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    New York, Usa

    Holiday Valley

    Ski 290 acres across five mountain faces in Ellicottville, NY. 60 trails, 39 lit for night skiing and 180 inches of lake-effect snow annually.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    Opens
    6 Dec 2025
    Closes
    29 Mar 2026
    Days open
    113
    Annual snow
    11ft
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    Holiday Valley opened on 7 January 1958 with four trails and a single T-bar, funded by shares sold for $100 each from a card table in an Ellicottville car park. The Win-Sum Ski Corporation raised enough to purchase 30 acres for $1,050, and from that modest beginning the resort has grown into the largest ski area in Western New York — now covering 290 acres across five mountain faces, with 60 runs served by 13 lifts.

    The terrain profile is notably beginner-friendly at 37% green, 25% intermediate, 36% advanced and 2% expert, but the wide footprint across two valleys creates a ski area that skis considerably larger than its vertical of 750 feet suggests, with the five distinct terrain pods — each with its own character — giving the mountain genuine variety from the tight deciduous woods of the Snowpine area to the manicured pine-lined runs of the Tannenbaum zone. Ski Magazine has ranked Holiday Valley in its top ten Eastern resorts consistently, and two Holiday Valley products — freestyle skiers Jill Vogtli and Travis Mayer — competed in moguls at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.

    The resort's night skiing operation is one of the most extensive in the Eastern United States, with 39 of the 60 trails lit for evening sessions — a figure that reflects Holiday Valley's orientation toward the regional day-trip and after-work market between Buffalo, Toronto, Pittsburgh and Cleveland.

    The Sky High Mountain Coaster near the Tannenbaum Lodge runs a 2,490-foot track through the woods and operates year-round, adding a non-ski activity that extends the resort's appeal across seasons. The Lounsbury Adaptive Program provides tailored ski and snowboard instruction for visitors with physical and cognitive disabilities, and with approximately 500,000 annual visitors, Holiday Valley is Cattaraugus County's principal tourist attraction.

    820ft
    Vertical
    60
    Runs
    290 acres
    Skiable
    11ft
    Annual snow
    The Terrain

    60 runs across 290 acres skiable

    Holiday Valley spreads 60 runs across 290 acres skiable of terrain. It leans beginner at 37%, with 22 beginner runs to find your feet and 23 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.

    Terrain split
    60
    runs
    60 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner22 runs · 37%
    Intermediate15 runs · 25%
    Advanced22 runs · 36%
    Expert1 run · 2%
    Time it right

    When to visit Holiday Valley

    Holiday Valley operates from early December through to mid-April, with the 2025/26 season running 6 December to 13 April. The resort averages approximately 180 inches of annual snowfall — roughly double the annual totals recorded at competing resorts in Pennsylvania and the Catskills — driven by its position approximately 30 miles from Lake Erie, which delivers lake-effect snow systems reliably from late autumn through early spring.

    Lake-effect events at this latitude produce high-frequency, moderate-intensity snowfall that accumulates steadily across the season and supplements the extensive snowmaking system to maintain a consistent base across all 290 acres. The current 2025/26 season has logged a base depth of around 24 inches with a season total approaching 88 inches as of early March, reflecting the reliable mid-winter accumulation the Western New York snowbelt regularly produces.

    The combination of 180 inches of natural snowfall and 95% snowmaking coverage gives Holiday Valley one of the more dependable operating records of any Eastern US resort, with conditions remaining skiable well into April most years. The après-ski culture around Holiday Valley is well established, with the village of Ellicottville one mile from the base offering a concentration of restaurants, bars and accommodation that the resort directly benefits from — and which Ski Magazine has ranked among the better après destinations in the Eastern US, not far behind Tremblant and Killington in reader surveys.

    College students access the mountain at a reduced rate on Sunday through Thursday evenings, and the Locals Sunday programme provides discounted access for residents within a one-hour radius including Buffalo, Erie and the Southern Ontario communities that make up a significant share of the resort's repeat visitor base.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    6 Dec 2025
    Opens
    29 Mar 2026
    Closes
    113
    Days open
    11 ft
    Annual snow
    Getting there

    Getting to Holiday Valley, and where to stay

    Holiday Valley sits in Ellicottville in Cattaraugus County in the Southern Tier of New York State, on the edge of the Allegheny Plateau at the intersection of US Route 219 and the Western New York ski country belt. The resort is approximately 60 miles south of Buffalo, 90 miles from Rochester and around three hours from Toronto, placing it within a catchment area of some 10 million people in the Buffalo–Toronto–Pittsburgh–Cleveland corridor.

    Buffalo Niagara International Airport is the primary air gateway, around 65 miles north via Route 219, with a drive of under 90 minutes from the terminal to the resort base lodge under normal conditions. The Southern Ontario market is substantial enough that the resort operates dedicated information for Canadian visitors, and the strengthened cross-border ski traffic in this corridor reflects Holiday Valley's proximity to Hamilton, Toronto and the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

    The village of Ellicottville, a one-mile walk or short drive from the ski area, functions as a genuine mountain town rather than a purpose-built resort development — restaurants, bars, rental shops, accommodation and galleries occupy a compact main street that predates the resort and retains its own character independent of it.

    Holimont, the other ski area in Ellicottville and one of the largest private ski clubs in North America, occupies the opposite side of town from Holiday Valley and is open to the public on weekdays, giving visitors to the area access to a second distinct mountain without driving. The Inn at Holiday Valley, which opened in 1995 and sits directly at the ski area base, provides ski-in accommodation for guests who prefer immediate slope access, and the resort's year-round calendar — golf, mountain biking, Sky High Adventure Park and the mountain coaster through spring and summer — gives Ellicottville material to draw visitors beyond the ski season.

    Where to stay

    Search all stays →

    Hotels and lodges near Holiday Valley, powered by Stay22.

    Latest News

    From the SnowStash desk

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    Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026

    Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026

    Mount Buller closes out its 2026 season this Sunday, joining Falls Creek, Hotham and Charlotte Pass in a cluster of closures landing almost simultaneously and roughly a month ahead of schedule. The culprit is stark: Spencers Creek's benchmark snow depth hit 31.2cm on 3 September, just 18% of the 73-year average and an all-time low for this point in the season. Six of Victoria and NSW's best-known resorts will have shut their lifts early within a span of about two and a half weeks.

    4 Sept 2026
    Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season

    Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season

    Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.

    2 Sept 2026
    Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6

    Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6

    We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.

    1 Sept 2026
    Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028

    Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028

    Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.

    31 Aug 2026
    Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured

    Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured

    An aerial tram carrying around fifty passengers struck the boom of a construction crane on the route to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday morning, injuring 23 people, three seriously. The cabin tipped on impact before the operator reversed it to right the car. Most of the injured were treated on site, with five taken to hospital in Grenoble, including a pregnant woman assessed as a precaution.

    28 Aug 2026
    Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do

    Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do

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    27 Aug 2026
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    Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September

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    26 Aug 2026
    Unstable Glacier Above Randa Puts Zermatt-Area Village on Alert

    Unstable Glacier Above Randa Puts Zermatt-Area Village on Alert

    A hanging glacier above the Swiss village of Randa, just south of Zermatt, has been shedding large chunks of ice for weeks, with authorities warning more break-offs are likely. A danger zone has been closed off since June, though officials say the village's 479 residents aren't at risk. It's a familiar pattern for this glacier - it's done this before, in 1819, 1972 and 1973 - but a reminder of how closely Alpine authorities now watch terrain once considered stable.

    26 Aug 2026

    Holiday Valley Webcams

    6 live angles across the mountain. Tap any camera to go full-screen.

    About Holiday Valley's live webcams

    Check live conditions across Holiday Valley with 6 real-time webcams showing snow, weather, and lift operations, updated every 10 minutes. Check high-elevation cams for powder visibility and base-area cams for crowd levels before you head up.

    Camera guide

    Holiday Cindy's Summit2,037ft
    Holiday valley webcam at Cindy's Summit at 621 meters gives advanced skiers a real-time look at the central terrain zone above the Cindy chair — one of the five distinct mountain faces that together give this 290-acre Ellicottville resort a footprint that skis considerably larger than its 750-foot vertical suggests. This live cam reveals current snow quality and trail coverage on the upper mountain runs that connect to the Snowpine area, where lake-effect systems arriving from Lake Erie 30 miles away deposit the 180 inches of annual snowfall that distinguishes Holiday Valley from its Pennsylvania and Catskills competitors. A practical morning check before hitting the more demanding terrain in the Snowpine sector below.
    Main Lodge1,499ft
    All holiday valley webcams together give a full picture of the mountain, and the Main Lodge feed at 457 meters is where most days begin — the base hub where the Mardi Gras Express departs and the bulk of daily visitor traffic flows through. This live cam captures lift loading, base snow conditions and arrival crowd levels, essential viewing for Buffalo-based skiers 60 miles north who want a real-time read before making the drive down Route 219 on a weekend morning. Combine it with the Mardi Gras Summit camera above for a complete base-to-upper-mountain view of Western New York's largest ski area.
    Mardi Gras Summit2,257ft
    Conditions on Holiday Valley's primary intermediate terrain are visible through this holiday valley webcam at the Mardi Gras Express summit at 688 meters — the top of the main artery connecting the central base lodge to the upper mountain and the starting point for the resort's best-groomed cruising runs. This live cam surveys the broad sweep of intermediate trails below, where 95% snowmaking coverage across 611 automated snow guns maintains consistent base depths through the variable Western New York shoulder season and well into April. The view here also gives night skiers a useful advance look at illumination and conditions across the 39 trails that Holiday Valley lights for evening sessions — one of the most extensive night skiing operations in the Eastern US.
    Morning Star Summit2,264ft
    The webcam holiday valley regulars use least on busy weekends is often the most rewarding — Morning Star Summit at 690 meters surveys the eastern face terrain that offers genuine separation from main-lodge crowds when the Mardi Gras corridor is at peak flow. This live cam reveals current snow coverage and visibility across the runs below, fed by the same lake-effect systems off Lake Erie that deliver roughly double the annual snowfall of comparable resorts in Pennsylvania and the Catskills. A useful secondary check for intermediate skiers from Toronto and Southern Ontario before the three-hour drive to Ellicottville.
    Tannenbaum2,320ft
    From the highest point in the Holiday Valley ski resort webcam network at 707 meters, the Tannenbaum camera surveys the pine-lined terrain zone that gives this area its distinct character — manicured runs through denser tree cover that feels noticeably different from the open intermediate faces elsewhere across the resort's five-pod layout. This live cam covers the Tannenbaum Lodge zone and slopes below, with the Sky High Mountain Coaster's 2,490-foot track through the surrounding woods nearby for families tracking non-ski activity options alongside conditions. The Tannenbaum quad's efficient uphill flow contributes to the lift-to-acreage ratio that gives Holiday Valley its reputation for skiing like a larger mountain.
    The Wall1,539ft
    The holiday valley live webcam at the Snowpine area at 469 meters is the essential pre-session check before dropping into The Wall — the resort's only double-black trail and most technically demanding run, tucked into the tight deciduous woodland of the Snowpine zone that feels unlike anywhere else on the mountain. This live cam provides a direct look at current conditions on terrain that two Holiday Valley alumni — moguls competitors Jill Vogtli and Travis Mayer — trained on before the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, and which remains the benchmark challenge for expert skiers visiting Ellicottville. The Snowpine base is accessible only via a short lift ride from the main area, keeping this sector cleanly separated from family traffic elsewhere on the resort.

    Holiday Valley snow cams FAQ

    How often do Holiday Valley snow cams update?+
    All Holiday Valley snow cams and webcams update every 10 minutes with fresh images showing current mountain conditions. This frequent update schedule ensures you have access to near real-time conditions for planning your ski day at Holiday Valley.
    Which Holiday Valley webcam shows the best powder conditions?+
    The high-elevation Tannenbaum webcam at 707m provides the clearest view of powder conditions and snowfall. These Holiday Valley webcams capture fresh snow accumulation and visibility better than base area cameras.
    Can I see Holiday Valley lift queues on the webcams?+
    Yes. Multiple Holiday Valley snow cams specifically show lift queue areas and chairlift operations, helping you time your arrival and avoid peak queue periods.
    When is the best time to check Holiday Valley snow cams?+
    Check Holiday Valley webcams early morning (7-8am) for overnight snowfall assessment, and mid-afternoon for current crowd levels and weather. The live cams are most useful after storm events to assess fresh powder.
    How can I check current conditions before buying Holiday Valley lift tickets?+
    Use our Holiday Valley webcams alongside the live snow report to assess conditions before purchasing lift tickets. The webcams show real-time visibility, snow quality, and operational status.
    Do Holiday Valley webcams work on mobile devices?+
    Yes. All Holiday Valley snow cams and webcams are optimized for mobile viewing, so you can check live conditions from anywhere using your phone or tablet.

    More Holiday Valley intelligence: snow report, lift tickets, trail map, resort overview.