Skiing Under the Lights

Skiing under the lights at Mt. Pisgah or Dewey Mountain is undoubtedly a decidedly different winter experience! 

Sure, lots of places boast about their nightlife and restaurants, and Saranac Lake is no different (we have a lot of great options), but what about the authentically Adirondack night life you can experience outdoors? We want to flip the script on the standard bar scene or date night, and instead encourage you to experience one of Saranac Lake’s true gems: downhill and cross-country night skiing under the lights!

Night skiing is the perfect outdoor activity for families too! Pisgah (as it's affectionally called by locals) is great for beginners right up to experienced skiers, and they even have a tubing hill for a friendly competition of speed. Dewey is a great destination for a quiet ski through lit trails, where long shadows settle across the bright snow and create an entirely different scene than you might have experienced during the day. The cool, crisp air awakens the senses and brings life back into the darkness of winter. So, don’t think your day is over just because the sun has set. We’re about to experience all the fun that night skiing in Saranac Lake has to offer!

Nightlife on the mountain

Pisgah is open from 3:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. With less daylight in the winter, there are several hours of good night skiing to take advantage of during the week. With a lively energy from the after-school crowd and those that just clocked off from the weekday grind, nothing beats night time on the slopes! Pisgah isn’t the biggest mountain in the area, but even experienced skiers cannot deny the fun in hitting the hill for a few last runs under the lights. There is something different about those late-day runs that makes them a little bit more magic. For me, it brings back pre-teen memories of the freedom to be out with my friends after dark. I can still hear Sixpence None the Richer “Kiss Me” as I sway my hips and ski poles back and forth while I wait in the T-bar line (it was the 90’s). The music may have changed, and I may be a little older, but I still love standing in those lines to ride the T-bar to the top of the hill. Nowadays, I enjoy watching kids frantically pair up in line for the T-bar, while I sit back and patiently await my turn. I used to make as many runs as I could on those cold nights, racing down White Stag as fast as possible, just to jump in line and do it all over again. Now, I enjoy some of the quieter back trails and brief breaks at the lodge with a hot cup of cocoa and a fiery meal from the kitchen or the Adk Street Eats food truck parked below. It makes for the perfect evening alternative to another night spent inside. Invite your friends, a date, or bring along the family for a great night out(side)! 

At peace under the lights

Dewey is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. With all-new lights installed, lighted cross-country skiing is available on most of the lower trails, as conditions permit. Suitable for skiers of all abilities, the easiest green trails of Dewey’s lower mountain make for a laid-back, quieter evening of skiing. Starting out from the lodge, where ticketing and rentals are available, all loops head off into the forest-surrounded trails of the gradually sloped mountain. The orange-pink hue of the lights casts a warm glow on the trails, making your surroundings visible even on the darkest winter nights. Dark blue shadows cast by the surrounding trees linger on tracks in the snow. So, keep your eyes peeled for squirrels or other small animals that may have left evidence of their crossing behind. Whether you’re moving at a fast pace or enjoying the quiet solitude of a slow ski, the beauty of the sparkling snow (perfectly groomed to a corduroy finish or set tracks) will set the scene for an evening you won’t soon forget. It’s a type of peace and beauty that is authentic to the Adirondacks, and unmatched by other regions. The trail system at Dewey allows you to pick a loop based on your desired length of ski, ensuring that you can make it back in time for dinner reservations, or whatever you have planned après ski! 

Whether you opt for the fun of Pisgah or the scenic ski of Dewey, night skiing is a great way to capture the Adirondack experience of Saranac Lake! With affordable ticket pricing and memories you will hold onto, it is the perfect night out or a memorable intro to your later evening plans. 

For ticketing and mountain information visit SaranacLake.gov and DeweyMountain.com. To plan the rest of your evening, check out the dining and entertainment options that are available pre- or post- ski.