Winter Fun
The Olean area has lots of snow for everyone! Our average annual snowfall is 60.2 inches! Enough snow for all kinds of winter activities. All telephone numbers listed are area code (716) unless otherwise indicated.
BOCES Ski Trails -- Located at Windfall Road, Olean, NY. NEW for the 2007/2008 Winter Season. The community is welcome to bring their snowshoes or skis and try out the cross-country ski trials created by the Natural Resources students from BOCES. Thr route located behind the BOCES Center begins along the right side of the BOCSE building, near the stone sculpture, and consists of three loops traversing just under a mile.
O'Dea's Mountain Sno Tubing Paradise -- Located at 3329 West River Road in Olean, NY, O'Dea's is 17 stories of the highest, longest, fastest extreme tubing run anywhere!
O'Dea's SnowTubing Paradise has fun for everyone! So come on out and act your age! It's the hill you dreamed of as a kid! You can catch some air, and go over some whoop-de-doos! The best part is the tow that whisk you back uphill to do it all over again! Snowtubes are provided, laughs required!
O'Dea's has one of the highest elevations and longest runs of any tubing hill currently in operation. Snow tubers may be able to hit speeds of 45-50 miles per hour. The run is 1,400 feet long. It's a straight shot, like a water slide with (ice) walls on the side. You descend down these shoots until you come to a gradual stop. A tow rope will "tow" you back up the hill. Each tube has a 6-foot tail with a bungee ring. You sit on your tube, and will get pulled up the hill. The lift can handle 700 people per hour. For the 2007/2008 winter season, the O'Dea's Snow Tubing WILL BE OPENED. For more information, please call O'Dea's at 716/372-4559.
Allegany State Park
The park offers more than 35 miles of cross country ski trails which doubles as hiking and biking trails in the summer. Horseback riding trails double as snowmobile trails. Snowmobilers must have a valid NYS registration and a park permit to ride the designated trails in the park. Camping facilities are available during the snow season at the park. The camping season ends mid-December, however, over 150 winterized cabins are available and reservations can be made by calling 354-9121.
From Olean, drive on the Southern Tier Expressway Interstate 86 (Route 17) west, and take one of three exits: Exit #18 - brings you to the Quaker Lake Area; Exit #19 - brings you to the Red House Lake Administration Area; and Exit #20 - brings you to the Red House Lake Area winding through a forest of trees and hills! Estimated drive time from Olean - 25 minutes.
Holiday Valley ResortNestled in the traditional ski town of Ellicottville, Holiday Valley is home to great skiing, great times and great friends. Holiday Valley has twelve lifts and 52 slopes and trails with plenty of variety to please skiers of all abilities. Holiday Valley's slope network is well balanced with 31% beginner, 37% intermediate and 32% advanced terrain. There are 34 slope lit for night skiing. A network of 12 lifts, including 6 quads, 2 triples, 2 doubles and 2 tows transport more than 20,000 skiers uphill every hour and provides easy access to over 1,100 acres.
From Olean, drive on the Southern Tier Expressway Interstate 86 (Route 17) west, take exit #21 - Salamanca area, and follow signs for Route 219 North. Estimated drive time from Olean - 35 minutes.
HoliMont Ski Area Information
HoliMont is North America's largest private ski area, however they are open to non-members during the week and welcome individuals and groups Monday through Friday. Eight lifts service 50 slopes, trails, half pipe and terrain park. Snow is guaranteed with 700 vertical feet of wall to wall, top to bottom snowmaking. HoliMont is located in the quaint village of Ellicottville, where there is plenty to do after skiing. Ellicottville offers wonderful shops and restaurants with something for everyone.
From Olean, drive on the Southern Tier Expressway Interstate 86 (Route 17) west, take exit #21 - Salamanca area, and follow signs for Route 219 North. Estimated drive time from Olean - 35 minutes.
Other Winter Activites
The Olean area in the winter is a great frosty time to visit. The area plays host to many events that celebrate snow and the cold! Please view Events and see if there is any snowball tournaments, snow sculpting contests, sledding competitions or other winter fun, going on when you are in town!
Ski - Snow Report
Before you leave to arrive in our area, find out what the snow depth is our local ski places! Contact the Western New York Ski Report at (800) FOR-WNY-1. Check out the snow report at Holiday Valley or Holimont.
January 2, 2008