Winter Vacation Guide 2023-2024

Skiing  |  Lodging  |  Restaurants, Bars  |  Snowshoe, Sledding, Ice Skating  |  Arts and Music

Gore Mt. Ski and Snowboard – XC-Ski – Snowshoe & Backcountry Ski!

The North Creek area is renowned as a mecca for skiing dating back to the 1930s and before!  Major mountain skiing at Gore is a draw for thousands of skiers and snowboarders from November to April. Not to be undone cross country skiers can ski groomed trails at The Ski Bowl Nordic Center (part of Gore Mt.) and Garnet Hill in North River.  North Creek and the Town of Johnsburg is adjacent to the 114,000 acre Siamese Ponds Wilderness Area with over 70 miles of mapped and marked trails for unlimited backcountry ski and snowshoe adventures.  Look for a return of the Citizen Race Series at the Ski Bowl Nordic!  
NEW!  NY Post Article – Gore is the most Affordable Ski Resort!  CLICK HERE!
Ski Shops – Rentals, Sales, Service CLICK HERE!

Best Bet for Gore Lift Ticket Deals is to Purchase Online CLICK HERE!  |  Much the Same for Garnet Hill Pre-purchase CLICK HERE

Click a Link Below for More Information    |    Events Listings CLICK HERE! 

Lodging

The North Creek Area is loaded with many Lodging options for your winter vacation or getaway.  Enjoy full service resorts, bed and breakfast accommodations, motels, hotels and Short Term Rental options.  Visit our Lodging Page for Most Properties and Visit our Short term Vacation Rental Page for additional places to stay. 

All Lodging CLICK HERE

Restaurants and Bars!

All that skiing has you hungry I’ll bet!  North Creek has you covered.  With many full service sit-down restaurants, pub fare at numerous bars, and quick take-out snacks and dinners!  Click a link below for all the contact info, menus, and the latest open/close information on most dining options.  Latest Open/Close Info, Events, Live Music!

All Restaurants CLICK HERE!

Snowshoeing, Sledding, Ice Skating

  Snowshoeing is the Winter equivalent of hiking during the warm months. You can visit a remote pond, top out on a mountain summit, or just take a walk in the winter woods. Most everyone can snowshoe, even kids! That said – some basics of winter recreation are in order. Dress the part – you will need warm winter boots, and layers of mostly non-cotton clothing. Alpine skiing clothing will generally fill the bill, but the large bulky parka will probably be too much as you warm up. Other essentials include a small day pack, extra clothing – warmer gloves, winter hat, water, snacks, and especially this time of year – A HEADLIGHT or flashlight.

Where to go? Many of the favorite Summer hiking trails are perfect for snowshoeing! The North Creek Area is adjacent to the 114,000 acre Siamese Ponds Wilderness Area with over 70 miles of mapped and marked trails. Use our Hiking Guide to select an adventure. These are more than casual walks especially if you are breaking trail (the first ones after a big snowfall). Additional trails are available off the Schaefer Trail (Parking just outside the Transfer station near the ski bowl). Also see our Backcountry Ski and Snowshoe Map Here.

If you are brand new to snowshoeing – rentals and easy packed trails are available at the 2 Cross Country Ski Centers – Garnet Hill in North River and Ski Bowl Nordic at Gore on Rt. 28. The Ski bowl has a few Kilometers of snowmaking so it might be the best bet if many other trails are washed out or thin. Other rentals are available at Beaver Brook Outfitters and Cunningham’s Ski Barn. Another unique snowshoe venue is Stone Bridge and Caves in Pottersville with snowshoe rentals and guided tours. More Info, Click a link below:

Garnet Hill | Ski Bowl Nordic | Beaverbrook Outfitters | Cunningham’s Ski Barn | Stone Bridge and Caves

The Town of Johnsburg Sledding Hill and Ice Skating will be open soon!  Drive into the ski Bowl Park and take a left turn to the Beach.  Park here and access the sledding hill with a short walk to the right.  Ice Skating (loner skates available at the Pavilion) is on the pond and has been cleared of snow.

Sledding and Ice Skating – another great venue is Dynamite Hill in Chestertown

Art and Music!

Plenty of great music and art in North Creek!  Tannery Pond has art exhibits and concerts scheduled all winter long.  Click the Events Tab Below for more information.  Don’t forget H’art on Main Street – delightful art gallery and classes.  H’art Page Here.

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North Creek Fall Vacation Guide – updated 2024

“He found himself wondering at times, especially in the autumn, about the wild lands, and strange visions of mountains that he had never seen came into his dreams.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

Main Attractions

The Adirondack Autumn and the yearly spectacle of brilliant leaves is to many the year’s best season.  Hiking is easier going in the cool weather.  Fishing comes to life as trout move about in the colder waters.  Whitewater Rafting, Rail Bikes, and Gore Mt chairlift and gondola rides all offer ample views to a changing landscape of luminous red, orange and yellow.  The Depot Museum and Tannery Pond offer indoor exhibits on art and history.  Take a tour of the North Creek Mosaic Project right on Main Street!  For Fall 2024 – RevRail is operating 5 days a week – closed Tue and Wed.  Gore Mt. is operating Saturdays and Sundays.    Hudson River Rafting is mainly on the weekend days – but check with individual outfitters for additional trips on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Fall Events

There are plenty of Fall Events in the North Creek Area and beyond – cool music, artists, concerts, fundraisers and more!  Harvest Festival at Gore is Oct. 12, 13. Gore Mt. Harvest Fest 2024!  INFO HERE! 
Tannery Pond Community Day Outdoor Show – Sat. Sept. 21  INFO HERE!
Garnet Hill Grit Mt. Bike Race, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024  INFO HERE!
Town of Johnsburg – History Weekend, Sept 13, 14, 15, 2024  INFO HERE!
Click the Tab Below for more Event Info.  See our latest Dining – Events – Entertainment update Here.

For More Event Information – Click the Tab Below Open/Close.       More Attraction Info Click an image below!

It’s Free!  Hiking, Mt. Biking, Fishing, Camping, Exploring!

The Outdoors call quickly near North Creek.  With the 114,000 acre Siamese Ponds Wilderness Area, The Hudson River Gorge and neighboring Wild Forest areas there are endless opportunities for outdoor adventure.  The Siamese Ponds Area has over 70 miles of mapped and marked trails with numerous wilderness lakes, ponds and streams.  Campsites and lean-to shelters are peppered through out the area.  Click on an image below and get going!

New!  Specialty Shops Click an Image Below!

Rails, Trails, Sky Rides and River Fun!

Updated for 2024!  The North Creek Area has it all for Summer Fun!  Try rail biking with RevRail – enjoy 2 different routes along the Upper Hudson River – absolute fun for all ages!  Trails abound for hiking and mountain biking – or just leisurely walks in the woods.  Our town – The Town of Johnsburg is at the edge of the 114,000 acre Siamese Ponds Wilderness Area with over 70 miles of mapped and marked trails, endless miles of streams and scores of remote lakes and ponds.  Backcountry adventures for camping and fishing are indeed endless!  North Creek is the Southern Terminus for the Upper Hudson River and whitewater rafting and tubing adventures!  There is plenty to do right in the middle of North Creek –
Visit the Depot Museum  |  Try Glassblowing  |  Shop at Hudson River Trading Co  |  Visit the Mosiac Project and H’art Gallery or enjoy lunch, dinner, beverages and ice cream!

Click a Link:  Weather  |  Shopping  |  Dining  |  Lodging

Events | Weather | Shopping | Dining | Lodging | Gore Mt.

Kids Fishing Derby, Sat. Apr. 27  | History Tea at Garnet Hill, Sun May 5  |  Riverkeeper Trash Clean-up, May 4

Skiing!

Well, after some surprising late winter storms – like a flash – here we are in the Spring Skiing zone!  And with the impressive snowmaking and grooming at Gore – it is GREAT Spring Skiing!  Deep bases should see skiing into mid April. (No closing date has been announced yet).  And, if you want a bargain – skiers and riders can purchase next year’s season pass now and ski the remainder of this season.  Garnet Hill’s XC-Skiing and Gore’s Ski Bowl Nordic have closed for the season.
Update – Gore is planning on operating Apr. 13-14 and April 19-21, 2024!

Gore’s Ski Report  |  Gore Season Pass Information

Rafting! 

Spring Rafting usually begins April 1st and lasts thru May.  As with Summer Rafting on the Hudson, Spring rafting trips are run Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sundays.  However, most outfitters will run Spring trips just on the weekends, Saturday and Sunday.  Aside from spectacular Adirondack wilderness scenery, the upper Hudson in Spring can offer Colorado-big whitewater with true adventure class rapids!  Outfitters provide everything adventurers need to have a great trip on the river – wetsuits, professional guides, all river equipment, transportation and river snacks or a meal at trips end.

Rafting More Information  |  Rafting Outfitter Directory

Fishing, Hiking, Mt. Bikes

The North Creek area is home to the 114,000 acre Siamese Ponds Wilderness Area and is adjacent to many more remote State Land areas including the Hudson Gorge Wilderness area.  Trout fisherman can seek the wily Brook Trout in remote ponds, the Upper Hudson River and hundreds of miles of streams, brooks and beaver flows.  Hikers and mt. bikers may want to wait for late Spring to begin hikes and bike trips.  Early Spring still sees many areas of ice and snow on the ground especially on trails that saw a lot of ski and snowshoe use all winter. 

Fishing Info Including Area Shops  |  Hiking and Camping Guide  |  Mt. Bike Guide

Events | Weather | Shopping | Dining | Lodging | Gore Mt.

Spring Fun in North Creek!

Well, the ski season is a memory, but there is plenty of Spring Fun to be had in the mountains!  Local trails have dried out for hikers and mountain bikers.  It is prime fishing season and both RevRail and the Whitewater Rafting Outfitters are up and running for the season.  There is a new Widlund Gallery opening at Tannery Pond Community Center (May 11-June 18). 

Read More – Spring Vacation Guide CLICK HERE    |    Dining Entertainment Updates CLICK HERE

Spring Skiing – Not so Fast – Winter Storm Watch!

More Rain has come and gone – the groomers have done a great job of bringing back great skiing!  But, we’re looking at a new Winter Storm for Friday thru Saturday with cold temps following.  This should produce the best skiing of the year – so get after it!  Here is the latest report.  (All Gore Mt. lift tickets MUST be purchased online prior to arrival – CLICK HERE). 
At last check – there were NO Sold Out dates for Gore in the near future.

Gore Mt. Podcast and report Click HERE:

 If Gore is Sold Out – What’s a skier to do?  There are other ski options in the area.  The Ski Bowl in North Creek is home to the Village Chair and the Gore Mt. Nordic Center.  Perhaps scale your day to twilight skiing on the Village Chair 3PM-8PM (and it’s only $26 for adults, $19 for Juniors and $10 for kids).  More Info CLICK HERE.  If you’ve never tried Nordic skiing – the Ski Bowl is the perfect place to start!  With lights and snowmaking, rentals and lessons it’s great fun!  Ski Bowl Nordic Info CLICK HERE

Find a Ski Shop CLICK HERE  |  Shuttle Bus Service (weekends) CLICK HERE 

Not to be undone – there is additional Cross Country Skiing at Garnet Hill Lodge and Outdoor Center.  Garnet Hill is fully open thanks to the recent storm with 50+Km of trails groomed and track-set!  There is also some great backcountry skiing and snowshoeing in the neighboring Siamese Ponds Wilderness area. 
More Garnet Hill Information CLICK HERE!  |  Backcountry Ski Info CLICK HERE

More Options for Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding are two neighboring ski areas, Oak Mt. in Speculator, and West Mt. in Queensbury – both about 35 miles away.  Both require advance ticket purchase.  Oak Mt. Website  |  West Mt. Website

Gore Mt. Online Ticket Link CLICK HERE!

Weather and Outdoor Conditions

Winter Storm Watch for Friday and Saturday – it could be afoot of new snow!  Get out there!  Also, this is a great opportunity for backcountry skiing and cross country skiing.  Both Garnet Hill and Ski Bowl Nordic have groomed cross country ski trails, lessons and rentals.  Give it a try – the added activity will warm you up quickly – and of course skiing is skiing!  More Weather Info...CLICK HERE

Restaurants, Bars, Take-Out Food

Photo left barVino.  There are lots of dining and take-out food options in the North Creek Area.  Read the latest open/close information, menu options and links to more information – CLICK HERE.  
All Restaurants CLICK HERE! The Latest Dining Open/Close Info CLICK HERE!  

Lodging – North Creek Area

Bed and Breakfast Accommodations, full service lodges, hotels and short term rentals are all available for your vacation or getaway! 

All Lodging CLICK HERE!

More Activities – Snowshoeing, Ice Skating, Sledding – Live Music, Events!

Visit our Winter Vacation Guide for More information about snowshoeing, ice skating and sledding.  Live Music and Events link below.  Recent new snow makes snowshoe destinations incredible!

Winter Vacation Guide 2021-2022 CLICK HERE All Events and Music CLICK HERE