Campgaw Mountain

This largely unknown New Jersey resort is more of a hill than a mountain. Popular with locals, Campgaw has very limited trails for the more competent skier, although it is a great place for a beginner to learn the basics before moving on to more challenging stuff.

In spite of its convenient location, the resort is rarely busy, providing a refreshing alternative to nearby Hunter Mountain which is inundated with New Yorkers at weekends. Ski instructors are reported to be friendly and courteous, and value for money is good across the resort's facilities. Night skiing goes on until 10pm, so this is a favourite for schoolchildren who come here after hours to practise. Restaurants and accommodation are available on a small-scale but essentially Campgaw is about day-trips and evening visits rather than week-long excursions for the serious skier.

Although it provides an opportunity to improve technique and brush off the cobwebs at the start of the season, it fails to attract international visitors and offers little in the way of competition for the larger of the North American resorts.