No mountain in Pennsylvania drops more than about 1,100 feet, and every one of them lives on snow guns. That’s the honest starting point, and it doesn’t stop the state from running one of the busiest ski markets in the East: 21 ski areas belong to the state’s ski association, most within a two-hour drive of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, New York, Baltimore or Washington. This guide compares every one of the ski resorts in Pennsylvania on the things that decide a trip: vertical drop, trails, night skiing, which season pass covers it, where to sleep and how long the drive is.
Quick answer: For the most vertical near Philadelphia, ski Blue Mountain (1,082 feet, the most in the state). For a Pittsburgh weekend with the most terrain, go to Seven Springs. Families who want tubing and an indoor waterpark should book Camelback, and skiers who just want long runs and no fuss should drive to Elk Mountain. Epic Pass holders get eight Vail resorts, Ikon covers Blue Mountain and Camelback, and the Indy Pass covers eight independent hills.
Last updated September 24, 2026. Resort stats, pass lists and season details were checked that day against Ski PA (the Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association), the resorts’ own sites and the Epic, Ikon and Indy pass lists. Trail and lift counts are the ones resorts list with Ski PA; they change a little every season.
- Opening days for 2026-27 aren’t posted yet. Most Pennsylvania areas open between late November and mid-December, when nights get cold enough to make snow. Camelback opened on December 3 last season.
- Three pass families cover 18 of the 21 areas: Epic (Vail’s eight resorts), Ikon (Blue Mountain and Camelback) and Indy (eight independents). The 2026-27 Indy Pass has already sold out.
- Big Boulder’s snow tubing was closed in 2025-26, though skiing and night skiing ran. Check before you promise the kids tubing there.
- Nemacolin’s ski hill is now The Peak at Nemacolin. It’s a small hill attached to a big resort.
On this page: All resorts compared | Passes | Which is right for you | Poconos and Lehigh Valley | Northeast | South Central | Laurel Highlands and West | Central Mountains | Snow tubing | First timers | Where to stay | Costs | When to go | Tips | FAQ
Ski Resorts in Pennsylvania Compared
Here’s every Ski PA member area side by side, sorted by vertical drop. Vertical is the height difference between the top and the bottom, and it’s the best single number for how long your runs will feel. Drive times are from the nearest of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg.
| Resort | Region | Vertical | Trails | Night skiing | Pass | Drive from nearest hub |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Mountain | Lehigh Valley/Poconos | 1,082 ft | 40 | Every night | Ikon | 1½ hr from Philadelphia |
| Blue Knob | Central | 1,072 ft | About 34 | Every night | Indy | 2 hr from Pittsburgh |
| Montage Mountain | Scranton | 1,020 ft | 26 | Every night | Indy | 2 hr from Philadelphia |
| Elk Mountain | Endless Mountains | 1,000 ft | 27 | Yes | None of the three | 2½ hr from Harrisburg |
| Whitetail | South Central | 935 ft | 20 | Until 10pm | Epic | 1¾ hr from Harrisburg |
| Camelback | Poconos | 800 ft | 39 | Yes | Ikon | 2 hr from Philadelphia |
| Laurel Mountain | Laurel Highlands | 761 ft | 20 | Yes | Epic | 1½ hr from Pittsburgh |
| Seven Springs | Laurel Highlands | 750 ft | 33 | Yes | Epic | 1¼ hr from Pittsburgh |
| Shawnee Mountain | Poconos | 700 ft | 23 | Yes | Indy | 2 hr from Philadelphia |
| Ski Big Bear | Pike County | 650 ft | 18 | Yes | Indy | 3 hr from Harrisburg |
| Jack Frost | Poconos | 600 ft | Not listed | No | Epic | 1¾ hr from Philadelphia |
| Liberty | South Central | 600 ft | 16 | Every night | Epic | 1¼ hr from Harrisburg |
| Roundtop | South Central | 600 ft | 16 | Yes | Epic | 40 min from Harrisburg |
| Ski Sawmill | North Central | 515 ft | 12 | Every night | Indy | 2½ hr from Harrisburg |
| Tussey Mountain | Central | 515 ft | 8 | Every night | Indy | 1½ hr from Harrisburg |
| Bear Creek | Lehigh Valley | 510 ft | 21 | Every night | Indy | 1¼ hr from Philadelphia |
| Big Boulder | Poconos | 475 ft | 15 | Every night | Epic | 1¾ hr from Philadelphia |
| Hidden Valley | Laurel Highlands | 470 ft | 25 | Wednesday-Sunday | Epic | 1¼ hr from Pittsburgh |
| The Peak at Nemacolin | Laurel Highlands | 300 ft | 7 | Fri, Sat, holidays | None of the three | 1¼ hr from Pittsburgh |
| Spring Mountain | Philadelphia suburbs | Not listed | Not listed | Check site | Indy | 45 min from Philadelphia |
| Mount Pleasant of Edinboro | Erie County | Not listed | Not listed | Check site | None of the three | 2 hr from Pittsburgh |
Two caveats. First, these figures come from what each resort lists with Ski PA, and the association’s own pages aren’t always up to date: its Camelback listing, for instance, repeats Blue Mountain’s figures, so we used Camelback’s own numbers instead (800 feet, 39 trails, 14 lifts). Second, trail counts flatter small hills. A 20-trail mountain with 500 feet of vertical skis very differently from a 20-trail mountain with 900. Look at the vertical first.
Which Pass Covers Which Mountain
Pennsylvania skiing splits cleanly between the three big multi-resort passes, and picking the right one saves more money than any lift-ticket deal.
| Pass | Pennsylvania resorts | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Epic Pass (Vail Resorts) | Seven Springs, Hidden Valley, Laurel Mountain, Liberty, Roundtop, Whitetail, Jack Frost, Big Boulder | Skiers near Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Baltimore or DC, and anyone heading west to Vail’s big mountains |
| Ikon Pass | Blue Mountain, Camelback | Philadelphia and New York skiers; 7 days at each on the full pass, 5 with blackouts on Ikon Base |
| Indy Pass | Bear Creek, Blue Knob, Montage, Shawnee, Ski Big Bear, Ski Sawmill, Spring Mountain, Tussey Mountain | Skiers who like smaller, independent hills and two days at each; 2026-27 passes are sold out |
| Local passes | Blue Mountain and Camelback share the Peak-to-Peak Poconos Pass; most independents sell their own season passes | Anyone who skis one region all winter |
Our view: if you’ll ski more than five days at the Vail resorts, an Epic product pays for itself fast, because walk-up window prices are the most expensive way to ski. If you’re in Philadelphia and only ski the Poconos, the Peak-to-Peak pass covers both of the biggest mountains in the east of the state. Elk Mountain, The Peak at Nemacolin and Mount Pleasant sit outside all three big passes, so buy direct. Whatever you ski, buy lift tickets online ahead of time: the major operators price by date and charge the most at the window.
Which Pennsylvania Ski Resort Is Right for You?
Most people pick a mountain by habit or by the pass in their wallet. A better way is to start from where you live and who’s coming with you.
- From Philadelphia: Blue Mountain for the best skiing within 90 minutes, Bear Creek for after-work night sessions, Spring Mountain for a child’s first day, and Camelback or Big Boulder for a family weekend in the Poconos. Montage and Elk are worth the longer drive when you want bigger runs and fewer people.
- From New York and North Jersey: the Poconos are closest, with Camelback, Shawnee and Blue Mountain the usual targets. Elk Mountain and Ski Big Bear are quieter alternatives that sit closer to the New York line than most Pennsylvanians realize.
- From Pittsburgh: Seven Springs for a full resort weekend, Hidden Valley for beginners, Laurel Mountain for vertical without the crowds, and Blue Knob when you want the hardest terrain in the state. All but Blue Knob are on the Epic Pass.
- From Harrisburg, York and Lancaster: Roundtop is the home hill, 40 minutes away. Liberty and Whitetail are each about 1¼ to 1¾ hours away, and Tussey is the easy choice if you’re heading to State College anyway.
- From Baltimore and Washington: Whitetail and Liberty sit just north of the Maryland line, with Roundtop a little farther. Whitetail has the vertical; Liberty has the slopeside hotel.
Then match the mountain to the skier. First-timers learn fastest on a small, uncrowded hill with good lessons: Spring Mountain, Hidden Valley, Big Boulder, Shawnee, Roundtop and Tussey all fit. Families with mixed abilities do best at resorts with lodging and something for non-skiers, which points to Seven Springs and Camelback. Strong skiers should look at the vertical column first: Blue Mountain, Blue Knob, Montage, Elk and Whitetail are the only mountains in the state that drop more than 900 feet. Park riders will find the most features at Seven Springs, which lists seven terrain parks, and at Bear Creek and the Vail resorts. Night skiers have the most choice of any group: most of the state lights up after dark, and Montage and Blue Mountain pair lights with real vertical.
Poconos and Lehigh Valley Ski Resorts
The eastern mountains are the busiest in the state because they’re closest to Philadelphia, New York and New Jersey. Weekend traffic on I-80 and the Northeast Extension is part of the experience; midweek and night sessions are the way around it. For the rest of the region’s winter, from lodges to waterparks, see our guide to things to do in the Poconos.
1. Blue Mountain Resort
Ikon; 1,082 feet, the most vertical in Pennsylvania. Blue Mountain has the biggest drop in the state, and it’s the mountain to pick if you want real runs within 90 minutes of Philadelphia. The resort lists 40 ski trails and 14 lifts, with night skiing every night and snow tubing, and its long, steep upper trails are the closest thing in the east of the state to a proper mountain. It was called Blue Mountain Ski Area until 1989 and is now managed by Peregrine Hospitality alongside Camelback, which is why the two share the Ikon Pass and the Peak-to-Peak Poconos Pass.
Plan it: Blue Mountain Resort, Palmerton (Carbon County). About 1½ hours from Philadelphia and 1¾ from Harrisburg. Ikon Pass (7 days full, 5 on Ikon Base with blackouts) or the Peak-to-Peak pass; day tickets online through skibluemt.com. Hotels in the Lehigh Valley and Palmerton area are a short drive away. Best for: strong intermediates and experts, Philadelphia day trips.
2. Camelback Resort
Ikon; 800 feet; the family mega-resort. Camelback’s own numbers: 800 feet of vertical, 166 skiable acres, 39 trails and 14 lifts, with snowmaking and night skiing. What sets it apart is everything around the slopes: more than 40 snow tubing lanes, the Camelback Lodge and its indoor Aquatopia waterpark, and easy access right off I-80 in Tannersville. That access is also its weakness: on holiday weekends the lift lines and parking lots show just how close it is to New York. It opened its 2025-26 season on December 3.
Plan it: Camelback Resort, Tannersville (Monroe County), off I-80. About 2 hours from Philadelphia and 2¼ from Harrisburg. Ikon Pass or the Peak-to-Peak pass; tickets and tubing sessions through camelbackresort.com. Stay at Camelback Lodge for the waterpark, or in Stroudsburg. Go midweek or at night if you can. Best for: families, beginners, a ski-and-waterpark weekend.
3. Jack Frost
Epic; 600 feet; daytime skiing. Jack Frost, near Blakeslee, is the daytime half of Vail’s Poconos pair. Ski PA’s description calls its trails progressive, good for building skills toward the harder runs, and lists a 2,700-foot longest run and snow tubing. There’s no night skiing listed here, which is the point of the pairing: Big Boulder is about 12 miles away and runs lights every night, so you can ski Jack Frost by day and Big Boulder after dark on the same ticket.
Plan it: Jack Frost Mountain, Kidder Township near Blakeslee (Carbon County). About 1¾ hours from Philadelphia and 2 from Harrisburg. Epic Pass; tickets through jfbb.com. Condos nearby and in Lake Harmony. Best for: intermediates, Epic Pass holders from Philadelphia.
4. Big Boulder
Epic; 475 feet; night skiing every night. Big Boulder is the smaller, livelier sibling, with 15 slopes beside Big Boulder Lake, a dedicated learning hill, terrain parks and lights every night. Its snow tubing park didn’t run in 2025-26, even though skiing and night skiing did, so don’t count on tubing without checking the current season. Townhouses and condos sit at the entrance, which makes it an easy base for a Poconos weekend.
Plan it: Big Boulder, Lake Harmony (Carbon County). About 1¾ hours from Philadelphia and 2 from Harrisburg. Epic Pass; tickets through jfbb.com. Lodging at the entrance and around Lake Harmony. Best for: beginners, park riders, after-work night skiing.
5. Shawnee Mountain
Indy; 700 feet; family-owned. Shawnee, near the Delaware Water Gap, calls itself the Poconos’ family-owned, family-focused ski area, and it feels like the opposite of the corporate resorts up the road: 23 trails, two terrain parks, snow tubing, a high-speed quad and night skiing, with a longest run of about a mile. It’s a strong choice for families and learners who want a manageable mountain without the I-80 crowds.
Plan it: Shawnee Mountain Ski Area, Smithfield Township near East Stroudsburg (Monroe County). About 2 hours from Philadelphia and 2¼ from Harrisburg. Indy Pass or Shawnee’s own passes and tickets through shawneemt.com. Hotels about 2½ miles away. Best for: families, beginners, Indy Pass holders.
6. Bear Creek Mountain Resort
Indy; 510 feet; the closest full resort to Philadelphia. Bear Creek, in Berks County near Macungie, is a four-season resort with 21 slopes, three quads and a triple, three terrain parks, snow tubing and night skiing every night. At about 75 minutes from Center City, it’s the easiest place for Philadelphians to ski after work, and it has its own lodge for a weekend. The vertical is modest; the convenience isn’t.
Plan it: Bear Creek Mountain Resort, Longswamp Township near Macungie (Berks County). About 1¼ hours from Philadelphia and 1½ from Harrisburg. Indy Pass or tickets through bcmountainresort.com. Best for: Philadelphia night skiing, beginners, a quick overnight.
7. Spring Mountain Adventures
Indy; small; 45 minutes from Philadelphia. Spring Mountain, in Montgomery County, is the closest skiing to Center City and it knows its job: lessons, first days on snow and quick sessions for local families. It’s an Indy Pass partner and sells 4th-grade season passes and daily tickets. Don’t drive across the state for it, but for a Philadelphia kid’s first ski day it’s hard to beat.
Plan it: Spring Mountain Adventures, Spring Mount (Montgomery County). About 45 minutes from Philadelphia. Indy Pass or rates and hours on springmountainadventures.com. Best for: learners, local families.
8. Ski Big Bear
Indy; 650 feet; tucked away near the Delaware. Ski Big Bear, at Masthope Mountain in Pike County near the New York line, has 18 slopes, four doubles, night skiing and a single tubing lane, with lodging through local partners. It’s a small, quiet hill near the New York line, and an easy Indy Pass day if you’re staying in the Upper Delaware or the northern Poconos.
Plan it: Ski Big Bear, Lackawaxen Township (Pike County). About 3 hours from Harrisburg and 3¼ from Philadelphia. Indy Pass or its own tickets. Best for: quiet slopes, Upper Delaware weekends.
Scranton and the Endless Mountains
The northeast has the best combination of vertical and cold in the state, with two mountains that drop about 1,000 feet. It’s also a longer drive from Philadelphia, which thins the crowds.
9. Montage Mountain
Indy; 1,020 feet; night skiing every night. Montage rises right above the city of Scranton, with 26 slopes served by a quad, three triples and a double, snow tubing, and lights every night on some of the longest runs in the state. That combination, big vertical plus night skiing, is rare in Pennsylvania and makes Montage the best after-work mountain in the northeast. It’s an Indy Pass partner.
Plan it: Montage Mountain, Montage Mountain Road, Scranton (Lackawanna County). About 2 hours from Philadelphia or Harrisburg. Indy Pass or tickets through montagemountainresorts.com. Hotels line the access road, with more in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Best for: night skiing, strong intermediates.
10. Elk Mountain
No big pass; 1,000 feet; a skier’s mountain. Elk, in the Endless Mountains of Susquehanna County, has 27 slopes, a quad and five doubles, night skiing, a longest run of about 9,000 feet and no snow tubing at all. It’s the purist’s pick: no waterpark, no mega-lodge, just long top-to-bottom runs, and the view from the summit over the snowy farms of the Endless Mountains. It isn’t on the Epic, Ikon or Indy lists, so buy direct.
Plan it: Elk Mountain Ski Resort, Herrick Township near Union Dale (Susquehanna County). About 2½ hours from Harrisburg and 2¾ from Philadelphia. Tickets direct from the resort. Hotels, B&Bs and chalets nearby. Best for: experienced skiers, long runs.
South Central: Harrisburg, Gettysburg and the Maryland Line
Vail’s three southern resorts draw from Harrisburg, York, Baltimore and Washington. Whitetail has the vertical, Liberty has the slopeside hotel and Roundtop is the closest to Harrisburg.
11. Whitetail Resort
Epic; 935 feet; the southern big mountain. Whitetail, just north of the Maryland line near Mercersburg, has 20 slopes, a high-speed detachable quad (the Whitetail Express) and night skiing until 10pm, plus slopeside condos. With 935 feet of vertical, it’s the biggest mountain in south-central Pennsylvania and the closest real vertical to Baltimore and Washington, which is exactly why its weekends get busy. Go midweek or early.
Plan it: Whitetail Resort, 13805 Blairs Valley Road, Mercersburg (Franklin County). About 1¾ hours from Harrisburg, 3 from Pittsburgh and 3¼ from Philadelphia. Epic Pass; tickets through skiwhitetail.com. Slopeside condos, or hotels in Chambersburg and Hagerstown. Best for: intermediates and experts from the Baltimore-Washington side.
12. Liberty Mountain Resort
Epic; 600 feet; slopeside hotel. Liberty, in Carroll Valley near Gettysburg, has 16 slopes, five quads, night skiing every night, snow tubing and a slopeside hotel, which is rare in this part of the state. It’s a good mountain for families and improving skiers, and it pairs neatly with a Gettysburg weekend.
Plan it: Liberty Mountain Resort, 78 Country Club Trail, Carroll Valley (Adams County). About 1¼ hours from Harrisburg and 2¾ from Philadelphia. Epic Pass; tickets through libertymountainresort.com. Best for: families, a ski day plus Gettysburg.
13. Roundtop Mountain Resort
Epic; 600 feet; 40 minutes from Harrisburg. Roundtop, in York County, is Harrisburg’s home hill: 16 slopes, three quads and two triples, night skiing and snow tubing, with hotels about seven miles away. It’s the easiest after-work ski session in central Pennsylvania and a good first mountain for kids.
Plan it: Roundtop Mountain Resort, 925 Roundtop Road, Lewisberry (York County). About 40 minutes from Harrisburg and 2¼ hours from Philadelphia. Epic Pass; tickets through skiroundtop.com. Best for: Harrisburg and York locals, night skiing, learners.
Laurel Highlands and Western Pennsylvania
The Laurel Highlands sit high enough, with summits near 3,000 feet, to catch more natural snow than most of the state, and Pittsburgh is barely an hour away. All three big resorts here are Vail’s.
14. Seven Springs Mountain Resort
Epic; 750 feet; the biggest resort in the west. Seven Springs is the all-rounder: 33 slopes, two high-speed quads among more than a dozen lifts, seven terrain parks, snow tubing and night skiing, on a summit near 3,000 feet. It’s a full resort, with a hotel, condos, cabins and chalets, so you can stay on the mountain all weekend. Hidden Valley and Laurel Mountain are nearby sister resorts on the same Epic Pass. The flip side of all that choice is crowds: on holiday weeks and February Saturdays the lodge and the main lifts get busy, so ski the far side of the mountain in the morning and save the lodge for a late lunch.
Plan it: Seven Springs Mountain Resort, 777 Waterwheel Drive, Seven Springs (Somerset County). About 1¼ hours from Pittsburgh, 3 from Harrisburg and 4½ from Philadelphia. Epic Pass; tickets and lodging through 7springs.com. Best for: Pittsburgh weekends, park riders, groups with mixed abilities.
15. Hidden Valley Resort
Epic; 470 feet; the family mountain. Hidden Valley, a few miles from Seven Springs, is gentler and quieter, with 25 slopes, snow tubing and night skiing Wednesday to Sunday. It suits beginners and families who want the Seven Springs area without the Seven Springs crowds, and the Epic Pass covers both.
Plan it: Hidden Valley Resort, 1 Craighead Road, Hidden Valley (Somerset County). About 1¼ hours from Pittsburgh and 2¾ from Harrisburg. Epic Pass; tickets through hiddenvalleyresort.com. Best for: beginners, young families.
16. Laurel Mountain
Epic; 761 feet; old-school. Laurel Mountain, near Ligonier, runs in Laurel Mountain State Park, with 20 slopes, a single quad, night skiing and a stone-chimneyed lodge. There’s no tubing and no terrain park. It’s a smaller, simpler operation than its sisters, with more vertical than Seven Springs, and it’s the one to choose when you’d rather ski than stand in line.
Plan it: Laurel Mountain, Ligonier Township (Westmoreland County). About 1½ hours from Pittsburgh and 3 from Harrisburg. Epic Pass; tickets through laurelmountainski.com. Stay in Ligonier. Best for: skiers who want vertical without the crowds.
17. The Peak at Nemacolin
No big pass; 300 feet; a resort’s backyard hill. The Peak at Nemacolin is the ski hill of the Nemacolin resort near Farmington: seven slopes, a quad and two surface lifts, snow tubing and night skiing on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays. It’s not a destination for skiing on its own, but for guests of the resort it’s a painless way to get kids on snow between spa and dinner.
Plan it: Nemacolin, near Farmington (Fayette County). About 1¼ hours from Pittsburgh. Tickets through the resort. Best for: Nemacolin guests, first-timers.
18. Mount Pleasant of Edinboro
No big pass; a local hill near Erie. Mount Pleasant, in Erie County, is a community ski area with lessons, a slopeside grille, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. It catches lake-effect snow off Lake Erie that the rest of the state can only envy, and it’s the natural choice for Erie families. Stats aren’t listed with Ski PA, so check its trail page.
Plan it: Mount Pleasant of Edinboro, Washington Township (Erie County). About 2 hours from Pittsburgh. Tickets and lessons through skimountpleasant.com. Best for: Erie locals, cross-country skiers.
Central Mountains
The middle of the state has the highest skiable summit in Pennsylvania and two small, friendly areas that serve Penn State and the northern tier.
19. Blue Knob
Indy; 1,072 feet; the highest skiable mountain in the state. Blue Knob calls itself the highest skiable mountain in Pennsylvania, and Ski PA lists its summit at 3,146 feet, with 1,072 feet of vertical, a longest run of about two miles, night skiing every night and snow tubing. It’s also an upside-down mountain: you park and start at the top. The terrain is the most challenging in the state, with steep, narrow old-school trails, and conditions swing with the weather, so check the report before you go.
Plan it: Blue Knob, Claysburg area (Bedford County). About 2 hours from Pittsburgh and 2¼ from Harrisburg. Indy Pass or tickets through the resort. Condos nearby. Best for: experts, powder days.
20. Tussey Mountain
Indy; 515 feet; Penn State’s hill. Tussey, just outside Boalsburg and State College, is a small, friendly area with eight slopes, a quad, a double and a T-bar, snow tubing and night skiing every night. It was selling 2026-27 season passes and intramural ski packages in September, and in summer it switches to concerts and a beer garden.
Plan it: Tussey Mountain, Boalsburg (Centre County). About 1½ hours from Harrisburg and 2¾ from Pittsburgh. Indy Pass or passes through tusseymountain.com. Best for: Penn State students, State College families.
21. Ski Sawmill
Indy; 515 feet; the northern tier’s family resort. Ski Sawmill, near Morris in the Pennsylvania Wilds, has 12 slopes, three lifts, snow tubing, night skiing every night and lodging on site. It’s the ski area for the Wellsboro and Williamsport side of the state, and early-bird season passes for 2026-27 are on sale until October 31.
Plan it: Ski Sawmill, Oregon Hill Road near Morris (Tioga and Lycoming counties). About 2½ hours from Harrisburg. Indy Pass or passes through skisawmill.com. Best for: PA Wilds weekends, families.
Snow Tubing at Pennsylvania Ski Resorts
Snow tubing is the easy win for groups with non-skiers: no lessons, no rentals, just a lift or a conveyor to the top and lanes of groomed snow. Camelback runs the biggest operation, with more than 40 lanes. Ski PA also lists tubing at Blue Mountain, Jack Frost, Shawnee, Bear Creek, Ski Big Bear, Montage, Liberty, Roundtop, Seven Springs, Hidden Valley, The Peak at Nemacolin, Blue Knob, Tussey and Ski Sawmill. Elk Mountain and Laurel Mountain have none, and Big Boulder’s tubing didn’t run last season.
Most parks sell timed sessions, often online only on busy days, and have minimum age or height rules for the big lanes, so check before you drive. Night tubing sessions, where they run, are usually the cheapest and the most fun. On holiday weekends tubing often sells out before skiing does, so book the session first and plan the rest of the day around it.
Skiing in Pennsylvania for the First Time
Pennsylvania is one of the best places in the East to learn, because the hills are small, close and cheap to reach, and nearly every area runs a ski school. A few things make the first day go well.
Book a lesson package, not just a lift ticket. Most resorts sell beginner packages that bundle a lesson, rentals and a lift ticket for the learning area, and they sell out on winter weekends. Book online a week or more ahead for a Saturday.
Pick the right hill and the right day. A weekday or a Sunday afternoon at a small hill beats a holiday Saturday at a big resort. Crowded beginner slopes are where most first days go wrong.
Dress in layers, not cotton. Pennsylvania ski days run from single digits to 40 degrees and damp, sometimes on the same day. Wear a synthetic or wool base layer, a warm mid layer and a waterproof jacket and pants, plus gloves or mittens, goggles and a helmet, which most resorts rent.
Arrive early. Rentals, lessons and parking all take longer than you expect on a first visit. Getting to the rental shop an hour before your lesson isn’t overcautious; it’s normal.
Keep the first day short. Two lessons and a couple of hours of practice are plenty. Tired legs cause most beginner falls, so stop while it’s still fun, and come back for night skiing another day.
Where to Stay for a Pennsylvania Ski Weekend
Where you sleep shapes the trip as much as where you ski. Slopeside lodging means walking to the lift; a town base means better dinners and a choice of mountains.
- Poconos: Camelback Lodge puts you next to the slopes and an indoor waterpark; Big Boulder has townhouses and condos at its entrance; and Lake Harmony, Stroudsburg and Jim Thorpe make good town bases for Jack Frost, Big Boulder, Camelback and Shawnee. Blue Mountain skiers often stay in the Lehigh Valley.
- Laurel Highlands: Seven Springs has the most slopeside choice in the state, with a hotel, condos, cabins and chalets. Ligonier suits Laurel Mountain, and Somerset, off the Turnpike, works for all three Vail resorts.
- South Central: Liberty has a slopeside hotel; Whitetail has slopeside condos; and Gettysburg, Chambersburg and Harrisburg are the town bases.
- Northeast: Scranton and Wilkes-Barre have the hotels for Montage, and Elk skiers stay in chalets, B&Bs and small hotels in the Endless Mountains.
- Central: State College serves Tussey, Blue Knob has condos nearby, and Ski Sawmill has lodging on site.
Prices swing with the calendar. Slopeside rooms and condos cost the most on holiday weeks and February weekends, and the same room can cost far less midweek in January. Book holiday weeks months ahead, and look at town hotels when the slopeside places are full or overpriced.
What a Pennsylvania Ski Day Costs
The big operators change lift-ticket prices by the day, so check the resort’s site before you buy. Here is what drives the price, and how to pay less.
- Date and time. Saturdays and holiday weeks cost the most; weekdays and night sessions cost the least. Night tickets at the Poconos and south-central resorts are the cheapest real skiing in the state.
- When you buy. Vail’s resorts and the Peregrine pair charge less online and in advance than at the window, and the gap is widest on busy days.
- Passes. A season or multi-day pass usually pays for itself within a handful of days. Epic’s cheaper versions, Ikon Base, the Indy Pass and the independents’ own passes are the ones to compare.
- Rentals and lessons. Renting gear adds a big chunk to a first day; beginner packages that bundle rentals, a lesson and a ticket are usually the best value.
- Kids. Look for 4th-grade passes at resorts such as Spring Mountain, and for the state’s PA Outdoor Adventure Pass, which Ski PA recommends for 4th and 5th graders.
- Food and parking. Resort food is expensive everywhere; pack lunch and snacks for the car. Parking is usually included, but the closest lots fill first on weekends.
When Is Ski Season in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania’s season depends on cold, not snowfall. Resorts need a run of nights in the 20s to make snow, so opening days move from year to year: most areas aim for late November to mid-December, and Camelback opened on December 3 in 2025. Check each resort’s site for its 2026-27 opening date. Most close in mid-to-late March, and a few keep a trail or two open later in a cold spring.
The best stretch is January and February, when the base is deepest and the snowmaking has had time to cover the whole mountain. Avoid the week between Christmas and New Year’s and the Martin Luther King and Presidents’ Day weekends if you can; they’re the busiest days of the year everywhere. The quietest skiing is midweek in January, and night sessions on any weekday.
Set your expectations by the calendar. Early-season skiing, in the first weeks after opening, usually means a handful of trails on machine-made snow, with the rest of the mountain opening as the cold allows. Late-season skiing in March is softer and slushier, especially on south-facing slopes by afternoon, but it’s also sunnier, calmer and often cheaper. If you only get one weekend, make it late January or early February, and check the resort’s trail count the night before, not the week before.
Tickets, Crowds and Lodging: How to Ski Pennsylvania Well
- Buy lift tickets online, ahead of time. Vail’s resorts and the Peregrine pair price by date and charge the most at the window. Night and midweek tickets are the cheapest.
- Match the mountain to the group. Beginners do best at Hidden Valley, Big Boulder, Shawnee, Spring Mountain and Roundtop. Strong skiers want Blue Mountain, Blue Knob, Elk, Montage or Whitetail.
- Stay on the mountain for a weekend. Seven Springs has the most slopeside lodging, Liberty has a slopeside hotel, Whitetail and Big Boulder have condos, and Camelback’s lodge comes with an indoor waterpark.
- Check the conditions page on the morning you go. Pennsylvania weather swings from powder to rain in a day, and resorts post which trails are open.
- Bring kids in fourth or fifth grade? Ski PA points them to the state’s new PA Outdoor Adventure Pass for winter activities, and several resorts sell their own 4th-grade passes.
- Drive carefully. Mountain roads in the Poconos, Laurel Highlands and around Blue Knob ice up at night. Carry a scraper, a blanket and a full tank.
What’s Changed for 2026-27
- Pass lists: Vail’s eight Pennsylvania resorts stay on the 2026-27 Epic Pass; no sale of them was found. Blue Mountain and Camelback stay on Ikon under Peregrine Hospitality.
- Indy Pass: eight Pennsylvania independents are on the 2026-27 pass, which has sold out; buy those resorts’ own tickets or passes instead.
- Big Boulder tubing: closed in 2025-26. Check the 2026-27 status before you plan around it.
- Nemacolin’s ski hill is now called The Peak at Nemacolin.
- Camelbeach, Camelback’s outdoor waterpark, was closed for the 2026 summer season; the indoor Aquatopia waterpark at Camelback Lodge still runs, and it’s what matters for a ski weekend.
Ski Resorts in Pennsylvania: Your Questions
How many ski resorts are in Pennsylvania?
Ski PA, the state’s ski areas association, lists 21 member areas, from Blue Mountain and Camelback in the east to Seven Springs in the Laurel Highlands and Mount Pleasant near Erie. A few smaller community hills and snow tubing parks operate outside the association.
What is the biggest ski resort in Pennsylvania?
By vertical drop, Blue Mountain near Palmerton, at 1,082 feet, just ahead of Blue Knob at 1,072 feet. By terrain and facilities, Seven Springs in the Laurel Highlands and Camelback in the Poconos are the biggest full resorts, with the most lodging, lifts and extras.
When do ski resorts open in Pennsylvania?
Usually between late November and mid-December, as soon as nights get cold enough for snowmaking. Camelback opened on December 3 in 2025. Check each resort’s site for its 2026-27 opening date. Most resorts close in mid-to-late March.
What is the best ski resort near Philadelphia?
Blue Mountain, about 1½ hours away, has the most vertical in the state. Bear Creek, about 75 minutes away, is best for after-work night skiing, and Spring Mountain, 45 minutes away, is best for a child’s first day. Camelback, about two hours away, is the pick for families who want tubing and a waterpark.
What is the best ski resort near Pittsburgh?
Seven Springs, about 1¼ hours away, has the most terrain, lodging and terrain parks. Hidden Valley suits beginners, and Laurel Mountain offers more vertical with fewer people. All three are on the Epic Pass. Blue Knob, about two hours away, has the steepest terrain.
Which Pennsylvania ski resorts are on the Epic or Ikon Pass?
The Epic Pass covers Vail’s eight: Seven Springs, Hidden Valley, Laurel Mountain, Liberty, Roundtop, Whitetail, Jack Frost and Big Boulder. The Ikon Pass covers Blue Mountain and Camelback. Eight independents are on the Indy Pass, and Elk Mountain sells its own tickets.
Which Pennsylvania ski resorts have lodging on the mountain?
Seven Springs has the most, with a hotel, condos, cabins and chalets. Liberty has a slopeside hotel, Whitetail and Big Boulder have condos, Camelback has its lodge and indoor waterpark, and Bear Creek, Nemacolin and Ski Sawmill have lodging on site.
Are there Pennsylvania ski resorts with cabins?
Yes. Seven Springs has cabins and chalets as well as its hotel and condos, and Laurel Mountain is surrounded by rental cabins and chalets around Ligonier. Elk Mountain skiers often rent chalets in the Endless Mountains, and Ski Sawmill has lodging on site in the Pennsylvania Wilds.
Related Pennsylvania Guides
- Things to Do in the Poconos: lodges, waterparks and winter weekends around Camelback, Blue Mountain, Jack Frost and Big Boulder.
Sources and How We Checked
Everything on this page was checked on September 24, 2026 against the official sources below and compiled from them; we don’t claim first-hand visits. Drive times are free-flow estimates from OpenStreetMap-based routing (the Valhalla engine) from downtown Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, rounded to the nearest 15 minutes, so add time for snow and weekend traffic.
- Ski PA (Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association): member areas and the resort-listed stats for vertical, trails, lifts, night skiing and tubing.
- Epic Pass, Mid-Atlantic: Vail’s eight Pennsylvania resorts for 2026-27.
- Camelback Resort: Camelback’s stats, passes and 2025-26 opening day.
- Camelback and Blue Mountain 2026-27 season passes: Blue Mountain’s trails, lifts and history.
- Indy Pass, Mid-Atlantic: the independent resorts on the pass.
We also checked the websites of Shawnee Mountain, Tussey Mountain, Ski Sawmill, Mount Pleasant of Edinboro, Bear Creek, Montage Mountain and Spring Mountain Adventures.
Pennsylvania Tourism Guide is an independent publication. We are not affiliated with Ski PA, Vail Resorts, Alterra (Ikon Pass), Indy Pass, Peregrine Hospitality or any ski area named here, and no one paid to be included.
Photo Credits
- Montage Mountain, Scranton: photo by Montage Mountain Resorts, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Camelback ski area from the air: photo by Jkarps, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Chairlifts at Shawnee Mountain: photo by Trolley8, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- View from the top of Elk Mountain: photo by Ekem, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Whitetail Resort base area: photo by G. Edward Johnson, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
- Liberty Mountain Resort base area: photo by Baileypalblue, via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
- Laurel Mountain ski lodge: photo by StayLaurel, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)