Attracting millions each year to historic Philadelphia, the Amish country and Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania is also a major winter playground with the state's Pocono Mountains
and Bucks County looming large in the imagination of skiers and snowboarders throughout the northeast.
In the Poconos, the Blue Mountain and the Camelback Ski areas are what constitutes Pennsylvania's "ski central" with more great skiing nearby (and in every direction) for vast acres of variable terrain to choose from for a whole season of slope hopping day or night.
An hour's drive from Philadelphia, the Blue Mountain ski area is a virtual Disneyland for winter sports enthusiasts offering 150 acres of skiable area featuring 33 trails (with the highest vertical in the state at 1,082 feet) and 9 lifts, three terrain parks, snowboard half pipe, snowtubing and cross country skiing with all trails lit up like a Christmas tree as night falls!
As well as downhill skiing, many top PA resorts
feature snowboard half
pipe, snowtubing, as well as
cross country trails (photo credit: VisitPA.com.).
More great Pocono skiing is a short trip up route 33 to the nearby Camelback ski area. Here you can check out another 33 trails on 160 skiable acres featuring a total of 17 lifts, snowtubing runs, snowboard halfpipe, and two terrain parks.
Or, head directly east to the Shawnee Mountain ski area, offering 22 slopes and trails for skiers of all abilities, two terrain parks, and a snow tubing park.
Further west, the Big Boulder ski area offers 15 ski trails for beginners-to-pro on 55 skiable acres. Snowboarders will be in their element at Big Boulder's Mountain Dew Terrain Park, and family-friendly fun can also be found at the snow tubing park featuring 12 singles and one double chute.
More about Pennsylvania skiing and snowboarding around the Web:
Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association - This is the central clearinghouse for snow reports, maps, mountain stats & facilities, news, information and related events for major resorts statewide.
Pennsylvania Ski Resorts - Here's a complete guide with visitor ratings, lists of ski trails by number and difficulty, current snow reports, photos, related updates & events.
Pocono Ski & Snow Activities - Check out major Pocono ski areas with maps and directions, best places to ski, snowboard or snow tube with
related photos, weather and snow reports, information on vacation packages, and a free newsletter.