Ausable Chasm in the Winter

This Christmas break my family hopped in our Toyota Prius and road-tripped to the Lake Champlain region of the Adirondacks.  Although the ski conditions near our home in Massachusetts were just awful due to the unseasonably warm weather we’ve been experiencing, the conditions were great in the Adirondacks.

To start, we traveled to Plattsburgh by way of Vermont, taking the Grand Isle to Plattsburgh ferry.  It was incredibly easy to take the ferry, which runs every few minutes twenty-four hours a day, and saved us lots of time.  Once we arrived in Plattsburgh, it was just a short drive to the Comfort Inn and Suites, where we were staying for our trip.

The next morning, we bundled up (it was cold – about 12 degrees), and headed out to Ausable Chasm, a popular summer attraction that is now offering winter tours.  Guests can choose from a 30-minute self-guided tour, or a one or two-hour guided tour.  We did both the 30-minute tour and the guided tour, and absolutely loved them.  Our guide was incredibly informative and helpful, and the kids loved walking on the paths right by the cliffs and falls.  When the paths are icy (as they were on our trip), guests are provided with ice cleat to put on their shoes, and if it’s snowy, guests are provided with snowshoes.

The next day, we drove about an hour and a half to Titus Mountain Family Ski Center for a morning of skiing.  The kids were enrolled in ski school, since they’d only skied one time.  Of course, by the end of the lesson, my daughter was whizzing by me on the mountain, as I struggled in my class (I’m very much a beginner).  Titus Mountain seems to be the perfect place for families to visit – it’s small enough to be approachable, but had lots of really great instructors.

We’ll definitely be back to this area – perhaps in the spring or summer so we can see the gorgeous Ausable Chasm at a different time of year!

Photo credit: Jodi Grundig

Disclosure: We received complimentary lodging, ski rentals, lift tickets, lessons, and tickets to Ausable Chasm for purposes of review.