Holiday Valley, in Ellicottville NY, lies where the Allegheny Plateau rises from the Great Lakes basin. The privately operated resort offers 3 lodges, multiple ski shops and rental centers and a snow school. There is a wide variety of slopeside lodging options including ski-in ski-out. The mountain is home to the Ellicottville Ski Club, the oldest continuously operating U.S. Ski Club in the country.
Ellicottville was known as the Aspen of the East, before Aspen was commercialized. E’ville stayed quaint, and as a result has become a top-rated ski towns. It’s bustling downtown is home to a number of restaurants and stores and the Ellicottville Brewing Company.
Holiday Valley has 750’ of vertical drop spread out over two ridges, giving the impression of a larger mountain. It’s serviced by 13 lifts including 3 high speed quads and 8 fixed grip quads. Holiday Valley has snowmaking covering 95% of the trail map and 39 of 60 trails are lit for night skiing.
The West End boasts the highest elevation and gorgeous pine-lined trails. Here winding greens and blues are serviced by the Tannenbaum Express and Spruce Lake Quad. This section of the mountain is also home to the Skycoaster and Sky High Adventure Park.
The Tannenbaum Lodge is located in front of both lifts but you can easily ski through this base area for easy access to the Yodeler Lodge and Quad. The lift takes you to the top of the centrally located ridge that runs through Holiday Valley. Heading West takes skiers back to the Tannenbaum area, while heading east takes riders to the 2 mid-mountain lifts and the base area. The Yodeler and Chute chairs also service a number of black trails located under lifts.
As skiers head east of the “Mardi Gras” chair lift and namesake trail, the mountain becomes more diverse in its offerings. Taking “Cross Cut” off this main ridge area takes riders to the Morningstar and Eagle quads. Stretch out and enjoy the wide blue cruiser Morningstar or test your skills in the Moonshadow Park and Devils Glen Glades. If steep is your thing ski past the Morningstar lift and see the challenging blacks that can be found under the Eagle quad.
The east side of the mountain is serviced by the Cindy Quad located in the base area next to the learning area. From the top of this lift heading west takes you back to the 2 mid mountain lifts and the base area. Heading east takes you to the end of the mountain and the Snowpine area. This area is home to Holiday’s only double black “The Wall”, but if that’s not your speed take the winding Green Bear and for the views of Ellicottville.
Holiday Valley is located just off US-219, about an hour south of Buffalo and three hours west of Binghamton. Starting at one of the upper lodges like Yodeler or Tannenbaum will help you avoid the crowds, or park in front of the Chute quad and tailgate when the day is over. The mountain also has few lean-tos complete with grills for a mid-mountain break. Heading into town after a day on the mountain is a must as Ellicottville is one of New York’s great ski towns.
by Robert
Holiday Valley Trail Map
Holiday Valley Vertical Drop and Stats
| Summit Elevation | 2,250 feet |
| Base Elevation | 1,500 feet |
| Vertical Drop | 750 feet |
| # Trails | 60 trails |
| # Night | 39 trails |
| Trail Miles | 30 miles |
| Longest Run | 4,224 feet |
| Skiable Area | 290 acres |
| # Lifts | 13 lifts |
| Uphill Capacity | 23,850 / hour |
| Annual Snowfall† | 180 inches |
| 10 Year Avg* | 167 inches |
| 10 Year High** | 226 inches |
Holiday Ski Day Essentials
| Address 1 | 6557 Holiday Valley Road |
| Address 2 | Ellicottville, NY 14731 |
| Phone | (716) 699-2345 |
| Directions | Google Maps |
| Wx Page | NWS BUF |
| Point Forecast | NWS Holiday Valley |
| Snow Report | Holiday Conditions |
| Visual | Holiday Webcams |
| Health and Safety | Information |