I have been dreaming of skiing in Osceola for years, but was always daunted by the very long drive…read morefrom Rochester, and the fact that I would most likely need to drive there and back in the same day. But earlier this month, when there was no snow anywhere locally, and the folks at Osceola Ski and Sport resort were promoting a dumping of 3-feet of fresh powdery goodness, I decided now was the time. The drive out ended up to be 2 hours and 20 min. That was partly due to us not knowing the way (a wrong turn here or there) and partly due to the roads, as many of the 'smaller' local roads were plowed but still snow covered. Not knowing the area, we took our time and got there safely. On the way to Osceola Ski and Sport, you pass 'the other Osceola xc ski resort,' Osceola Tug Hill, which we have also never visited. We had decided to check out the furthest resort first and so Osceola Tug Hill is still on our list. The main difference between the two is that the Ski and Sport resort is newer with a more modern building structure whereas the Tug Hill resort is more rustic and more like a traditional alpine ski lodge. Both have miles of trails, ample parking and amenities. At Ski and Sport, the interior space includes a fire place, lots of seating, a big screen TV, a self-service coffee bar, a cafe with fresh food like soups and sandwiches and baked goods, heated bathrooms which were clean, and an equipment rental shop. In addition, they have trail maps on an app that you can download, which tracks you as you ski around, and allows you to see where you are at all times (which is good because there are so many trails, it's easy to get disoriented and lost!) The outside trails were groomed well, and there was a great variety of trails for every skill level; trails were mostly marked with names or numbers. There are trails on both sides of the road, and all are groomed for skate skiing and classic. We skied for hours, took a break, then went back out and basically skied until it was single digits outside and we were beat. An excellent experience overall, and one that made us feel the drive was worth it. Definitely recommended!

Frustrated with no snow, my friend and I went searching for groomed trails in the Tug Hill. This…read moreski resort was more than we hoped for. Tons of perfectly maintained and wide trails. Lots of variety and an active map that helped us learn the trail options while knowing where we were at all times. A cozy space for warming up with delicious food and warm drinks. Impeccably clean bathroom. We also checked out a well stocked ski shop with new skis as well as an ample supply of rentals. Such a friendly and upbeat atmosphere. Dustin and Christina are gracious and helpful hosts. It is in the boonies, so to speak, but the journey was well worth the time. We can't wait to get back there!

Excellent place. Not crowded. In the middle of nowhere!! Nice slopes, comfortable chalet and…read morewell-maintained. A long drive from Cleveland, OH in a VW Bug in 1968!! Bob Deacon/Jay Hawkins

Not my favorite place. We went there for the terrain park because they said it was open and it…read morewasn't. The mountain is beautiful but I didn't like how everything is separated so much. Just not for us.

Great place to work on sling and snow boarding, nothing fancy by any means but still 5 star qualityread more

Nicely groomed ski area good chair lift and puma stick staff is mainly nice a couple people you…read morecould tell we're having a bad day the inside of the building is nice however there's barely any seating and the concessions cost an arm and a leg as well as the bar and they only use cash and do not except any cards the rental equipment is subpar the bindings broke on the snowboard after one run and the boots were duck taped back together overall needs an updating of rental equipment possibly more runs if available there's not very many and cheaper and more variety on the concessions

I have never been to McCauley to ski, so I really can't comment on what it's like for that. I did…read morecome for mountain biking. I found the maps that were posted to be very confusing and frankly the trails I rode were not particularly well marked. I feel like it's got a ton of potential, but it was a pain to try to navigate without trails being clearly marked. The interesting thing was that I saw an experienced rider heading in to the trails, I picked her brain a little and even though she had been there a number of times - she said that the trails are difficult to navigate. I was disappointed In that, but the terrain was pretty awesome. I just get a little frustrated when I can't find my way around. If you are going to ride here - I would strongly recommend downloading the app Trailforks, which I did after getting VERY irritated by not being able to find trailheads. I hope you're time riding here is better than and easier to navigate than mine.

Drop my kids off at the nearby waterpark and decided to go up the mountain for a ski lift chair a…read moreride up the mountain for some spectacular views. Too bad it was overcast and very hazy on this particular day I went but the views would be outstanding in the fall colors of got to be beautiful. I will be back with the family next time I know they will enjoy it.

Fun place for young kids to tube! 40" height limits so it was great for my 4 and 6 year old. It's…read more small, but we didn't fear injuries and our little 6 year old did the tubing and magic carpet herself feeling independent while it was small enough we could watch without worry. Friendly staff as well. Every person was kind and generous.

Great little place for snow tubing. We had heard about this place and decided to try it out on a…read morevery mild Winter day. Glad they had the 'walker' to bring the kids up the hill for more snow tubing fun. I like that it seems you can bring your own food or buy it there. We didn't know that beforehand, but their food prices were reasonable. I appreciate the option as sometimes it'd be nice to be more economical, but still come out to snow tube.

Royal Mountain is a small mom & pop mountain nestled in upstate New York. It's only open on…read moreweekends, holidays, and school breaks from 9am to 4pm, but it was perfect to try out after Friday the 13th on Gore and my intercostal muscle strain. PARKING Plenty of free parking, lots of off-roading. TICKETS & PASSES I had my reservations about the quality of Royal due to the prices of tickets and passes. Super affordable! Adult all day was $60. THE MOUNTAIN & SLOPES I first learned about Royal Mountain after meeting Billy, a ski patroller there, while my boyfriend and I were at Gore. He invited us to check out Royal so we wouldn't leave empty-handed after a rough time at Gore. He knew I had been struggling there, psyching myself out, and assured me I would have a much better time at Royal. He was right--I'm not going to lie, I reclaimed my confidence at Royal and was able to take it easy without further injuring myself. Billy's enthusiasm for the mountain was undeniable. He showed us around, and it quickly became clear just how much love the community has for Royal. Everyone helps run it together, and it was so well-kept. Every inch of the mountain was covered in snow--so much snow! But I wasn't surprised since this was Upstate New York. I had my reservations at first, based on previous experiences with smaller, family-owned mountains, but Royal exceeded my expectations. Billy had us start on the bunny slope, assuring us not to judge it by its name. He spends a lot of time on it himself because, unlike most bunny slopes, this one is different--way more fun. He wasn't wrong! Once I felt confident enough to ride without straining myself too much, we explored more of the mountain, riding ski lifts and different trails. For a Saturday, it wasn't too crowded, which was perfect. I'm not a fan of crowds--not just as a snowboarder but in general. Crowds make me feel claustrophobic, like I can't even hear myself think. Watching Billy interact with the kids on the mountain was heartwarming. They trusted him completely--he was their guide into the world of snowboarding. You could tell he knew exactly what he was doing. At some point, he left us to explore on our own while he accompanied the groms down some much more difficult terrain. I wasn't about to follow, not with my intercostal muscle strain. I could still ride, but strapping in took nerves of steel. I've had this same strain before, but never from something as cool as a snowboarding mishap. This was also my first time riding back-to-back multiple days in a week, but I love snowboarding too much to give up! Needless to say, I had the best time thanks to Billy and his recommendations. I hope to come back one day and really enjoy the mountain--especially without any injuries! FOOD & BATHROOMS The bathrooms were awesome. They had character. Everything was so well-kept and had slice of history shown with the decor. I also noticed that each bathroom stall was equipped with a toilet seat for the little ones, if it was needed! That's so amazing and thoughtful! The food & refreshments were affordable and tasted amazing. Everyone was so kind! GIFT SHOP Although there isn't much of a gift shop, Royal still had vinyl stickers to choose from FOR FREE! I loved it! Very much so appreciated! OVERALL I had a really pleasant experience at Royal Mountain and cannot wait to do it again. I definitely want to explore the mountain some more, when I come back. I will be 100% healed and ready to take on any of the trails. I hope to run into Billy again because he's definitely an amazing guy and clearly, you can tell, the community thinks so too! I was going to give this mountain a four out of five star because I fully believe everything can be bettered upon BUT I can't really think of anything quite wrong with the mountain. It's well-kept, well-loved, and a great hidden gem! The website is gorgeous too! Easy to maneuver. I can find everything I was looking for. Not just anyone can attain this high level of professionalism!

Small yet fun and challenging mountain. Friendly staff comfortable lodge, nicely groomed trails …read more.. all around a great ski stop.

Mike provided a check in where all we needed to do was walk in the door. We were skiing at Osceola…read moreSki and Sport Resort and it was really the perfect combination. We wanted for nothing. It offered the escape from life that I needed. We will be back to this hidden gem.