If you’re looking for the exhilaration of pure winter fun during your trip to Ellicottville, snow tubing might just be the ideal activity for you. You can try out this unique winter sport just outside of the village in western New York.
But once you’re done, what’s more important than having the most perfect, relaxing villa waiting for you to warm up and wind down? Book a stay at our Aranar luxury private villa for your trip to Ellicottville.
Now that you have the perfect place to stay, here’s everything you need to know about snow tubing in the area.
Snow Tubing 101
Snow tubing is essentially grown-up sledding! This sport is great for kids or adults who are seeking a little bit of an adrenaline kick. One of the main differences between snow tubing and sledding is that tubing takes place in a tubing park with designated tracks for each rider.
You might also find jumps, curves, or waves along the track. These elements all add to the excitement of the sport.
Where to Go Snow Tubing in Ellicottville
The area around Ellicottville in New York State is the perfect spot to go snow tubing. This is thanks to the generous snowfall that the area gets each year, as well as the easy access to tubing facilities.
Holiday Valley Tubing Company, located just on the north side of Ellicottville, is the perfect place to have some snow tubing fun!
The outdoor park has some awesome features, including:
- 20 tubing lanes: Each is 900 feet long and has a total drop of 100 vertical feet. Don’t worry, though; that drop takes place in stages!
- A special tubers area for younger children: This area is for kids who are under three and a half feet tall and wet to go a bit slower.
- A conveyor lift: Don’t worry about having to climb all the way back up; the conveyor lift will tow you from where you finish your runs all the way back up to the top of the hill after each go.
Tubing sessions at the park run for two hours, and you can do as many runs at that time as you can fit.
Once you’re finished with your tubing session, you can spend some time in the cozy warming hut with a mug of hot chocolate or a little snack from the snack bar. Or you can opt to warm up instead by the giant bonfire pit outside. There are also restrooms at the base of the hill for your convenience.
When to Go Snow Tubing in Ellicottville
Snow tubing is a winter sport best taken on when there is good snowfall and no ice. The Holiday Valley Tubing Park is officially open from late December through early March.
While you can go tubing any day when there is good weather throughout the season, January brings the highest amount of snowfall to Ellicottville. This means it is a good, reliable time for tubing as well as any other winter sport.
Unfortunately, the tubing park is only open, weather permitting, so there are days throughout the season when inclement weather requires it to be closed for safety.
Other Things to Do at Holiday Valley
Snow tubing is just one of the Holiday Valley’s offerings. Their main ski resort is actually about a 10-minute drive from the snow tubing park. It is located just to the south of Ellicottville’s downtown. Other fun winter activities at the resort include the following:
Mountain Coaster
A great option for a bit of family fun after you’re done with your tubing is a ride on the mountain coaster. This is a sort of roller coaster where you control your own speed as you cruise through the trees and down the mountain.
While kids are welcome to ride, they must be at least three years old and meet the height requirement of 38 inches to be a passenger — or be at least eight years old and 54 inches to drive the cart.
Downhill Skiing
Holiday Valley’s main offering is their downhill ski slopes. They have trails for all levels, from complete beginners all the way up to black diamonds for advanced skiers. If you’re just starting out, you can take ski lessons with the resort’s experienced instructors. All of the gear you might need is available to rent.
Cross Country Skiing
At the top of the mountain, you’ll find a few designated cross-country trails. These are great for cross-country skiing as well as cross-country hiking. In addition to those designated trails, if you are an experienced cross-country skier, you can make use of the mountain biking trails, which are in the state forest that abuts Holiday Valley to the west.
Snowshoeing
Come winter, Holiday Valley transforms its golf course into a snowshoe track. That track and the lower ski trails are available for snowshoeing throughout the winter season.
Other Wintery Things to Do in Ellicottville
Once you’ve had your fill of snow tubing, check out other options for outings around Ellicottville in the winter.
Ice Skating
If you find yourself on a stormy day when outdoor activities are less appealing, but you still want to enjoy a winter sport, ice skating is the perfect option. You can make a mini getaway from it and head to Olean Recreation Center in Olean, New York, about a 30-minute drive southeast of Ellicottville, for public skating during designated hours on their indoor rink. There are also skate rentals available on-site.
Hiking
Abutting Holiday Valley Resort is McCarty Hill State Forest, which is a publicly accessible state park. The trails throughout the park are open year-round. There are about eight miles of trails which are maintained throughout the winter.
There are a lot of other great hikes in the area, but their accessibility during the winter season varies. Check out more great Ellicottville area hikes here.
Ice Fishing
If you’re a fisherman who wants to enjoy something a bit different (or even totally new to the sport), how about a day out on the lakes ice fishing?
Lime Lake is a good option, located 20-minutes northeast of Ellicottville. While you’ll need a fishing license if you want to go independently, you can also book a day trip through Adventure Bound On the Fly.
Stay and Snow Tube in Ellicottville, New York
Snow tubing is one of those unexpected activities you’ll remember long after your trip to Ellicottville. Book your winter getaway complete with a fireplace and sauna to warm up after your outdoor adventures with Aranar.
