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 Bristol's 2200' summit and 1200' vertical drop should put to rest the notion that New York west of the Adirondacks is flat as a pancake. The Finger Lakes region is decidedly not flat, and Bristol is but one example. Drawing mainly from Rochester, 35 minutes away, Bristol has taken steps in recent years to take full advantage of its location and natural setting. New trails, new lifts, a built-in ½ pipe, improved lighting, a new lodge, and the beginnings of an on-mountain village are some of the things Bristol has added in just the past few years. Combined with nearly 100% snowmaking and an extensive night operation, Bristol is an increasingly attractive choice for western New York skiers and riders looking for a destination resort experience. Even while all the pieces are being put in place, the mountain offers a lot. A solid half of the terrain is intermediate, about a third is beginner (which includes some nice long runs) and the rest is black diamond. Two quads (one high speed), two triples, a double, and a surface lift serve this terrain, 32 slopes in all, with runs up to two miles in length. Beginners will especially enjoy Milky Way, one of Bristol's newest trails (along with Nova), a pleasant cruise interspersed with islands of trees - it's very much like a park - and even a couple of bridges to cross. Intermediates have the most choices, but the trio of Northstar (big turns), Universe (medium turns), and Galaxy (no turns) is probably the most fun. The more advanced have several choices, but black diamond Upper Rocket and Challenger (the latter off the Sunset Double) are two good bets; while Quantum Leap and Comet are the two steepest trails on the mountain. The in-ground ½ pipe on Morning Star is just one of the play features at Bristol. At the top of the trail is a "junior" or practice pipe (the lower pipe, over 400' long, is often referred to as the "master" pipe) and a full-on terrain park. The whole complex is lighted for nighttime fun. The recently-completed Sunset Lodge at the base is where you'll find all services and whatever refreshments you'll need during the day or night. Not far away near the base of the Comet Express Quad is North Star Village, Bristol's slopeside townhouses. Fully equipped and able to sleep up to eight, they bring a new dimension to the Bristol experience, and ski and stay packages are available. But there are other lodging choices, as you might expect in the Finger Lakes region. A few that include lift ticket arrangements with Bristol include the Canandaigua Inn at the north end of Canandaigua Lake, The Lodge at Bristol Harbor, and the Econo Lodge, also in Canandaigua. There are many other places to stay, too, and about an equal number of places to eat. With Rochester so close, a visit there is not out of the question. In addition to a ton of eateries, which include good ethnic food choices, you'll also find movie theaters, music, galleries, and malls. On a smaller scale is the Finger Lakes resort town of Canandaigua, where eclectic shops and galleries may be found cheek-by-jowl with gift shops, book stores, and cafes. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing may also be enjoyed nearby. Morning Star catches the morning sun (as you might guess by its name!) but Northstar does catch late afternoon sun, especially from mid-January on. So does Galaxy to a slightly lesser degree.
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Ski Report
New York
