The Pocono Mountains, located in northeastern Pennsylvania, offer some of the best skiing in the eastern United States. With several ski resorts to choose from, the area offers a variety of terrain for skiers and snowboarders of all levels.
One of the most popular ski resorts in the Poconos is Camelback Mountain Resort. This resort offers a diverse range of terrain, with 34 slopes and trails, including a terrain park for freestylers. The resort also offers night skiing, making it a great option for those who want to hit the slopes after a long day of work.
Blue Mountain Resort boasts the largest ski area in the state, with 42 slopes and trails. The resort also offers a variety of terrain parks for freestylers and a halfpipe for snowboarders. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, the resort also offers snow tubing, making it a great option for families and groups looking for a fun winter activity.
For a more secluded skiing experience, Ski Big Bear offers 12 slopes and trails and is known for its family-friendly atmosphere. The resort also offers snowboarding and snow tubing, as well as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
In addition to the ski resorts, the Poconos also offer a variety of options for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area offers miles of groomed trails for cross-country skiing, as well as several trails for snowshoeing. The area also offers stunning views of the Delaware River and the surrounding mountains.
When it comes to après-ski, the Poconos offer a variety of options for dining and entertainment. The area is home to several cozy bars and pubs, as well as a variety of restaurants that offer everything from casual dining to fine dining. There are also several spas, including the famous Kalahari Spa, which offers a variety of services, including massages and hydrotherapy.
The Pocono Mountains’ six ski resorts have unveiled new, exciting enhancements on and around the slopes on top of the country’s two largest snowtubing parks, cutting-edge snowmaking systems, and award-winning learn-to-ski and snowboard programs led by seasoned instructors.
Big Boulder and Jack Frost Mountain
• Five new high-speed, four-person chairlifts (three at Jack Frost, two at Big Boulder).
• The Epic Lift Upgrade chairlift replacement project has helped create four new trails at Big Boulder.
Blue Mountain Resort
• A new high-speed lift named the Main Street Express will transport riders from top to bottom in under five minutes and accommodate 3,000 guests per hour. The lift dramatically improves connectivity and access to terrain on the western part of the mountain.
• New nighttime, after-dark Sonic Tubing with music and disco lighting. Blue Mountain boasts the country’s largest snowtubing park with 46 lanes, each over 1,000 feet long.
• Enhanced snowmaking automation, including new snow guns and LED lighting to make night skiing available on the 40th trail, which opened last season.
• A renamed trail, Curzi's Cabin (previously Widow Maker), serviced by the new Main Street Express and a renamed terrain run, Trails End (previously Terrain Run).
Camelback Mountain
• A new high-speed, six-person enclosed lift named Black Bear 6 replaces the smaller Sullivan Express. The new lift rises 667 vertical feet with an uphill capacity of 3,000 passengers per hour.
• New location for the terrain park and enhancements including automation, new designs, and a Next Gen Pisten Bully Park Pro 400 for creating precise and uniform park builds.
• Continued automation advances including updates to last year’s new Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) system, which offers hands-free, streamlined, and efficient lift access. Additionally, SkiLynx is being added to the resort’s app, allowing guests to live-track their total trails, miles, vertical feet, as well as find friends and view real time lift wait times.
Shawnee Mountain
• As part of a multi-year, multi-million-dollar snowmaking upgrade project, Shawnee has added three new fan guns to the beginner’s area, two efficient snowmaking pumps, and continues to replace pipes across the mountain. Snowmaking covers 100 percent of all Shawnee’s 125 acres of skiable terrain, of which is now 90 percent fully automated.
• Replaced all 221 bridge boards, purchased 160 new snow tubes including double tubes for families, large Information Technology upgrades, and cosmetic enhancements across the resort.
• Purchased hundreds of new ski boots, skis, snowboards, and snowboard boots. The new Head snowboard system allows snowboards to be stored with the binding on, making the process faster and more efficient for employees and guests.
Ski Big Bear at Masthope Mountain
• New rental equipment including snowboards and snowboard boots.
• Expanded snowmaking capabilities with the addition of 30 snow guns.