SOUTH BRISTOL, N.Y. — The Sky Ride at Bristol Mountain is a super scenic way to take in all the autumn colors of the Finger Lakes. 

What You Need To Know

  • Bristol Mountain Sky Ride is open on weekends through end of October

  • Admission is $12, but free for kids 2 and younger

  • Advance purchase is required online to accommodate healthy safety guidelines 

It’s a 15- to 20-minute ride to the top on Bristol Mountain’s Comet Express to check out the views of Bristol Hills and the valley below. On a clear day, you can see Canandaigua Lake.

"It is beautiful! It is so peaceful," said Renee Spells from Rochester.

The Hafensteiner family from Webster joked they needed to "get out of Dodge," and the Sky Ride was the perfect family outing to do it.

"We were looking to come down to the Bristol area and they are just at the right age to start doing stuff like this," said Ben Hafenstiener. "They’ve never done it yet, so we are taking advantage of the good weather and get outside."

The Sky Ride is a fall tradition at Bristol. They’ve been doing it for 30 years.

"It's a great activity in these times to be able to get outdoors and hike and feel safe in your environment," said Dan Fuller, general manager at Bristol Mountain.

Guests can ride the chairlift back down the mountain or hike down. For the Hafensteiners, it was the kids' first time on the chairlift, but definitely not the last.

"We hope to [be] out doing hikes and watching the leaves change," said Amanda Hafensteiner. "Getting outside and keeping your distance and be in the beauty."

You must purchase Sky Ride tickets in advance. Admission is $12 per person. Children ages two and younger are free. You can save $2 when you reserve the Sky Ride three or more days in advance. Ticket reservations are available online at BristolMountain.com.

The Sky Ride runs Saturdays and Sundays and Columbus Day from 12-4 p.m. through the end of October.