Windham
285 acres, 54 runs 2.5 hours from NYC. Upscale Catskills resort, family-friendly, six terrain parks.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
4 Dec 2026
Closes
28 Mar 2027
Days open
114
Annual snow
100in
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Windham Mountain's summit reaches 3,100 feet, dropping 1,601 vertical feet to a base at 1,499 feet across 54 runs spread over 285 acres in the Catskill Mountains, roughly two and a half hours from New York City. Terrain splits 48 per cent intermediate, 20 per cent beginner, 19 per cent advanced and 13 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 100 inches. Eleven lifts, including two quad chairs and one six-person chair, serve the mountain alongside one double chair, two triple chairs and five surface lifts.
Windham has cultivated a reputation as one of the Catskills' more upscale, family-oriented resorts, with substantial recent investment aimed at elevating the overall guest experience. The resort's proximity to New York City, combined with its premium positioning, has made it a popular choice for downstate visitors seeking a more refined mountain getaway.
New York's state assembly considered developing a state-run ski resort on the site, then known as Cave Mountain, in the late 1950s, but the project never advanced. Private investors instead purchased the land and opened Cave Mountain Ski Area in 1960, with ownership transferring to brothers Bob, James and Tom Sheridan three years later, who opened a lodge and introduced early snowmaking. In 1981, Irv Naylor, founder of Snow Time Inc., purchased the resort and renamed it Ski Windham, his third New York and Pennsylvania-area ski area alongside Ski Roundtop and Ski Liberty. The resort was renamed Windham Mountain in 2001.
In April 2023, Beall Investment Partners and Kemmons Wilson Hospitality Partners took majority ownership, with North Castle Partners, Cloverhill Group, and the McGuffog and Starker families remaining as existing partners. This new ownership group has pursued significant investment in the resort's facilities and guest amenities. Adult daily tickets run from 99 to 149 US dollars.
1,601ft
Vertical
54
Runs
285 acres
Skiable
100in
Annual snow
Ikon
Pass
The Terrain
54 runs across 285 acres skiable
Windham Mountain covers 285 acres (115 hectares) in the northern Catskills, with 54 runs falling about 1,600 ft (488 m) from a 3,100 ft (945 m) summit to a base at 1,500 ft (457 m). Nearly half the terrain is intermediate at 48%, with 20% beginner, 19% advanced and 13% expert. A six-seat chair, two quads, two triples, a double and five surface lifts serve the slopes, and the Ikon Pass tie-in brings plenty of visitors from the New York City area at weekends and holidays.
Wheelchair, Upper Wipeout and Wedgie are among the trails you will see on the map, and Wooly Bear is a beginner slope that gives learners a gentle start. Six progressive terrain parks range from the small features of Wraparound Park to the bigger jumps of Whirlwind Park, so riders can step up gradually. Windham suits intermediates cruising long groomers, families, and freestyle riders who like a park progression. Advanced skiers can lap the steeper upper pitches, though the mountain feels more polished than rugged. It is a good fit for a day from the city.
Terrain split
54
runs
54 runs across 4 grades
Beginner11 runs · 20%
Intermediate26 runs · 48%
Advanced10 runs · 19%
Expert7 runs · 13%
Time it right
When to visit Windham
The 2025-26 season at Windham Mountain ran from 28 November 2025 to 29 March 2026, a roughly eighteen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 100 inches. Extensive snowmaking supplements natural snowfall to support the resort's early opening and consistent conditions throughout the season.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to Windham's intermediate-weighted terrain. Given the resort's roughly two-and-a-half-hour drive from New York City and its premium, family-oriented positioning, Windham draws substantial weekend and holiday visitation from the downstate metropolitan area throughout the season.
Following the April 2023 ownership change, the resort has pursued significant guest-experience investment, an approach that continues to shape its seasonal operations and positioning relative to other Catskills resorts. School holiday periods bring substantial family visitation given the resort's varied terrain and upscale amenities.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Since the resort's renaming from Ski Windham to Windham Mountain in 2001, and its subsequent 2023 ownership transition, the mountain has continued building on more than six decades of Catskills skiing history dating to its 1960 origins as Cave Mountain Ski Area. Windham's premium, family-focused character remains central to its seasonal identity.
Season 2026 - 2027
4 Dec 2026
Opens
28 Mar 2027
Closes
114
Days open
100 in
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Windham
Daily snow reports at Windham go back to 2025, 2 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
24 in
Snowiest day
27 Jan 2026
0 in
This winter · 2026-27
so far
32 in
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
in
Past wintersThis winter
Getting there
Getting to Windham, and where to stay
Windham Mountain sits in the Catskill Mountains of New York, roughly two and a half hours from New York City, with a base elevation of 1,499 feet and a summit at 3,100 feet across a 1,601-foot vertical drop over 285 acres. This proximity to the metropolitan area has long supported Windham's role as a leading downstate ski destination.
The village of Windham and the broader northern Catskills region offer lodging, dining and additional recreation within a short drive of the resort. The Hudson Valley lies between the mountain and New York City, providing further stopover options for visitors making the drive from the metropolitan area.
New York State Route 23 provides direct access to the resort through the northern Catskills. Winter driving conditions on this route can include snow and ice, and visitors travelling from the New York City area should allow extra time given typical weekend traffic volumes. There is no direct public transport service to the mountain, though its proximity to the city supports considerable day-trip and weekend visitation by car.
Specific nearest commercial airport details are not confirmed in available resort information, though Windham's roughly two-and-a-half-hour drive from New York City places it within reach of the metropolitan area's major airports for visitors flying in from further afield.
Where to stay
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Hotels and lodges near Windham, powered by Stay22.
Good to know
Frequently asked
When is Windham's ski season?
Windham's 2026 - 2027 season typically runs from December 4 through March 28. That window is roughly 114 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.
How much skiable terrain does Windham have?
Windham lists about 285 acres skiable of marked terrain spread across 54 named runs (115 hectares alongside 285 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.
What is the terrain like at Windham?
Trail grading at Windham breaks down roughly as 20% beginner, 48% intermediate, 19% advanced, 13% 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.
How many lifts does Windham have?
Windham operates 11 lifts across 5 lift types. The fleet includes 5 surface lifts, 2 quad chairs, 2 triple chairs, 1 6-person chair, and 1 double 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.
What is the elevation and vertical drop at Windham?
Base elevation at Windham is about 1,499 ft (457 m), with the summit around 3,100 ft (945 m), giving roughly 1,601 ft (488 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.
How much snow does Windham get each season?
Windham 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.
Does Windham accept the Ikon?
Windham is affiliated with the Ikon. Pass holders should confirm current season benefits, blackout dates, and reservation rules on the pass issuer's site. Policies change year to year and can differ between international and domestic products.
If you are not on Ikon, day tickets and multi-day bundles are still available; see the lift tickets page for published rates and purchase links.
Where can I buy Windham lift tickets and how much do they cost?
Published single-day adult pricing on SnowStash currently spans US$79 to US$149, depending on date band and whether you are buying peak or regular windows. Multi-day products (multi-day passes, 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.
How can I check snow and mountain conditions at Windham before I go?
SnowStash pulls together 1 live mountain webcam, an interactive live trail map and a downloadable piste map, and the daily snow report for Windham 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.
Does Windham have a trail map?
Yes. A live interactive map embeds current lift and run status when the provider supplies it, which is useful on-morning for seeing what is actually spinning. 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 Windham. 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.
Where is Windham located?
Windham 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.
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