Embrace the Independent Spirit of Skiing at Maple Ski Ridge in New York

Maple Ski Ridge is known for its friendly atmosphere, quality instruction, and affordable winter fun.

Author:
Nicole Feliciano
Publish date:
Feb 8, 2024

Momtrends Media

Maple Ski Ridge is known for its friendly atmosphere, quality instruction, and affordable winter fun.

Let's celebrate the little guys who are doing BIG things to get families out on snow. Indy Pass has allowed me to break out of the Big Box rut this winter. As I set out to ski this season, I made a promise to myself to spend just as much time celebrating small independent mountains as I do writing about the “big guys” which brings me to Schenectady, New York and the Maple Ski Ridge.

It’s a small independently owned operation that has been getting families up and running on skis and snowboards for decades. Maple Ski Ridge is a family-owned ski area on some suburban farm land. This year they are celebrating a big birthday--it's been 60 years since the launch. Since 1963, the Mulyca family has run The Ridge. It was founded by George Mulyca, who passed away in 2019, and is now run by his two daughters.

Statistics

Lifts: 4 (two tow ropes and two chairs)
Skiable terrain: 60 acres
Trails: 8
Vertical: 270 fet
Summit: 1200 feet
Snowmaking: 15 acres coverage
Annual snowfall: 60”

Plan your Ski Day

It feels quite suburban on the drive to Maple Ski Ridge. When you turn into the lot, you’ll see a big barn and a sprawling farm. Intuitively, you wouldn’t expect to be starting a ski day here.

Park in the dirt lot (it does get muddy!) right in front of the lodge. You’ll never have to worry about paid parking or shuttles.

The ski area is open every day and offers night skiing from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM on weekdays and Saturdays. There are affordable options for day passes and we'll talk about them, but you can also use a pass.

Maple Ski Ridge is a member of the Indy Pass, a multi-resort ski pass that gives access to over 70 independent ski areas across North America. Find out more about the Indy Pass here.

To convert your Indy Pass to a lift ticket, head inside to the customer service desk. It takes just a minute once you show your ID. You’ll get a good old-fashioned paper ticket that you affix to a wicket. Old school and awesome.

Deals at Maple Ski Ridge

This is very exciting for me. There are so many ways to enjoy a ski day without having to spend a gajillion dollars. Let’s start with the MOST EXPENSIVE LIFT TICKET.

Drumroll please…

$45

That’s right. That’s the most you can POSSIBLY SPEND for a ticket. But you can get going for a fraction of the price. For instance, Nordic Nights tickets are $10. This gets you 3 hours of skiing on Monday and Tuesday from 4-7pm. Head here to see all the deals.

Season passes are also wildly popular. There’s a pass for just about every age group, including 70+. For these folks, the price is $25 for the season. That’ll put a smile on your face and let me tell you there are plenty of seniors out there availing of this pass. Check out the season pass deals here. Also, kids under 3 ski free with a ticketed adult.

Once you have your pass you can boot up in the lodge or head over to the rental shop. They’ve got all the gear you’ll need to start a skier off. Savvy families that do the weekend programs opt into the seasonal rentals. For $109 you can get your kiddo skis, boots and poles for the season. It’s a really good deal. And an even better deal is when you combine a rental with a seasonal program.

Note: Seasonal Rentals do not come with a helmet. Helmets may be rented on a daily basis for $10. Helmets are required for all lessons.

From there you can start your ski day three ways:

Beginners: Grab the rope tow at the Turtle Tow. The gentle Bunny Hill is where it all starts. Parents cluster around the base to cheer on kiddos and take pictures.
Intermediates: You are ready for the Double Chair Lift: this is a slow lift that’ll take you to the Spruce Run with a steeper pitch.
Experts: The Triple Chair is the longest ride at the ski area. From here you can do the Ridge Run or test your skills on the black diamond Chute. It's the steepest narrowest tree-lined run on the hill. Lessons line up to challenge themselves on this pass and hoot and holler when there is successful navigation. It's also sweet to see little skiers helping one another when the inevitable crash happens on this pitch.

The Terrain at Maple Ski Ridge

With less than a dozen runs, there is zero threat that you will ever lose a kiddo or frankly have them out of your site line. The base is buzzing with activity as folks get sorted with rentals, lessons and lift tickets. Everyone seems to know everyone else and there were many instances of three generations of ski families working and playing during my visit.

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The Lodge

Inside the lodge are dozens of picnic style wooden tables and benches. On a busy Saturday, you’ll likely share the space with a neighbor. I saw lots of moms and grandmoms setting up lunches and snacks. I saw one plucky grammy with four bananas set out with napkins ready for her flock to come in at break. She was on high alert!

The cafeteria gets swamped around 11:30 as kiddos come in from morning lessons. I was grateful to order my chicken wrap ($8) before the scrum. Though bustling and boisterous, the kids are well-behaved and everyone is in great spirits.

In addition to the lodge, there are two “cozy cabins” to rent. These are small heated spaces that provide a picnic table and some privacy. The fee is $99 per day.

Learning at Maple Ski Ridge

This is a splendid place to learn. The whole setup is designed to gradually build skills and confidence. The community leans in to help staff the mountain. They rely on high school students and local college kids to help with all the programming.

Kids can start in the programs at age 4. Every kiddo gets a hand-written card to track his/her progress and there are stickers and endless amounts of positive reinforcement.

I recommend the 6-week program. This will give kids a chance to bond with their group and instructor AND make great gains in skill acquisition. In addition to this program they offer winter camps and privates.

I loved meeting the patrollers and hearing all the stories of how skier after skier learned here and then in turn, came back to pay it forward by volunteering on Ski Patrol or working as an instructor. I met Dana Walton in the lodge, she runs the snowsport school and was brimming with enthusiasm. She introduced me to many families with 3 or 4 kiddos out on the hill participating in a program. Her son got to blow the airhorn to end the first part of lessons. As we went outside, we ran into her dad, also a ski instructor. It’s just that kind of hill where everyone pitches in to get the work done and make the magic happen.

Why you would ever pay $500 or more to go to a Vail resort to teach your kiddos to ski is beyond me. When it comes to learning experiences, these family-owned mountains are the way to go. This is an investment in future skiers that I can stand behind.

Get more details on lessons here.

Don't forget, NY is one of the 10 states where grade school kids can ski free. Check out this article to learn more and get your child's ski passport.

Before you head out to lessons. Check out these three articles:

Snowsports School at Maple Ski Ridge
Momtrends Media

New snowmaking

Climate is changing in the area, so the family has invested in snow-making equipment to keep the magic happening. The current family members (two sisters) are not much interested in the press. They are too busy operating the groomers and keeping the ski shop running, but trust me, I’m trying to hunt them down to get them on the podcast!

Getting There

Maple Ski Ridge is 7 miles from Schenectady, and that’s the biggest draw. You’ll also see families coming in from Albany, (about 23 miles or 20 minutes) southeast of Maple Ski Ridge.To get to Maple Ski Ridge from Albany, you have several options. The fastest route is to take I-87 N for about 23 miles, which will take you about 20 minutes without traffic. And Saratoga Springs, about 28 miles northeast of Maple Ski Ridge, is the third city in the orbit. Location: 2725 Mariaville Rd, Schenectady, NY