As winter settles in and resorts continue to compete over advertised snow totals, a lesser-known region of New York is quietly blanketed in one of the steadiest yearly snowpacks of any largely inhabited location in the U.S. Although the Tug Hill region of New York may not be able to boast world-class skiing, locals manage to make use of the endless lake-effect snow that pummels the area through an array of winter activities.
The Tug Hill region lies just north of its nearest city, Syracuse, New York. Of all major cities in the U.S., which requires a population of at least 100,000 to be considered as such, Syracuse found itself as the snowiest city in the U.S. last winter, an achievement that is rather common for the city. And so far this year, as of January 5, Syracuse remains firmly in the lead with 83 inches of snow falling this winter.
If these figures seem impressive, a short 30-minute drive north will land you at the heart of Tug Hill, where the snow only seems to fall heavier and more frequently. It’s not uncommon for towns here to see years that well-surpass 300 inches of snow, and the town of Hooker holds the New York State record for yearly snowfall, observing 467 inches of snow in the winter of 1976-77. But what actually causes these inflated totals that give the region its nickname, the “snow capital” of the East?
The Tug Hill region is oftentimes referred to as the Tug Hill Plateau, as it rises from roughly 350 feet above sea level on the western end, to 2,000 feet above sea level on the eastern border. On top of this, Tug Hill conveniently sits on the eastern tip of Lake Ontario, the driver behind the huge snow totals. The lake-effect machine then works its magic as cold Canadian air blows eastward over the warmer waters of Lake Ontario. The air picks up moisture as it crosses the lake, before slamming into Tug Hill, where it rapidly elevates over the topography, leading to cooling and condensing of the air, forming clouds and the iconic snowstorms that Upstate New York is known for.
Most recently, a multi-day stretch of lake-effect snow dropped up to six feet in certain areas of the Tug Hill region within a 48-hour span. Snowfall rates were reported up to seven inches per hour in spots, leaving many communities buried in feet of snow by sunrise. These freak storms are widely regarded as some of the most intense snow events in the world due to their unpredictable nature, rapid accumulation rates, and drastic variation in snowfall totals based upon their banding.
With winter weather patterns that rival the best of what the U.S. has to offer, skiers will be quick to notice that due to it’s relatively flat topography, Tug Hill has a lack of extensive options for lift-serviced skiing. The region has only three notable ski areas: Dry Hill, Snow Ridge, and Woods Valley, with none of these choices having a vertical of over 500 feet. The absence of large ski areas forces local skiers to be creative in their endeavors, whether it be quick laps at the resort, or finding hidden stashes and 100 foot vertical runs in the side country. Either way, skiing in Tug Hill promises that there will be no shortage of powder, even if the runs may only consist of a handful of turns.
Even if Tug Hill and the lake-effect battered regions of Upstate New York don’t appeal to most skiers, those that live there know how special the winters are. When a dry spell of weather hits much of the Northeast, you can be confident that it’s still snowing in the Tug Hill region. As crowds flock to larger resorts, just know that the residents of the Tug Hill region are enjoying their endless supply of lake-effect magic while the remainder of the East prays for their next storm.
