The smooth, grassy terrain of Beinn a' Chruinnich and Meikle Corr Riabhach often allows the Lecht, despite the modest summit elevation, to provide snow sports with marginal snow cover when other ski areas in Scotland, with more mountainous terrain, may be closed.

Prior to the acquisition of snow blowers in the late 1970s a small portable ski tow, giving approximately 200 feet (60 metres) of ski run, was often set up in the fields across from the Allargue Arms Hotel near Corgarff just below the snow gates.

The ski centre is situated on the slopes above the A939 road between Cock Bridge and Tomintoul.

Local folklore has it that the road is blocked by snow between October and June.

Whilst this is obviously exaggerated, the traditional heralding of the Scottish winter occurs when the road is first blocked and this is usually reported in the national news.