Ever dreamed of skiing up one of the tallest mountains in New York? Well, those dreams can come true this winter at the Whiteface Toll Road! (Insider tip: this is the Veterans Memorial Highway, but locals always call it the Toll Roll when skiing.)

How to get there

From the 4-way intersection in Wilmington take a left onto Route 431 (Whiteface Mountain Road). Follow here for 3-miles to the Toll Road on the left, park near the gate; but not in front of it.

By the numbers

• Distance: 10.5 miles, round trip to the Castle and back
• Elevation gain: 2,400 feet to the Castle

Cross-country skiing

From the gate, you will start climbing immediately. The climb is never too steep but continuous. It was built for cars to travel easily, leaving the total grade rather moderate. In the early season there can be bare spots and windblown areas with icy terrain – be sure to take a mental note of these on the way up to avoid them on the way down. The descent isn’t very fast. The road is a two lane width making for excellent opportunities to make some turns. 

Please note, the Toll Road does not access the exact summit, but the castle about 0.2 miles below. Skiers will have to remove skis and hike the remainder of the way to reach the summit.