I’ve been on the road a lot lately, covering 2500 miles in the first two weeks of February, a combination of work and play. The “play” was back-to-back weekends hunting pow, at Snow Ridge and Oak Mountain. While I felt the need for a day to unwind, my love for riding won out.
By Friday, the itch to carve some turns was too strong. Looking closer to home, I set my sights on Hunt Hollow, excited for a new experience at a familiar yet still under-explored spot.
I’ve overlooked Hunt Hollow in previous years. Members-only access on the weekend limited my opportunities. My previous experiences had been night skiing on weekdays.
I was overdue for a visit in the sunshine, and with access on my Indy Pass I was ready to go.
This is Hunt Hollow’s first year on Indy Pass, and I was thrilled to see a local spot with a good variety of terrain added to the lineup. It is noteworthy here that passholders of Indy Pass Plus (no blackout dates), also have weekend access with reservations made on their website.
Hunt Hollow is tucked in the Finger Lakes just west of Naples (1 hour south of Rochester). It faces North East, with views of Honeoye Lake and big hillsides. The mountain is well-arranged with the main triple chair running up the center of the mountain, dividing black trails to lookers left, then greens and blues to lookers right. I worked my way across the mountain.
Kicking the day off on Ragged Edge was exhilarating, one of their tightest and steepest trails. From the first run, I felt the rush and was quickly reminded that the mountain boasts 875 feet of vertical drop. The elevation felt modest on the chair ride up, but from the top the scale of the mountain came into view.
I zoomed down the firm corduroy on Cascade, Glade, and Main Street finishing off the steeper terrain. It was not the day for glade skiing, but I was impressed with the steep glades that are offered. The trees stood tall and inviting, promising future adventures on days with softer snow cover.
I popped in the lodge to warm up my gloves next to the fire. The lodge exuded a cozy, welcoming vibe, with a relaxing club atmosphere that invited guests to kick back and unwind. Large windows framed views of the mountain, offering a perfect spot to rest and admire the winter landscape.
The space felt like a perfect retreat for families, with comfortable seating areas for everyone to gather and enjoy the fire and each other’s company. Whether taking a break from the slopes or spending a quiet afternoon, the lodge is a charming place. I didn’t stay inside long as I was eager to get back out and explore lookers right.
Making my way through the north side offered cruising runs with more open views of the valley. A designated overlook had a scenic panorama of iced-over Honeoye Lake.
Swooping down Little Dipper gave a glimpse at the slope-side village homes, adding to the charm of the resort. The relaxing runs provided a perfect way to finish my short ski day, leaving me with a desire to return.
Hunt Hollow is a nice mix of challenging runs and laid-back cruising, all with that small-mountain charm that feels personal and inviting. If you’re looking for a relaxed, crowd-free day on the slopes in the Finger Lakes, Hunt Hollow is a ski area worth exploring. I’ll definitely be back for more turns.
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Thanks for the intel!! I’ve always wondered about that place, it’s neat to see what it looks like. I’m really happy they joined Indy, since now I can check it out!
Beauty of a day. Really hoping they bring back Berms, Bruises and Brews!!!!
Another beauty that I must visit. Thanks for the write up.
Have been there a few times for gate training and a Masters race everymazz@ year. It’s a nice small place with a friendly lodge. The combination of Iacos Way and Glade makes a great race trail. After skiing at Bristol all the time, you have to get used to the fixed grip chairs and the much slower ascent to the top. Still, it’s a nice asset to the area and is a great deal for non-members during the week. They have great programs for kids learning and tend to accent the social part of skiing.