
Catamount's summit reaches 2,001 feet, dropping roughly 1,000 vertical feet to a base at 1,001 feet across 38 runs spread over 133 acres straddling the New York-Massachusetts border in the Berkshires. Terrain splits 40 per cent beginner, 35 per cent intermediate, 15 per cent advanced and 10 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 100 inches. Eight lifts, including two double chairs and one quad chair, serve the mountain alongside two triple chairs and three surface lifts.
Catamount's genuine claim to fame is its two-state footprint, with terrain spanning Hillsdale, New York and South Egremont, Massachusetts on Mount Fray in the Taconic Mountains. This border-straddling geography, combined with the resort's status as one of the oldest ski areas in the country, gives Catamount a distinctive place in Northeast skiing history.
John Falconer Fisher discovered the mountain's potential as a ski area in 1937 and 1938, camping at its base with friends through the summer to cut trails and shape a vision for what would become one of the first organised ski areas in the United States. Catamount opened for business in 1939 with three rope tows powered by a car engine, and early skiers frequently arrived from New York City by train to Hillsdale before being ferried to the mountain by truck.
Brothers Bill and Sandy Gilbert, together with business partner Don Edwards, purchased Catamount in 1974, expanding trails and substantially increasing snowmaking coverage. In May 2018, the Schaefer family, longtime owners of Berkshire East Mountain Resort in Massachusetts, purchased Catamount, bringing it under common ownership with that neighbouring resort. Adult daily tickets run from 69 to 89 US dollars, with free access for seniors aged 80 and over.
Catamount spreads 38 runs across 133 acres skiable of terrain. It leans beginner at 40%, with 15 beginner runs to find your feet and 10 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
The 2025-26 season at Catamount ran from 13 December 2025 to 5 April 2026, a roughly sixteen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 100 inches. Extensive snowmaking supplements natural snowfall to maintain consistent conditions throughout the season across the resort's beginner-weighted terrain.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to the mountain's varied terrain spanning the New York-Massachusetts border. Catamount's extensive night-skiing programme extends the useful ski day for visitors from the surrounding Berkshires and Hudson Valley regions well beyond daylight hours.
As a resort under common Schaefer family ownership with neighbouring Berkshire East Mountain Resort, Catamount's visitor base draws from both the New York and Massachusetts sides of the Berkshires, alongside day-trippers from the broader tri-state region. School holiday periods bring increased family visitation given the resort's substantial beginner and intermediate terrain. Free access for seniors aged 80 and over reflects the resort's broadly welcoming pricing philosophy.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations and night skiing is not confirmed in available resort information. Since the Schaefer family's 2018 purchase, Catamount has continued building on more than eight decades of operation dating to its 1939 opening. The resort's distinctive two-state footprint remains a defining seasonal talking point for visitors throughout the winter.
Catamount sits on Mount Fray in the Taconic Mountains, straddling the border between Hillsdale, New York and South Egremont, Massachusetts, with a base elevation of 1,001 feet and a summit at 2,001 feet over 133 acres. This setting places the resort within the southern Berkshires alongside nearby Butternut and Otis Ridge.
Hillsdale, New York and the broader Berkshires region on both sides of the state line offer lodging, dining and additional recreation for visitors. The Hudson Valley and Housatonic Valley regions surround the resort, with both New York City and Boston-area visitors historically drawn to the mountain given its relatively central Northeast location.
New York State Route 23 provides direct access to the resort from Hillsdale, connecting through to Massachusetts on the eastern side of the mountain. Winter driving conditions on regional roads can include snow and ice, though the well-travelled routes through the Berkshires are regularly maintained. There is no direct public transport service to the resort, though the area was historically served by train from New York City.
Specific nearest commercial airport details are not confirmed in available resort information, though the resort's position within the Berkshires keeps it within a reasonable drive of both the greater New York City and Boston metropolitan areas.
Hotels and lodges near Catamount, powered by Stay22.

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation is looking at a major shake-up to its title events calendar. From 2032, World Championships could run not just in odd-numbered years but in every non-Olympic winter too, effectively putting a global title event on the calendar almost every season. The FIS Council has approved the concept following a feasibility study, though an accelerated rollout as early as 2028 is also under consideration.

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Catamount's 2025 - 2026 season typically runs from December 13 through April 5. That window is roughly 113 calendar days, though daily operations depend on snow cover, weather, and lift maintenance.
Resorts in New York, Usa often announce firm dates closer to winter; check the live snow report before you travel if you are planning around opening weekend or spring closure.
Catamount lists about 133 acres skiable of marked terrain spread across 38 named runs (54 hectares alongside 133 acres skiable). That footprint is what most riders experience on a lift-served day. Side-country or hike-to terrain may sit outside these published numbers.
Use the trail map to see how the mountain is laid out and where the longest fall-line runs connect back to base.
Trail grading at Catamount breaks down roughly as 40% beginner, 35% intermediate, 15% advanced, 10% expert. The mix is balanced enough for mixed-ability groups, so learners can stay on marked green/blue (Green/Blue) terrain while stronger skiers peel off to steeper pitches.
Percentages describe the resort's published piste mix, not vertical feet. A mountain with modest "expert" stats can still feel demanding if the steep terrain is long or exposed. Read the trail map alongside these numbers when planning your route.
Catamount operates 8 lifts across 4 lift types. The fleet includes 3 surface lifts, 2 triple chairs, 2 double chairs, and 1 quad chair.
Lift mix affects how quickly you can lap your favourite zones. Gondolas and trams move big crowds to mid-mountain, while shorter chairs and surface lifts often serve learning areas or local pods. Check the live snow report on ski days for real-time open/closed status.
Base elevation at Catamount is about 1,001 ft (305 m), with the summit around 2,001 ft (610 m), giving roughly 1,001 ft (305 m) of vertical from base to top.
Higher start heights usually mean colder, drier snow holding longer into spring, but also thinner air and faster weather changes. Pack layers if you are riding from village level to summit lifts in one day.
Catamount averages about 100 inches (254 cm) of natural snowfall per season. That is a long-term climate figure. Any single winter can run well above or below it depending on storm track and temperature.
For trip planning, pair this baseline with the live snow report and webcams: fresh cycles show up in overnight totals and summit cameras long before season averages tell you much about today's surface.
Published single-day adult pricing on SnowStash currently spans US$39 to US$89, depending on date band and whether you are buying peak or regular windows. Multi-day products (season passes) usually lower the per-day cost if you are staying several days. Tickets can be bought online through the resort's official checkout (linked from our lift tickets page) or at on-mountain ticket windows, subject to availability.
Buying ahead of peak holidays and weekends generally saves money and guarantees access on sold-out days. Before you commit, scan the snow report and webcams so you are paying for conditions that match your expectations.
SnowStash pulls together 3 live mountain webcams, a downloadable piste map, and the daily snow report for Catamount so you can plan from home. Webcams refresh on a short interval and are the fastest way to judge visibility, wind exposure, and whether storm snow is still falling.
The snow report adds structured totals, base depth where available, and lift/trail status when the resort publishes it. Use both together: cameras show what it looks like right now, and the report summarises numbers your group can compare day to day.
Yes. The downloadable PDF/image map is better for offline planning, marking meeting points, and understanding the full mountain layout at a glance.
Both versions are on the trail map page for Catamount. If you are navigating with kids or meeting friends across separate lifts, screenshot or print the static map and keep the live map open on your phone for operational updates.
Catamount sits in New York, Usa. That regional context matters for travel planning: airport transfers, snow tyres, and typical storm patterns all follow geography as much as resort marketing.
Browse nearby accommodation from the resort page if you are comparing village-base vs valley-base stays; where you sleep changes your first lift of the day more than most trail stats do.