Mount Pisgah getting ready for winter ski season

September 22, 2014

Mount Pisgah Ski Center is a village mountain with big appeal. Downhill skiing, cross country trails, and fun tubing runs, all in the heart of Saranac Lake.

Family Fun this winter

Of course, it's a bit too early to actually ski, but preparations start well before the season. The lodge is readied for visitors, logs are laid in the big fireplace, equipment is checked, and trails are walked. There are a lot of them, with 3.5 kilometers of snowshoe trails, 4 kilometers of cross country trails, and 30 acres of glade skiing. Then there are the five downhill skill runs, with an abundance of blue and green trails for beginners and intermediates.

renovated lodge welcomes winter visitors

Mt. Pisgah has a 100 meter altitude change, making for an easygoing day that's just right for the whole family. We get plenty of snow and there are three snow guns to make sure the runs are well groomed.

find a cool place to stay in saranac lake

We love playing in the snow

Mt. Pisgah comes by its easy-going ways naturally. It dates back to 1938, when members of the Saranac Lake Ski Club began building trails, and obtained their first rope tow, built from a Ford truck. The snow guns were installed as early as 1952.

Folks in this town love their winter sports!

Today, there's still a rope tow up the downhill. However, the modern equipment includes a T-Bar which allows skiers to let go at the point where they feel comfortable. This lets a person, at any level of expertise, work their way up the mountain at their own pace.

Day or Night

Night skiing is another advantage of Mt. Pisgah. The slopes are fully lit so a full day can always include some more fun on the slopes. This includes the tubing, with a rope tow to make it easy for anyone to get back to the top of one of the two tubing runs. This also allows two tubes to "race" each other, but everyone has a different opinion about which one is faster.

Affordable Skiing

Mount Pisgah has hometown rates that will brighten your mood, too. Daily rates for skiing are as low as $20 for a full day and $10 for a half day, and tubing is only $10 for two hours. Very low rates for children seven and under, and for seniors over 65.