Bristol Mountain rises south of Canandaigua with a 1,200-foot vertical drop—the highest of any ski resort in the region and, by some measures, the highest between the Adirondacks and the Rocky Mountains. The mountain operates 38 trails across 138 skiable acres, served by five chairlifts and two surface lifts, with substantial snowmaking capacity that compensates for the Finger Lakes’ variable winter weather. The terrain skews intermediate, with enough expert runs to keep advanced skiers engaged and a solid learning area for beginners.

Beyond the ski season, Bristol operates an aerial adventure course—a network of elevated platforms, zip lines, and climbing elements through the forest canopy—and serves as a base for mountain biking, hiking, and the Roseland Waterpark next door. The Finger Lakes region is not a ski destination in the way that Vermont or the Adirondacks are, but Bristol Mountain is a legitimate operation with real vertical and well-maintained terrain. For visitors in the western Finger Lakes during winter, or for summer visitors looking for something beyond wine and waterfalls, it fills an important niche.