15 Pennsylvania Winter Resorts Where You Can Ski and Snowboard
Here's where you can hit the slopes this winter.
Our list of where to go skiing and snowboarding near Philadelphia. / Photograph courtesy of Camelback Mountain
A wintry weekend getaway brings brisk air, respite from the city’s hustle and bustle, and heart-pumping outdoor activities, especially on the slopes. Plus, think of the hot cocoa breaks!
Luckily, Philly isn’t too far from some great mountain ranges and resorts. A 45-minute to four-hour drive away and you could be skiing or snowboarding before you know it. Whether you’re just starting out or are a seasoned vet, we found a resort for your snowy adventure of choice. Just be sure you check resort websites for daily weather conditions and potential slope closures. While most make their own snow, it’s still worth checking to see what’s open before you journey out!
Bear Creek Mountain Resort
101 Doe Mountain Lane, Macungie
Distance from Philly: 1 hour and 20 minutes
What to expect: Located in Berks County, Bear Creek boasts 23 slopes, trails and parks that will keep every level of skier (or boarder) entertained. Newbies will enjoy the beginner area complete with a carpet lift and triple chair lift, while pros will be challenged on “Sasquatch,” a black diamond trail with a 50-percent slope.
Blue Knob
1424 Overland Pass, Claysburg
Distance from Philly: 4 hours
What to expect: In the heart of the Allegheny mountains, Blue Knob offers 100 skiable acres, 33 trails, and a terrain park. Plus, they claim to have the highest skiable mountain in Pennsylvania, which makes the mini road-trip worth it.
Blue Mountain Resort
1660 Blue Mountain Drive, Palmerton
Distance from Philly: 1 hour and 40 minutes
What to expect: With 1,082 feet in elevation change, Blue Mountain is the steepest in the state. Sixteen lifts — including the high-speed six-person Main Street Express — lead to more than 40 trails and five terrain parks, enough to accommodate everyone from the beginner to the speed demon. And if the slopes are a nope for you, well, there’s always snow tubing: Blue Mountain is home to a massive 46-lane tube park.
Camelback Mountain Resort
301 Resort Drive, Tannersville
Distance from Philly: 2 hours
What to expect: Camelback has 39 runs to choose from, not to mention 42 separate snow-tubing lanes. Add to the mix more than 20 dining options, including three ski-in restaurants, and it’s no wonder this was anointed the eighth-best ski resort in the country in a 2021 Condé Nast Traveler readers’ poll, outperforming all its Poconos counterparts. And that was before the resort recently introduced its six-person enclosed lift.
Elk Mountain
344 Elk Mountain Road, Union Dale
Distance from Philly: 2 hours and 30 minutes
What to expect: Elk Mountain’s history dates back to 1959, when it became one of Pennsylvania’s first commercial ski areas. With 180 skiable acres and 27 trails, skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels will find a fit for them here.
Jack Frost Big Boulder
434 Jack Frost Mountain Road, White Haven and 357 Big Boulder Drive, Lake Harmony
Distance from Philly: 2 hours
What to expect: The first-ever snowmaking attempt in world history, in the 1950s, took place at Lake Harmony’s Big Boulder. “The guns that fire the snow produced mostly water,” the New York Times wrote of the grand experiment two decades later. Fortunately, the folks at Big Boulder — which shares a mountain with sister resort Jack Frost — have honed their craft over the years. Combined, there are 38 runs and two terrain parks — and never a shortage of snow.
Liberty Mountain
78 Country Club Trail, Carroll Valley
Distance from Philly: 2 hours and 40 minutes
What to expect: If you’re still learning the slopes, this might be the place for you to perfect your newfound skillset. This resort has 100 skiable acres and 16 trails serviced by eight lifts.
Montage Mountain
1000 Montage Mountain Road, Scranton
Distance from Philly: 2 hours and 15 minutes
What to expect: If you’re looking for diverse terrain, this is it. Montage has 26 trails ranging from beginner to expert. It also boasts a 1,000-foot vertical, valley views, and full mountain night skiing. They also call their premier trail, White Lightning, the “second steepest in the east.”
Roundtop Mountain
925 Roundtop Road, Lewisberry
Distance from Philly: 2 hours and 10 minutes
What to expect: Roundtop has been a fixture in the local skiing community for nearly 60 years. When they first opened, there were only four slopes, but today there are 21. There’s also a 600-foot vertical drop and nearly 600 skiable acres to be explored. This family-friendly resort also offers snowboarding and snow tubing.
Seven Springs Mountain Resort
777 Water Wheel Drive, Champion
Distance from Philly: 4 hours and 10 minutes
What to expect: The farthest resort of the bunch from Philly, Seven Springs will give you the ultimate away-from-home skiing/snowboarding experience. The resort features 285 acres of skiable terrain, 33 slopes and trails, seven terrain parks, 10 lifts, a half pipe and a super pipe.
Shawnee Mountain
401 Hollow Road, East Stroudsburg
Distance from Philly: 2 hours
What to expect: If your favorite part of skiing is the after-party, consider a trip to Shawnee. The resort’s 23 trails offer ample opportunity to explore while never taking you too far from the friendly confines of the ShawneeCraft brewery, where you can finish your day sampling 16 different local beers alongside a wood-fired Neapolitan pizza. (Studies show this is the fastest way to master the skier’s pizza technique.)
Ski Big Bear
192 Karl Hope Boulevard, Lackawaxen
Distance from Philly: 3 hours and 20 minutes
What to expect: With 18 trails, Big Bear is well suited to the novice. It emphasizes lessons for beginners, offering both private and group instruction. You’ll soon be shredding down the resort’s one double black diamond — and moving on to even steeper terrain in no time.
Spring Mountain
757 Spring Mount Road, Spring Mount
Distance from Philly: 1 hour
What to expect: This resort may not be too far from the city lights, but it still offers all you need for that winter ski fix. There’s a 428-foot vertical drop as well as seven trails, four chair lifts, and a terrain park. They even offer a multi-week lesson program for kids so the adults can enjoy discounted fare at their on-site pub while the little ones ski or board with a trained instructor.
Tussey Mountain
301 Bear Meadows Road, Boalsburg
Distance from Philly: 3 hours and 20 minutes
What to expect: Just a few miles away from Penn State’s main campus, this ski area offers programs and advanced lessons for skiers of all ages. There are 38 skiable acres, 14 trails, a 500-foot vertical, and five chairlifts. You can also night ski as their slope lighting and snowmaking system covers 90-percent of their skiable terrain.
Whitetail Resort
13805 Blairs Valley Road, Mercersburg
Distance from Philly: 3 hours and 10 minutes
What to expect: Whitetail Resort offers skiing and snowboarding on 23 trails, nine lifts, a half pipe, and two terrain parks, so, basically, there’s a lot of ground to cover.
This guide has been updated since originally posting and includes additional reporting by Laura Brzyski and Gina Tomaine. Parts were published as “Because you can ski, ski, ski — whee!” in the December 2022 issue of Philadelphia magazine.
