inches more landing on November 13 and 14. Here is what opens, what the weather looks like and where Mammoth sits among the early Ikon Pass openers.

Rain down low, snow up high, and a snow report full of zeros that mostly means ‘not updated yet’. Utah’s first proper storm of 2026-27 is rolling through the Wasatch, Snowbird’s snow stake is closing in on 10 inches, and Brian Head is five days from opening day. Early November snow rarely looks like much, but it is the layer every November opening date is built on. Here is where it stands.
Bristol Mountain runs five lifts: three quad chairs, one double chair, one triple chair and one surface lift, serving 34 runs across 160 acres in the Finger Lakes region. The quad chairs carry the bulk of skier traffic across the mountain's considerable 1,200-foot vertical drop, the highest between the Adirondacks and the Rockies.
This lift network supports Bristol's comprehensive night-skiing operation, which the resort markets as covering its full trail network, a notable commitment given the scale of the mountain relative to many regional competitors. The combination of multiple quad chairs and a supporting triple chair allows the resort to maintain strong uphill capacity across peak evening and weekend periods.
The double chair and single surface lift support beginner and learning terrain near the base, complementing the quad-chair-served intermediate and advanced runs higher on the mountain. There is no gondola or six-person chair, consistent with Bristol's identity as a substantial regional day-and-night ski area rather than a large destination resort.
Specific recent lift replacement or expansion projects are not confirmed in available resort information. Bristol Mountain's operation since 1964 has supported the gradual development of this five-lift network. The resort's considerable vertical drop, delivered by an efficient lift system, remains central to its regional reputation.
More Bristol Mountain intelligence: trail map, snow report, webcams, resort overview.