Mr. Van Ski Trail
- 1.7 mi
- round trip
- 464 ft
- climb
- 2,183 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Mr. Van Ski Trail is a cross-country ski route of about 3.4 miles in the High Peaks Wilderness in New York, managed by the State Department of Conservation. The trail is an out-and-back with a total elevation gain of about 116 feet, and it's rated easy. The route reaches a high point of about 2,183 feet, with the steepest stretch at roughly 11% grade about 0.7 miles in. Winter is the natural season for skiing here. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Lake Placid put January highs around 23°F and lows near 6°F, while February runs a little warmer, with highs around 27°F. Klondike Notch Trail sits just 0.1 mile away, and Easy Side Drive and Northwoods Loop are both about 1.4 miles off. For a change of pace, the West Branch Ausable River, about 1.9 miles away, offers canoeing.
Best time to go
Best time to visit Mr. Van Ski Trail
No month here meets our mild-weather rule. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
23° / 6°
18 wet
Feb
27° / 8°
14 wet
Mar
36° / 16°
14 wet
Apr
49° / 29°
14 wet
May
62° / 40°
15 wet
Jun
70° / 49°
14 wet
Jul
74° / 54°
14 wet
Aug
73° / 52°
13 wet
Sep
66° / 45°
13 wet
Oct
52° / 35°
15 wet
Nov
40° / 25°
16 wet
Dec
28° / 14°
18 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lake Placid 2 S, NY, 8.4 mi away at 1,888 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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Mr. Van Ski Trail
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0.60-mile out-and-back ski trail in New York with 115 ft of elevation gain.
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Mr. Van Ski Trail
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0.77-mile out-and-back ski trail in New York with 359 ft of elevation gain.
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Van Hoevenberg Trail
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0.18-mile out-and-back trail in New York with 77 ft of elevation gain.
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1.44-mile out-and-back route in New York with 293 ft of elevation gain.
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Mr. Van Ski Trail
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0.52-mile out-and-back ski trail in New York with 125 ft of elevation gain.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
