NEPA Skiing

NEPA is known for many wonderful things, and snow skiing is most definitely one of them. The mountainous terrain of northeastern Pennsylvania is ideal for winter fun.

If you enjoy winter weather sports, NEPA skiing is most likely one of them. The Endless Mountain region and the Pocono Mountains are home to numerous ski resorts. They are all easily accessible from the major highways in northeastern PA.

These local ski resorts offer decent skiing on all levels at a fair price when compared to many of the resorts located in upstate NY and Vermont. The skiing in NEPA is just one more reason this area attracts visitors from neighboring states.

If you've got some used ski equipment of your own to sell, place an ad in the skiing and sporting goods section of our classifieds. If you've got a locally owned and operated skiing related business you'd like to advertise, you can place a classified as well in the appropriate category.

Business ads always run for free in the classified ad section of Window Shop NEPA so feel free to promote your skiing-related services.

Elk Mountain Skiing

Elk Mountain is known as Pennsylvania best skiing. Elk is known for its diverse terrain, and in their words, is comparable to skiing in Vermont. It is located in the Endless Mountains of NEPA, specifically in Uniondale which is easily accessible from interstate 81.

Elk offers its best skiing experience in the daytime, since the mountain only has select trails open for night skiing. Along with their challenging terrain, the views from atop Elk Mountain are amazing.

They boast one thousand feet of vertical drop which makes for a longer run down the slope when compared with some of the other area resorts.

Check Current Conditions (PH: 1-800-233-4131) | Snow Tubing Available: No

Big Boulder Skiing

Big Boulder Ski Park Some of the best skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, and terrain parks in the Poconos can be found at Big Boulder. The Big Boulder portion of JFBB ski resort is located in the Pocono mountains of NEPA, specifically, the Lake Harmony area.

Big Boulder is notorious for its terrain parks which include Love Park, Central Park, and Boulder park. Plenty of action on the slopes thanks to some awesome ramps and obstacles.

If you've never snow-boarded or skied in a snow park, this would be a good place to give it a try. Big Boulder always has events scheduled as well, so check their website for details.

Check Current Conditions (PH: 570-443-8425) | Snow Tubing Available: Yes

Montage Mountain Skiing

Montage Mountain Located just a few minutes from Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, Montage Mountain features a good mix of beginner and expert trails.

Formerly known as Sno Mountain ski area, Montage Mountain has taken the reigns from Sno Mountain and plans to provide good, solid skiing for Northeastern PA despite recent uncooperative winters.

They recently underwent major renovations and the resort is in fantastic shape. Besides skis and snowboards, they are now offering airboarding on Sunday and Tuesday evenings. Airboards are inflatable, controllable sleds that look to be fun and different.

They break down their trail system as 35% Beginner and Easiest, 25% Novice, 15% Intermediate/More Difficult, 15% Advanced, 10% Expert and Most Difficult. NEPA skiing with the convenient location just off I-81.

Check Current Conditions (PH: 1-800-468-7669) | Snow Tubing Available: Yes

Jack Frost Skiing

Jack Frost Mountain Jack Frost is considered a companion mountain to Big Boulder Ski Park. Both ski areas are owned and operated by the same company.

It originally opened in 1972 and offers a great mix of beginner, intermediate, and black diamond expert slopes.

Overall, it features 21 slopes and a vertical drop of 600 feet. Jack Frost offers fantastic NEPA skiing daytime only. It is located in Blakeslee, PA.

Check Current Conditions (PH: 570-443-8425) | Snow Tubing Available: Yes

Camelback Skiing

Camelback Ski Resort With 34 trails and 14 ski lifts, Camelback Ski resort is a must-go for NEPA skiers. It is located in Tannersville with easy access from Interstate 80.

This resort is a gem of the Poconos. There are many winter activities baked into the mountain besides skiing and snowboarding.

There is a year round mountain coaster winding down the mountain, and an indoor waterpark in the works for next year. They are actually celebrating their 50th anniversary in business this year.

Check Current Conditions (PH:1-800-233-8100) | Snow Tubing Available: Yes

Big Bear Skiing

Masthope Ski Bigbear Ski Big Bear at Masthope Mountain is a great place to learn to ski and snowboard.

There is a good mix of terrain, allowing skiers to gradually progress, but also allowing more advanced friends and family who may not be beginners, to ski or snowboard more challenging trails. Bigbear Ski resort (or Masthope Mountain) is located near Lackawaxen.

Check Current Conditions (PH: 570-685-1400) | Snow Tubing Available: Yes

Shawnee Skiing

Shawnee Mountain is a gem of a mountain located just off Interstate 80 near Stroudsburg. If you visit the Poconos in the summer months you would recognize Shawnee as the site of the famous Garlic Festival along with other good time events.

As for snow skiing, Shawnee offers up a good mix with plenty of terrain for beginners. They have one high speed detachable quad lift, one fixed-grip quad lift, four double lifts and four carpet style lifts for those who care to know that info. Their trail map depicts a total of 23 trails.

The mountain is laid out in a friendly manner, the lift lines are reasonable and their freestyle terrain park is alone worth the price of a lift ticket.

Check Current Conditions (PH: 1-800-233-4218) | Snow Tubing Available: Yes

About NEPA Skiing

There is no official data on the exact number of people who ski in Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA) annually, but there are several ski resorts in the region that attract a significant number of skiers each winter.

Some of the most popular ski resorts in NEPA include Montage Mountain Resort in Scranton, Camelback Ski Area in the Poconos, and Elk Mountain Ski Resort in Union Dale. These resorts attract skiers from all over the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

According to the National Ski Areas Association, there were approximately 9.2 million skier and snowboarder visits to ski resorts in Pennsylvania during the 2020-2021 season. It's important to note that this figure includes all ski resorts in Pennsylvania, not just those in NEPA.

Is it Cheap or Expensive?

Is it Cheap or Expensive when compared to other ski hubs around the country? Skiing in Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA) can be relatively affordable compared to some of the larger ski resorts in the Northeast. There are several ski resorts in the region that offer a range of pricing options to suit different budgets, and many offer discounts on lift tickets and rental equipment when purchased in advance.

Some of the more affordable ski resorts in NEPA include Montage Mountain Resort in Scranton, Jack Frost and Big Boulder Ski Areas in the Poconos, and Shawnee Mountain Ski Area in Shawnee-on-Delaware. These resorts typically offer lower lift ticket prices compared to larger resorts in the region, such as Hunter Mountain or Killington.

It's worth noting that skiing can still be an expensive activity, especially when factoring in equipment rentals, lodging, and food. However, with some planning and research, it is possible to enjoy skiing in NEPA without breaking the bank.

So you like skiing in the Poconos and Northeastern PA? Visit our page on NEPA skiing history which includes some cool info on defunct ski resorts you may or may not remember....

See Also: NEPA Addiction | NEPA Contractors | NEPA Employment | NEPA Halloween | NEPA Mortgages | NEPA Printer Ink | NEPA Restaurants | NEPA Security Systems | Pocono Skiing | NEPA Travel