Winter at West Mountain is a given, but we had yet to take advantage of all that West has to offer in the warmer months. That said, we were so excited to experience it in all its summer glory this past week. The first thing we noticed and loved was that West has a little something for everyone - whether you want to lace up your hiking boots and head for the trails, or catch a ride on the lift in your sundress and sandals, picnic basket (and wine!) in hand. We fall into the “let’s do both” category, and a summer pass makes it easy to create your own experience each time, all season long.
We couldn’t stop talking about what a gem it is, and how lucky we are that it’s just 10 minutes or so from Glens Falls. We might just make this a weekly thing for the rest of the summer. And since we could all use a little bit more of this ( you know - amazing views, picnic lunches, quiet time spent in nature, etc.) in our lives right about now, we’re sharing a coupon code for your visit at the end of this post!
In the mean time, read on for our favorites from our first trip and what’s on the list for next time!
EAT + DRINK
Mountaintop Picnic Package: A picnic basket packed to the brim with summer favorites - sandwiches, chips, a giant chocolate chip cookie, maybe a bottle of wine or a couple of cold beers - and bonus, an amazing view. The picnic package was first on our to do list when we perused the activities on the mountain, and it did not disappoint. A quick + scenic 15 minute ride up the chairlift gets you to the top and you’re just a short walk downhill from the closest picnic area. We lucked out on a mid-week afternoon with the overlook (which doubles as their wedding ceremony platform) to ourselves for a while, with nothing but the sounds of the breeze and the birds, and for a few minutes it felt like we were on vacation in the mountains, even with the view of our little city in sight below.
When you’re done, ask the friendly folks running the lift if they’ll watch your picnic basket while you lace up your sneaks for the next adventure (or if that’s it for the day, catch a ride back down and enjoy the view!).
SEE + DO
Scenic Chairlift Ride + Hiking: With or without the picnic package, hiking once on top of the mountain is a must. In particular, don’t catch that ride back down the mountain without a quick hike out to the Crow’s Nest Overlook for an amazing view of the bend in the Hudson River below. It’s only about a 10-15 minute walk from the lift, and you might even encounter a fawn or two frolicking through the woods like we did! So sweet!
If you can manage to tear yourself away from the view (can you imagine it in the fall?!), you can either take the lift back down or hike down to the Base Lodge via the Slideshow trail - that’s on our list for next time!
High Ropes Adventure Park: Also on our list for next time - the Treetop Adventure Park! We passed the course on our hike out to the Crow’s Nest Overlook (take Trail 3 if you’d like to take a peek!), and there was a family on the course having an absolute blast. It looked like so much fun! Tom is going to have to convince me to get up there, but gosh what a fun activity - especially for families with kiddos (ages 7+)!
Mountain Biking: If we were mountain bikers, this would for sure be top on our list - there are 20 cross-country and downhill trails to choose from on the mountain and we loved watching cyclists coasting underneath us as we rode the chairlift up. You can check out the trail maps here.
Have you been yet this summer?
Enjoy!!
This post was in partnership with our friends at West Mountain. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to share a closer look at this amazing place - right in our own backyards. Thank you for supporting the businesses and organizations that support Glens Falls Living.