Gore Mountain (ski resort) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gore Mountain Resort |
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A view of part of Gore's summit from the Uncas trail.
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| Location | 793 Peaceful Valley Road, North Creek, New York |
| Nearest city | Glens Falls, New York |
| Coordinates | 43°40′20″N 74°00′25″W / 43.67222°N 74.00694°W |
| Vertical | 2,537 ft (773 m) |
| Top elevation | 3,600 ft (1,100 m) |
| Base elevation | 998 ft (460 m) at North Creek Ski Bowl |
| Skiable area | 428 acres (173 ha) |
| Runs | 110 |
| Longest run | 3.7 miles (5.95 km) |
| Lift system | 15 total (1 8-passenger Northwoods gondola, 2 high-speed quads, 2 quads,, 3 triples, 2 doubles, 3 surface lifts) |
| Terrain parks | 4 |
| Snowfall | 150 inches (3.8 m) / year |
| Website | goremountain.com |
Gore Mountain is a popular ski resort located in the Adirondack Mountains in North Creek, New York. It's a favorite winter spot for skiers and snowboarders. Gore Mountain is the biggest ski area in New York near the Capital District (Albany) area.
The State of New York owns Gore Mountain. It is managed by the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA). This is a state agency that also runs other Olympic venues.
Gore Mountain has 107 trails and 15 lifts. These lifts include chairlifts, a gondola, and magic carpets. The mountain offers many types of terrain for all skill levels. There are also 12 trails for cross-country skiing.
A special ski train to North Creek started running again in 2011. It had stopped running in the 1940s. This train, called the Saratoga and North Creek Railroad, takes visitors from Saratoga Springs to the North Creek depot. From there, a free shuttle takes you to Gore Mountain.
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Exploring Gore Mountain's History
Skiers first started visiting Gore Mountain in 1934. A special ski train brought them to the North Creek Depot. The lower part of the mountain, known as "Old Gore," was later improved. "New Gore" was added in 1964.
These two ski areas operated separately for many years. In 2003, ORDA started running Old Gore again. Its operations had stopped in the 1980s. Gore Mountain has since grown to include the historic North Creek Ski Bowl (Old Gore).
In the 2008-2009 ski season, Gore added five new runs. This was part of its Burnt Ridge expansion. A new quad chairlift was also added. This expansion gave skiers access to new glades and trails.
Ski Magazine voted Gore Mountain one of the "Top 10 for Value" in 2006.
For the 2010-2011 season, Gore opened a new area called Little Gore Mountain. This area includes trails for beginners and intermediate skiers. It also has an expert trail. Now, you can reach the bottom of the Ski Bowl and return to the main mountain without a shuttle.
Discovering Gore Mountain's Peaks
Gore Mountain is made up of four main peaks. These are Gore, Bear, Burnt Ridge, and Little Gore mountains. The three smaller peaks are connected to Gore Mountain.
Gore Mountain Summit Area
The highest part of the mountain is the Gore Mountain summit. This area includes the Straightbrook and High Peaks sections. The Straightbrook area has a quad chairlift to the summit. It is home to "The Rumor," which is the resort's steepest and most difficult trail.
The "Double Barrel" glade is also in this area. It is a very challenging trail, often filled with bumps and rocks. The "Chatiemac" trail is popular for reaching other glades and backcountry trails.
The High Peaks area is on the other side of the summit. It has a double chairlift, one of the mountain's oldest. This area is known for its expert trails and glades.
Bear Mountain Area
Bear Mountain has three main sections: Topridge, Northwoods, and North Side. The Northwoods Area is the lower mountain and base area. It has the Northwoods Gondola. This area is also served by the Adirondack Express II. This is a fast quad chairlift built in 2014.
The gondola goes to the top of Bear Mountain. The quad chairlift goes to an area called the Saddle. From here, you can reach most of Northwoods and all of the North Side. "Twister" is an intermediate trail in Northwoods. It is the resort's longest run and is often used for races.
The North Side has easier trails and a quad chairlift. It connects to the High Peaks area and the North Creek Ski Bowl. The Topridge area has a triple chairlift. Its trails, like "Topridge" and "Uncas," connect to the Straight Brook Quad. The "Cave Glades" in Topridge are named for a large cave found there.
Burnt Ridge Area
The Burnt Ridge Area is one of Gore's newer sections. It has a four-person chairlift called the Burnt Ridge Quad. From the top of Burnt Ridge Mountain, popular trails include "Sagamore" (expert) and "Echo" (intermediate).
The "Barkeater Glades" connect to the Ski Bowl when they are open. The "Hedges" trail links Burnt Ridge to the North Side. The Burnt Ridge Quad also serves the "Cirque Glades," which are the longest glades in the eastern United States.
North Creek Ski Bowl
The most recent developments at Gore have focused on the Ski Bowl. It has two triple chairlifts, the Village and Hudson chairs. The upper part of the Ski Bowl was finished for the 2010-11 season.
The Ski Bowl now offers alpine skiing, nordic skiing, and night skiing. It also has a terrain park and a half-pipe. New glades were added to the upper area for the 2011-12 season.
Understanding Gore Mountain Trail Names
Many of Gore Mountain's trail names are inspired by places in the Adirondack Mountains. They often refer to famous Adirondack "Great Camps" or natural features.
- Hedges: Named after a resort on Blue Mountain Lake.
- Pine Knot: Named after Camp Pine Knot.
- Wild Air: Named after Camp Wild Air.
- Echo: Named after Echo Camp.
- Topridge: Named after Camp Topridge.
- Uncas: Named after Camp Uncas.
- Santanoni: Named after the Santanoni Preserve.
- Sagamore: Named after Sagamore Camp.
- Fairview: Named after Camp Fairview.
- The Cedars: Named after Camp Cedars.
- Tahawus: Named after a ghost town in the Adirondacks.
- Mica and Ruby Run: These names refer to minerals found nearby.
- The Glen: Named after a small town in Thurman.
- Headwaters: Named after the start of the Hudson River, which is near Gore.
- 46er: Named after the 46 highest Adirondack High Peaks.
- Pete Gay: Named after a nearby mountain.
- Chatiemac and Straight Brook: These are named after nearby brooks. Straight Brook is also the name of a lift and an area.
