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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.
Total Runs
38
Total Area
133 ac
53.8 ha
Catamount runs eight lifts: two double chairs, one quad chair, two triple chairs and three surface lifts, serving 38 runs across 133 acres straddling the New York-Massachusetts border. This substantial lift count relative to the resort's compact acreage reflects decades of investment across Catamount's long operating history.
The lift network has grown enormously since the resort's 1939 opening with three rope tows powered by a car engine and bull wheel, a modest beginning for what has become one of the oldest continuously operated ski areas in the country. Investment accelerated markedly following the Gilbert brothers and Don Edwards' 1974 purchase, which brought expanded snowmaking and additional trail development alongside lift upgrades.
The quad chair and two triple chairs distribute skiers efficiently across Catamount's beginner-weighted terrain, while the double chairs and three surface lifts provide additional capacity for learning areas and lower-mountain runs. This combination supports the resort's extensive night-skiing operation, a significant part of its offering.
Since the Schaefer family's May 2018 purchase, bringing Catamount under common ownership with their Berkshire East Mountain Resort in Massachusetts, continued investment has supported this eight-lift network. Specific recent individual lift replacement projects are not confirmed in available resort information. Catamount's lift infrastructure continues to serve its distinctive two-state terrain footprint.
Total Lifts
8
Lift Types
4
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.
Current Season
2025 - 2026
Opening Day
12/13/2025
Closing Day
4/5/2026
Days Open
114
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.
