You will find 165 slopes and trails to ski in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania. Snowmaking began there not long after the area's first commercial ski resort opened in 1946. The Poconos are not the Rocky Mountains or even Vermont, but for their proximity to major cities, like New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore, they cannot be beat. The resorts are family friendly, the snow is deep, the lines can be short and the lifts are fast. Poconos resorts keep trails and slopes well-groomed and amenities welcoming.
Challenges
There is plentiful opportunity for skiers of all levels of expertise at Poconos slopes. Camelback, Tanglwood and Blue Mountain have lots of challenge for expert skiers. Tanglwood, Shawnee and Alpine rate high for the number of intermediate slopes. Big Bear is a family friendly resort with little challenging terrain. Big Boulder, Big Blue and Blue Mountain all have many beginner slopes.
Locations
The Pocono Mountains draw skiers from close-by cities like Philadelphia, Baltimore and New York. Blue Mountain Ski Area is the closest destination to Philadelphia and Shawnee Mountain is the closest to New York. Camelback is centrally located. To get away from the crowds, head for the northern Poconos. You'll find Big Bear Masthope Mountain at a higher altitude and Elk Mountain Ski Resort farther to the north. Because of their proximity, these are sometimes less crowded than other resorts. Blue Mountain can get busy at times.
Size
Camelback is the largest ski resort area in the Poconos with 33 trails and 13 lifts. Blue Mountain Ski Area is also large with 30 trails with 9 lifts. It has the highest vertical drop in the Poconos at 1,082 feet. Shawnee has 125 skiable acres with 23 trails. Alpine has 21 trails, but only 3 lifts. Big Boulder has 8 lifts and 16 trails. Big Bear has one of the longest runs at 1.5 miles. In choosing a resort, factor in the amenities, distance, crowd and size.
Snow
There is a lot of snow and a lot of snowmaking in the Poconos. The Poconos average annual snowfall is about 50 inches. January and February deliver 13 to 14 inches each. Some resorts have 100 percent snowmaking, like Shawnee with 125 acres. Blue Mountain and Camelback each have around 160 acres of snowmaking. The slopes at Big Boulder are often the earliest to open due to their higher elevations and amount of snowmaking. Making snow in the Poconos begins at the end of November and goes on through the middle of March.
Boarding and Tubing
Many snow-loving families like a variety of winter sport choices. Poconos resorts offer much to snowboarders and snow tubers. Some set aside special areas for these sports and rent equipment. Snowboarders have access to the lifts and resorts often provide jumping areas and half and quarter pipes. Kids who want to snow tube will find the opportunity at many Poconos resorts.
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