Whales Tail Ski Trail

Whales Tail Ski Trail is a ski touring route in New York's High Peaks Wilderness, managed by the State Department of Conservation. The trail is an out-and-back of about 1.5 miles, with a total elevation gain of 684 feet, and it is rated moderate. The climb starts at roughly 2,487 feet and reaches a high point of about 2,729 feet, with the steepest stretch at about 0.15 miles from the start, where the grade reaches 24%. The most comfortable months for a visit are typically July and August, when typical averages from a nearby weather station in Lake Placid run from the mid-70s to the low 70s for highs and in the mid-50s for lows. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the higher ground run cooler. The trail sits close to several other routes. Marcy Dam Truck Trail and Van Hoevenberg Trail are each about 0.3 miles away, and Avalanche Pass Trail is about 0.4 miles off. Wright Peak, a climbing area, is about 1.3 miles away.