Is this the winter you try (or try again) cross-country skiing or snowshoeing? In Otsego County, two local businesses can provide you with rentals. In Chenango County, the Rogers Center in Sherburne offers on-site rentals.

Where to ski? You’ll want snow at least three inches deep. Heidi Hofbauer-Buzzy of Alpine Awards and Engraving in Oneonta recommends Gilbert Lake State Park, Fortin Park, Table Rock at Hartwick, and Glimmerglass State Park. Beginners may want to try groomed trails, meaning trails that snowmobiles have packed down. Both Glimmerglass State Park and Gilbert Lake State Park groom trails for cross-country skiing.

“If you go out in a group, the first person makes the trail, and it’s a lot easier for the people skiing behind,” she says. “It’s a great workout and so much fun once you get the hang of it.”  Alpine offers cross-country ski rentals by the weekend or by the week. Packages include skis, boots and poles. There needs to be six inches of snow for Alpine ski rentals. They also rent snowshoes.

Woodland Cycles in Milford rents out cross-country skis as well as snowshoes. Owner Mike Reynolds recommends Clark Tower, Star Field, Robert V. Riddell State Park, Arnold Lake State Forest, and Glimmerglass State Park. Cross country ski rentals include skis, poles and boots and are available by the day with discounts for weekly, monthly, and seasonal rentals. He purchased the inventory of Mt. Otsego Ski Shop.

The Rogers Center in Sherburne offers snowshoe and ski rentals for use on site. (As of 1/15/25, snowshoes were available to rent, and they expect to have  cross country skis available soon. Call to confirm.) Rentals are available Wed.-Sat. 10 am – 4 pm, and Sun. noon-4 pm. The trails at Rogers Center (Channels, Boundary, South Loop, North Loop, Farm Tower, Adams Farm, Hillside, Conifer, Summit) are all great for snowshoeing, and some (Farm Tower, Adams Farm, Channels, Boundary, North Loop) can also be used by cross-country skiers.  Both skis and snowshoes will be available to rent during the Center’s Winter Living Celebration on Saturday, February 1, 11 am to 2 pm.

Have some advice for people new to cross-country skiing or snowshoeing? Let us know and we’ll be glad to pass it on!

 

Woodland Cycles LLC
607-643-3848
24 S. Main Street, Milford, NY
woodlandcycles.com
woodlandcycles@gmail.com

Alpine Cross-County Ski Rentals (part of Alpine Awards and Engraving)
607-432-0556
22 Water Street, Oneonta, NY
Alpine X-Country Ski Rentals on Facebook
skirental@alpineae.com

Rogers Center
607-674-4733
2721 State Route 80, Sherburne, NY
FriendsofRogers.org