Ski Pennsylvania: The Keystone Of Mid-Atlantic Snow Sports -
Pennsylvania is a big state – the Keystone State - as anyone can say who has driven from one end to the other. Much of Pennsylvania remains quite rural.
Founded by William Penn, the state has embraced a broad range of groups, from Quakers to Amish to Pennsylvania Dutch and more. Pennsylvania also is the scene of much American history, from Independence Hall in Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence was signed and where the Liberty Bell hangs, to Gettysburg, the greatest battlefield of the Civil War, where two armies met in a battle that, at the time, seemed inconclusive, but which proved to be the beginning of the end of the conflict.
There are impressive mountains as well, so it should come as no surprise that more than two dozen ski areas grace the state, from the Laurel Highlands to the Pocono Mountains.
Blue Mountain is located in Eastern Pennsylvania, one hour north of Philadelphia, with the greatest vertical in the state, 1,082 feet, 33 trails, three terrain parks, and a 350-foot-long halfpipe, with all terrain lighted for night skiing. Trails are serviced by nine lifts including a high-speed detachable six-seater and quad lifts. Hone your skills in one of the three Learning Centers, one serviced by a triple chair. Snow tube on 14 slides, with three levels of excitement, and three tow lifts.
Camelback Ski Area is located in the heart of the Pocono Mountains. It has 33 trails on 160 skiable acres, 800-foot vertical drop, and 17 lifts including two high-speed quads, three triples, seven doubles, a surface lift at SunKid, and four tubing lifts, snowboard halfpipe, two terrain parks, and a wide selection of trails for all ability levels. Snowmaking and night skiing is offered on all trails.
Hidden Valley is a venerable four-season resort undergoing a renaissance. It has 470 vertical feet. But, they make the most of it. 28 runs covering 140 skiable acres serviced by one quad, two triples, three doubles, and two surface lifts. Snowboarders are welcome on all runs and in the terrain park. Thirty kilometers of cross-country trails are available.
Seven Springs is located in the Laurel Highlands of western Pennsylvania, and offers skiers and riders great variety of terrain served by an impressive lift system. Seven Springs presents 41 slopes and trails and six parks and pipes on 285 skiable acres, 750 foot vertical, with terrain gentle or daunting enough for skiers of any level, served by 15 lifts: two six-packs, three quads, five triples, three surface lifts, and two conveyors. This is a complete, four-seasons resort, one of the largest and most popular in the region.
Whitetail offers skiing and snowboarding on 20 trails, 935-foot vertical drop, nine lifts, a halfpipe and terrain park, with night skiing every evening and full snowmaking coverage. The mountain has broken its trail system into four distinct ability areas: a set of expert trails to the right as you face the mountain, a set of intermediate trails in the center, a green trail complex on the left, and a Children's Center and novice terrain to the left of that.
Shawnee Mountain Ski Area, in the heart of the Pocono Mountains, has a vertical drop of 700 feet, 22 slopes and trails, two terrain parks, and a snow tubing park, 700-foot vertical served by a quad, triple, four doubles, three carpets, snow tubing carpet, and a tubing tow. The longest trail is just under a mile. Shawnee offers day and night skiing and full snowmaking coverage.
Alpine Mountain, also in the Poconos, boasts 120 skiable acres with a vertical of 500 feet. There are 21 runs serviced by five lifts including two quads, one double, and two surface chairlifts.
Jack Frost Mountain, in the Pocono Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania and sister mountain of nearby Big Boulder, has 20 trails and a terrain park, beginner through expert, 100 skiable acres, 100 percent snowmaking, 600-foot vertical, served by 10 chairs and one magic carpet. Snow tubing also is available with eight chutes (singles and doubles) and four lifts.
Big Boulder, Jack's sis, is Pocono country. You will find 15 slopes and trails, beginner through expert, 475-foot vertical, 55 acres skiable terrain, and nine lifts. The Mountain Dew Terrain Park and halfpipe cater to snowboarders. Snow tubing is available with 12 single chutes, a double chute, family area, and five lifts.
Blue Knob offers 100 skiable acres, with a vertical of 1,072 feet, 34 runs serviced by five lifts including two doubles, two triples, and a surface lift. The area offers 42 acres of night skiing. Blue Knob is the highest skiable mountain in Pennsylvania.
Liberty Mountain Resort has 16 trails and a snow tubing park on 91 skiable acres, 620-foot vertical, served by eight lifts that include five quads, two carpets and a t-bar, and one double chairlifts, two Magic Moving Carpet lifts, a terrain park J-bar, night skiing seven nights a week, and full snowmaking coverage.
Pennsylvania's other areas include Bear Creek, Big Bear, Boyce Park, Eagle Rock, Elk Mountain, Mystic Mountain, Ski Denton, Ski Roundtop, Ski Sawmill, Sno Mountain, Spring Mountain, and Tussey Mountain.
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