Royal Mountain NY Review: The Hidden Gem That Gave Me My Confidence Back
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Royal Mountain
3072 NY-10, Johnstown, NY 12095
Rating: ♡♡♡♡♡ 5 out of 5 hearts
Just a note! This review has been updated on April 14, 2025.
Listen up, snowboard fam – I'm about to tell you about a mountain that has completely changed my life on the slopes. Royal Mountain is a small mom & pop mountain nestled in upstate New York, and I'm not being dramatic when I say this place has EASILY become my favorite mountain ever. Like, we're talking knocking Blue Mountain right off its pedestal kind of favorite.
Now, I know what you're thinking – another small mountain review, probably overhyped, right? Wrong. Dead wrong. This place is the real deal, and I'm about to break down exactly why Royal Mountain deserves every single bit of praise I'm about to heap on it.
The Backstory: How I Discovered This Gem
Credit: Royal Mountain
Let me set the scene for you. It was after a absolutely brutal day at Gore Mountain – you know, one of those days where everything that could go wrong did go wrong. I was dealing with an intercostal muscle strain (thanks, Friday the 13th at Gore), feeling defeated, and honestly questioning my snowboarding abilities.
Enter Billy, a ski patroller at Royal Mountain who we met while licking our wounds at Gore. This guy saw how frustrated I was, how I was psyching myself out, and straight up invited us to check out Royal so we wouldn't leave empty-handed after such a rough time. He assured me I'd have a much better experience there, and honey, let me tell you – he was absolutely right.
Billy's enthusiasm for Royal was infectious and undeniable. You could tell this wasn't just his job; this was his passion. He showed us around with the kind of pride that only comes from genuinely loving where you spend your time. And it quickly became clear just how much love the entire community has for Royal. Everyone helps run it together, and it shows in every single detail.
The Royal Mountain Experience: Why It's Different
Parking
Let's start with the basics – parking at Royal is a dream. Plenty of free parking with lots of off-roading. No fighting for spots, no overpriced lots, just pull up and go. It's one of those small touches that immediately sets the tone for a stress-free day.
Tickets & Passes
Here's where I'll be completely honest – I had my reservations about the quality of Royal due to the prices of tickets and passes. They're super affordable! Adult all day was $60, and my first thought was "okay, but what's the catch?" Spoiler alert: there is no catch. While in PA or other small mom & pop mountains cheap means you actually get cheap and a crappy time, this place is NOT that.
The Mountain Itself: Where Magic Happens
Royal Mountain is only open on weekends, holidays, and school breaks from 9am to 4pm, but trust me when I say that's all you need. This place was perfect for me to try out after my injury, and it became the place where I literally reclaimed my confidence on the slopes.
Billy had us start on the bunny slope, and before you roll your eyes, let me stop you right there. He assured us not to judge it by its name, explaining that he spends a lot of time on it himself because, unlike most bunny slopes, this one is different – way more fun. The man wasn't lying! This bunny slope has character, personality, and honestly? It's a blast even for more experienced riders.
But here's where things get really good. Once I felt confident enough to ride without straining myself too much, we explored more of the mountain. Every inch of it was covered in snow – and I'm talking SO much snow! Being in upstate New York, I shouldn't have been surprised, but the coverage was absolutely incredible.
The Community: What Sets Royal Apart
What really makes Royal Mountain special isn't just the terrain or the snow – it's the people. Watching Billy interact with the kids on the mountain was genuinely heartwarming. They trusted him completely, and he was their guide into the world of snowboarding. You could tell he knew exactly what he was doing, and more importantly, he cared about every single person on that mountain.
This is a place where kids can go off on their own safely, where everyone looks out for each other, and where the staff genuinely care about your experience. It's family-run in the best possible way – professional, well-maintained, but with that personal touch that makes you feel like you're part of something special.
My Return Trip: The Bluebird Day That Changed Everything
Fast forward to mid-March – toward the end of the snowboarding season. We didn't realize at the time that this would be our last snowboarding trip of the season because the weather turned and everything shut down after this due to rain. Talk about perfect timing!
I went into this trip with four hours of sleep (typical for us snowboarders), and let me tell you – I rode literally all day and didn't regret a single second of it. This was March 15th, a gorgeous bluebird day where all I had on was a sports bra underneath my black pullover. The weather was absolutely fantastic.
The Ride Twin Pig: Finding My Perfect Setup
By this point, I'd been riding on the Ride Twin Pig since my time at Mountain Creek in early February. I'd ridden it two to three times and was finally able to dial in not only my stance and angles but really get a feel for my board. This board is absolutely genius – I'd been recommended it a million times, and I was finally glad I got it.
The Twin Pig is gorgeous, fun, and loves its speed while maintaining great control. The speed is insane, and it really tickles that adrenaline rush that I absolutely crave and need. I literally have a playlist called "Needy for Speedy" on Spotify because this board brings out that speed demon in me.
Here's a story that perfectly illustrates how confident I'd become: I was going down a blue with one of my boyfriend's friends (these guys have been riding for like 10 years, way more skilled than me), and at some point, I not only surpassed him – he couldn't even keep up with me. He went right up to my boyfriend afterward and said, "I was trying everything to keep up with her. I crouched down, I did this, I did that, and nothing would get me to keep up with her. She is fast."
My boyfriend was grinning ear to ear, and I was thrilled because I felt so confident on this board and these slopes. I had so much control, and yes, it's super helpful that these slopes aren't as busy compared to places like Mountain Creek and Blue Mountain, but it's also that gorgeous community atmosphere that makes all the difference.
Exploring on My Own: Building Real Confidence
For the first time ever, I explored more of Royal Mountain on my own than I'd ever explored any mountain. I mean, I'd gone alone down Blue Mountain before and had no fear there, but Royal was different. I like to have absolute control the first time I'm going down any slope because I want to learn what's in front of me. That way, even if the snow shifts or conditions change, I know where I'm at.
And here's the thing – I was flying down blues. I wasn't even on greens anymore while some of my friends were still stuck on greens. No offense to them, but I just absolutely flew down those blues. I rode for about seven hours that bluebird day – we only ate once or twice because I was just so in the zone.
The following day, we rode again, and I rode maybe four to six hours. I was floored, depleted, and exhausted, but I still kept going. That's how much I love snowboarding, and that's how much I love this place.
Refreshments & Bathrooms: The Details Matter
Let me talk about something that might seem minor but actually says a lot about a place – the bathrooms. Royal Mountain's bathrooms were awesome and had so much character. Everything was well-kept with slices of history shown through the decor. But here's what really impressed me: each bathroom stall was equipped with a toilet seat for the little ones if needed! That's so thoughtful and shows the level of care this place has for families.
The food and refreshments were affordable and tasted amazing. Everyone working there was so kind, and you could tell they genuinely cared about making sure you had a good experience.
Gift Shop: Small But Meaningful
Although there isn't much of a gift shop, Royal still had vinyl stickers to choose from – FOR FREE! I loved it and very much appreciated this small gesture. It's these little touches that show a mountain cares about its community.
The Website: Professional Touch
I have to give props to their website too – it's gorgeous and easy to navigate. You can find everything you're looking for without any hassle. Not just anyone can attain this high level of professionalism, especially for a smaller mountain.
Why Royal Mountain Has Become My Everything
Here's where I get a little emotional, because Royal Mountain has gained so much of my confidence that it's not even funny. This mountain has literally become my favorite mountain of all the mountains I've ever ridden, knocking Blue Mountain right off its number one spot.
Maybe it's the luck, maybe it's the fact that there are fewer people on this mountain, maybe it's the environment, maybe it's because I was riding on a snowboard that I actually felt confident on. I don't know what it is – maybe it's all of them at once.
What I do know is that I feel confident enough to take on my first black diamond on the Ride Twin Pig on this mountain. It has to be on this mountain – it can't be anywhere else. Once I do that, I feel like I can take on anything, anywhere. That's the level of confidence Royal Mountain has given me.
The Community Dilemma: Hidden Gems and Growth
I have such passion for this mountain that I love them – I really, really, truly do. They deserve my absolute utmost respect. Hidden gems like these, I kind of want to keep to myself, but at the same time, I can't hold in my love for them. They deserve to know how much I love them because I know if they get more business, it's great for them.
But here's the thing – more business means more foot traffic, and more foot traffic sometimes means things start going downhill. The sketchy bad eggs start coming out, and that's the problem with a lot of well-known slopes. They can be amazing, but it's always the people that make or break the environment. Royal Mountain is just overall really amazing because all the staff are really amazing, and you really get to love the community.
Looking Forward: My Royal Mountain Dreams
It's so much so that I really want to buy a house when I have the money to be close by for the winter time because this is the mountain for me. My boyfriend loves it, his friends that he showed it to love it, and we can't wait to show it to more friends because it is absolutely a gem.
I cannot wait for the 2025-2026 winter season because I want to be on this mountain so bad. And here's the thing about snowboarding life – my boyfriend knows I'm a sleepy girl, but when it comes to snowboarding, I will lose sleep gladly. And specifically for Royal Mountain, this place is such a gem that I wish I could give it more than five stars.
The Verdict: A Perfect 5/5 Stars
I was originally going to give this mountain four out of five stars because I fully believe everything can be improved upon, but I honestly can't think of anything wrong with this mountain. It's well-kept, well-loved, and a true hidden gem.
Royal Mountain isn't just a place to snowboard – it's a place where you can rediscover your love for the sport, build genuine confidence, and become part of a community that actually cares about your experience. Whether you're recovering from an injury like I was, looking to push your limits, or just want to enjoy snowboarding without the crowds and attitude of bigger mountains, Royal Mountain delivers.
This place has given me everything I needed to fall back in love with snowboarding, and I have a feeling it might do the same for you. Just remember – when you go (and you absolutely should go), take a moment to appreciate not just the mountain, but the people who make it special. Places like Royal Mountain are rare, and they deserve our support and respect.
Trust me on this one – Royal Mountain is worth every single mile of the drive to upstate New York. It's worth the early mornings, the late nights, and yes, even the four hours of sleep. This is snowboarding at its core, and I'm here for every single second of it.
See you on the slopes!
