Winter Sports
Buffalo's Winter Wonderland
In the popular imagination Buffalo is synonymous with snow. And while this may or may not be justified (we usually lose the annual New York State Golden Snowball Award to Syracuse) the fact remains that Western New York offers visitors a wealth of winter fun. Pond hockey, tubing, sledding, downhill skiing, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and ice fishing are among the many outdoor activities to be found in our corner of the Great White North.
Hit the slopes at Kissing Bridge in nearby Colden and at Holiday Valley in the charming village of Ellicottville. Both receive prodigious amounts of snow each winter courtesy of the lake effect bands blowing off Lake Erie. If you're looking for snow covered slopes, we've got ‘em.
The Buffalo Niagara region also has a wealth of great places to both cross country ski and snowshoe, including the Knox Farm State Park in East Aurora, Chestnut Ridge Park in Orchard Park, Tifft Nature Preserve on the Buffalo waterfront, and Sprague Brook Park in Colden. A stand out among these appealing choices is Beaver Meadow Audubon Center in North Java (a relatively easy 45-minute drive from Buffalo). The Buffalo Audubon Society has operated this 324-acre nature preserve for more than 50 years. It offers public access to an 8-mile network of trails that feature a variety of beautiful landscapes and scenic views.
Snowshoe rentals are available at the Visitor Center at Beaver Meadow, Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from 1-5 p.m. The Visitor Center is closed on Mondays.
Allegany State Park
- 2373 ASP Route 1
- Salamanca, NY 14779
- Phone: (716) 354-9101
The largest of New York's state parks, Allegany contains 65,000 acres of public lands with a wide range of recreational activities for all seasons. Visitors can enjoy a guided nature walk along the…more
Beaver Island State Park
- 2136 West Oakfield Road
- Grand Island, NY 14072
- Phone: (716) 773-3271
Beaver Island State Park is located at the south end of Grand Island in the upper Niagara River. The 950 acre park has a half-mile sandy beach for swimming, adjacent 80 slip marina with both seasonal…more
Beaver Meadow Audubon Center
- 1610 Welch Road
- North Java, NY 14113
- Phone: (585) 457-3228
A 324-acre nature preserve with over 8 miles of trails exploring various habitats. The Visitor Center houses live animals, displays, discovery room, and a nature gift shop. Indoor and outdoor programs…more
Buckhorn Island State Park
- 5805 East River Road
- Grand Island, NY 14072
- Phone: (716) 773-3271
Eight hundred ninety-five acres of marsh, meadows and woods and the last vestige of the once vast marshlands and meadows that bordered the Niagara River, is classified as a park preserve. The public…more
Buffalo Ski Club
- Lower East Hill Road
- PO Box 608
- Orchard Park, NY 14127
- Phone: (716) 941-7669
Winter fun and recreation for the whole family...no lines, no crowds, no waiting. 3 lodges, 40 trails, 6 lifts, expanded snow making, professionally trained National Ski Patrol. *Part of the Western…more
Byrncliff Resort and Conference Center
- Route 20A
- Varysburg, NY 14167
- Phone: (585) 535-7300
Byrncliff Resort & Conference Center is a year-round resort nestled in the rolling hills of Wyoming County in Western New York State. Byrncliff offers an 18-hole Golf Course, a full service…more
Chestnut Ridge Park
- 6121 Chestnut Ridge Road
- Orchard Park, NY 14127
- Phone: (716) 662-3290
Chestnut Ridge is noted for its winter activities with its tobogganing shoots and several ski trails. There is plenty of snowmobile activity on the western end of the park. The casino is open year…more
Cockaigne Ski Area
- 1493 Thornton Road, County Road 66
- Cherry Creek, NY 14723
- Phone: (716) 287-3223
Cockaigne Ski Area is a family ski area located in Western New York's snow belt. Located 18 miles from Lake Erie with a base elevation 1100 feet higher than the lake, Cockaigne receives an average 275…more
Colden Trail Riders
- PO Box 165
- Colden, NY 14033
- Phone: (716)646-5498
The Colden Trail Riders...what snowmobiling is all about! *Part of the Western New York Southtowns Scenic Byway (www.wnyssb.org)
Colden Tubing Company, LLC
- 10296 State Road
- Route 240, adjacent to Kissing Bridge North
- Glenwood, NY 14069
- Phone: (716)592-4963
Western New York's largest downhill tubing park, located adjacent to KB North. Ride to the summit and slide to the valley floor some 10 stories down. Tubers must be a minimum of 42" inches tall and at…more
College Lodge
- SUNY College at Fredonia
- Route 380
- Brocton, NY 14716
- Phone: (716) 673-3417
Year round access to hiking and cross country trails. Affordable overnight accommodations for groups of 20-75. Call for reservation information.
Darien Lake State Park
- 10289 Harlow Road
- Darien Center, NY 14040
- Phone: (585) 547-9242
Darien Lakes State Park's terrain is hilly with woodlands, ravines, streams and 12-acre Harlow Lake. The park has a total of 158 campsites (equipped with electricity) with heated comfort stations and…more
Delaware Park
- 84 Parkside Avenue
- Buffalo, NY 14214
- Phone: (716) 838-1249
One of the first Frederick Law Olmsted-designed parks in Buffalo, the 350 acres of meadow, forest and lake serve as Buffalo's "Central Park" featuring boating on Hoyt Lake by the Marcy Casino, Rose…more
Emery Park
- 2084 Emery Road
- South Wales, NY 14139
- Phone: (716) 652-1380
The park offers a natural environment for family gatherings. One of our nature trails was constructed by our Park Rangers and is approximately one mile long. In Summer, hike through the self-guided…more
Erie County Snowmobiling Information
- 95 Franklin Street
- Erie County, NY 14202
There are 442 miles of trails in Erie County.
Evangola State Park
- Old Lake Shore Road
- Brant, NY 14081
- Phone: (716) 549-1802
Evangola State Park's major attraction is its beautiful arc-shaped shoreline and natural sand beach on Lake Erie. Low cliffs of Angola shale line the edge of the beach. In addition to swimming, the…more
Fort Niagara State Park
- Route 18F at Robert Moses Parkway
- Youngstown, NY 14174
- Phone: (716) 745-7273
Fort Niagara State Park has two boat launches providing access to the lower Niagara River and Lake Ontario, a fish cleaning station, woodland hiking trails, 3 swimming pools, a waterslide, view of…more
Genesee Country Village and Museum
- 1410 Flint Hill Road
- Mumford, NY 14511
- Phone: (585) 538-6822
Genesee Country Village & Museum is one of the largest living history museums in the nation. The museum is uniquely situated between Rochester and Buffalo in the beautiful hamlet of Mumford, New York.…more
Genesee County Park and Forest
- 11095 Bethany Center Road
- East Bethany, NY 14054
- Phone: (585) 344-1122
More than 400 acres of forest and 17 miles of hiking trails. Sledding, show-shoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling in winter. Open year round including Independence Day, Memorial Day and…more
Golden Hill State Park
- 9691 Lower Lake Road
- Barker, NY 14012
- Phone: (716) 795-3885
Named in 2005 as one of Reserve America's Top Outdoor Locations. Golden Hill State Park offers camping, fishing, boating, shoreline hiking, picnicking, nature walks and walking tours of the lighthouse…more
Grand Island Snowmobiling Club
- PO Box 304
- Grand Island, NY 14072
- Phone: (716) 876-6515
The Grand Island Snowmobiling Club provides a one-stop shop for all information pertaining to snowmobiling at beautiful Grand Island, New York.
Hamburg Snowmobiling Club
- PO Box 102
- Hamburg, NY 14075
- Phone: (716) 648-6759
Gateway to the Snowbelt in Western New York. Visit their website for details on joining this snowmobiling club.
Holiday Valley Resort
- Holiday Valley Road, Route 219
- P.O. Box 370
- Ellicottville, NY 14731-0370
- Phone: (716) 699-2345
Open year-round Summer-golf dawn to dusk 18 holes par 70, Aerial Adventure Park 9AM to 6PM, Mountain Coaster, Mountain Bike Trails, Pool 12:00am-7:00pm. Nov.-April (skiing) Mon.-Thurs. 9:00am-10:00pm,…more
Holiday Valley Tubing Company
- Route 242
- Ellicottville, NY 14731
- Phone: (716) 699-8823
Grab your family and friends and head over to the NEW Holiday Valley Tubing Company. Tubing is fun for all ages. All you have to do is sit down, hang on and experience the exhilaration of pure winter…more
Kissing Bridge
- Route 240
- Glenwood, NY 14069
- Phone: (716) 592-4963
Experience 36 snow-covered slopes that measure a full 1-1/4 miles wide, encompassing 700 acres of terrain and served by nine lifts. This terrain is broadly divided into the North, Central and Sout…more
