Belleayre Mountain was declared "Forever Wild" by the New York State Forest Preserve in 1885. Early on, skiers would side-step or hike their way more than 3,000 feet to be the first to make tracks down un-named and woody trails. Since then, Belleayre has maintained its status as a model in the ski industry; today it boasts 47 trails, parks and glades, 8 lifts, and a new High Speed Quad. Its continued improvements allow it to offer the Catskills' only "Cat-Access" skiing and snowboarding, with a widened and improved halfpipe and Area 51 Terrain Park. Skier and snowboarder visits have grown from 70,000 in 1995 to more than 175,000 skiers and snowboarders from all over the world.