Last Updated on 20th June 2023 by Steve
Pennsylvania offers a wide range of skiing in ski areas across the state, even though the mountains in the region are nowhere near the vertical drop of terrain out west. The Pocono Mountains have the greatest concentration of ski resorts, but there are also options closer to the western and southern parts of the state.
Map of Biggest Pennsylvania Ski Resorts
© SkiResorts.net
Here are ten of the best ski resorts in Pennsylvania, ranked by number of ski lifts:
Blue Mountain Ski Resort
Blue Mountain offers Pennsylvania’s longest ski vertical at over 1000 feet, as well as hosting some of the most extensive terrain in the state. The popular ski area is one of the best for intermediate and expert skiers and snowboarders and thus can get busy on weekends and public holidays.
The ski area is located in Little Gap Valley, roughly eight miles to the east of Palmerton. The mountain, on Kittatinny Ridge, is actually part of the Appalachian range and is not far from the Appalachian Trail and the cluster of Pocono mountain ski resorts.
Blue Mountain Ski Video
Blue Mountain Ski Facts
Lifts: Blue Mountain Resort offers a total of 13 lifts for skiing (plus another three for snow tubing), including six chairlifts
Ski area: There are 40 runs with a good proportion at advanced and expert level over the 164 acres of skiable terrain.
Vertical drop: The difference between the valley and the top station is 1082 feet
Summit elevation: The skiing at Blue Mountain tops out at 1600 feet
Website: www.skibluemt.com
Camelback Mountain Ski Resort
Camelback Mountain is one of premier ski resorts in the Poconos. Situated just off I-80 near the town of Tannerville, the ski area has the same number of lifts as Blue Mountain, a couple of acres more of skiable terrain and a couple of hundred feet less in vertical drop.
The resort has expanded into year-round operations, but is still best known as a winter area. It claims to have the largest snow tubing park in the USA.
Camelback Mountain Ski Video
Camelback Mountain Ski Facts
Lifts: Camelback Mountain Resort offers a total of 13 lifts for downhill skiing (plus another two for tubing), including nine chairlifts.
Ski area: There are 35 runs with a mix of ability levels over the 166 acres of skiable terrain.
Vertical drop: The height difference between the valley and the top station is 800 feet.
Summit elevation: The skiing at Camelback Mountain reaches a top altitude of 2133 feet.
Website: www.camelbackresort.com
Seven Springs Mountain Resort
Seven Springs is a relatively large Pennsylvania ski resort only 60 miles to the south-east of Pittsburgh. The vertical drop may not be spectacular but the elevation is relatively high for this Mid-Atlantic region and the terrain is the most extensive in the state.
The resort has plenty of accommodation around the skiing and the après-ski is renowned for its good time vibe. The layout of the runs is well-planned and the efficient ski lift system is almost completely made up of chairlifts.
Seven Springs Ski Facts
Lifts: Seven Springs Mountain Resort offers a total of 10 ski lifts, with all but one being chairlifts.
Ski area: There are 33 runs with an even split of difficulties over the 285 acres of skiable terrain.
Vertical drop: The altitude difference between the valley and the top station is 750 feet.
Summit elevation: The skiing at Seven Springs reaches a top altitude of 2994 feet.
Website: www.7springs.com
Shawnee Mountain Ski Resort
Shawnee Mountain is one of the bigger ski resorts in the heart of the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Located near East Stroudsburg and close to the New Jersey state line, the skiing is easily accessible from the major population centres to the east.
The unchallenging nature of the terrain make this a winter destination that families from the tri-state area flock to once the snow (and snowmaking, which covers 100% of the slopes) covers the runs.
Shawnee Mountain Ski Video
Shawnee Mountain Ski Facts
Lifts: Shawnee Mountain offers a total of ten ski lifts, including six chairlifts.
Ski area: There are 23 runs of mainly beginner and intermediate skier standard over the 125 acres of skiable terrain.
Vertical drop: The altitude difference between the valley and the top station is 700 feet.
Summit elevation: The skiing at Shawnee Mountain reaches a height of 1350 feet.
Website: www.shawneemt.com
Jack Frost | Big Boulder
The two ski areas near White Haven in the Pocono Mountains are only five miles apart. They are under the same ownership and share a lift ticket, although the character of each resort is deliberately aimed at different markets.
Big Boulder is known as the ‘boarders’ mountain’ while Jack Frost is more of a traditional ski resort. The history of Big Boulder goes back to the 1940s and it was the first commercial ski resort in Pennsylvania. Sister ski resort Jack Frost was opened in the Seventies.
Jack Frost Big Boulder Ski Facts
Lifts: Jack Frost offers a total of ten ski lifts, with all but one of them chairlifts. Big Boulder offers seven chairlifts and a magic carpet.
Ski area: Jack Frost has 20 trails with a good mix from beginner through to advanced levels. Big Boulder has 15 runs and its snowboarding public can switch from one terrain park to another.
Vertical drop: The altitude difference between the valley and the top station is 600 feet at Jack Frost and 475 feet at Big Boulder.
Summit elevation: The ski runs at Big Boulder reach a top elevation of 2175 feet while the ski slopes at Jack Frost top out at 2000 feet.
Website: www.jfbb.com
Hidden Valley Ski Resort
Hidden Valley is another ski resort in the Laurel Highlands region of southwestern Pennsylvania not far from the city of Pittsburgh.
The ski area is more of a family destination in winter with a good mix of ski slopes suitable for beginner and intermediate skiers.
The ski resort ownership is connected to nearby Seven Springs Mountain Resort and to the skiing at historic Laurel Mountain a little further to the north.
Hidden Valley Ski Facts
Lifts: Hidden Valley has nine ski lifts serving its terrain, which includes five chairlifts.
Ski area: The ski resort has 26 trails which cover 110 skiable acres.
Vertical drop: The difference in height between top and bottom is 470 feet.
Summit elevation: The skiing at Hidden Valley goes up to a top elevation of 2875 feet.
Website: www.hiddenvalleyresort.com
Roundtop Mountain Ski Resort
Roundtop Mountain Resort is a relatively small ski area just to the south of Harrisburg. It is now, along with sister ski resorts Whitetail and Liberty, owned by Vail Resorts.
Although the ski resort has a reputation of being best suited to families and intermediate skiers, there are some more challenging slopes off to the left of the area served by one triple and one quadruple chairlift. There is also a small snow tubing area at the base of the ski lifts.
Roundtop Mountain Ski Facts
Lifts: Roundtop Mountain has eight lifts including five chairlifts.
Ski area: The ski resort has 20 runs which cover 110 skiable acres.
Vertical drop: The difference in height between top and bottom is 600 feet.
Summit elevation: The skiing at Roundtop Mountain rises to a height of 1335 feet.
Website: www.skiroundtop.com
Ski Whitetail
Whitetail Mountain Resort is a ski area on the southern border of Pennsylvania, located just outside the town of Mercersburg. As mentioned above, the resort is now owned by Vail Resorts and is a popular destination for skiers from the Washington DC and Baltimore areas as well as from more local towns and cities.
It features 100% snowmaking on the terrain and night skiing on four evenings in the week.
Ski Whitetail Ski Facts
Lifts: Ski Whitetail has nine lifts, with all but one being chairlifts.
Ski area: The ski resort has 23 runs which cover 109 skiable acres.
Vertical drop: The difference in height between top and bottom is 935 feet.
Summit elevation: The top elevation for skiing at Whitetail is 1800 feet.
Website: www.skiwhitetail.com
Liberty Mountain Resort
Liberty Mountain ski resort is located not far from the Maryland border and around 10 miles from the historic town of Gettysburg. Like the two previous ski areas it is now operated by Vail Resorts.
The mountain was originally developed as a ski resort back in the Sixties and was then known as Chamita. However the ski area declared bankruptcy after a few years and was later resurrected and renamed as Ski Liberty.
Liberty Mountain Ski Facts
Lifts: Liberty Mountain has eight ski lifts, including five chairlifts.
Ski area: The ski resort has 16 trails which cover 100 acres of skiing.
Vertical drop: The difference in height between top and bottom is 620 feet.
Summit elevation: The skiing at Liberty Mountain goes up to 1190 feet.
Website: www.libertymountainresort.com
