Shawnee Mountain Ski Area in Pennsylvania is a popular destination for skiers and snowboarders. As part of a series on ski resorts, Huffington Post Travel offers our guide to the Shawnee Mountain Ski Area, featuring all the key information snow lovers need to know before they hit the slopes.
The Basics
As its name suggests,
is in Shawnee, in eastern Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains. It is just off Exit 309 of Interstate 80, about two hours from Philadelphia International Airport and about 1 1/2 hours from New York City and northern New Jersey, which are served by several large airports. Shawnee Mountain opens in early December from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. During the regular season, it opens at 9 a.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. on weekends. The resort closes at 9 p.m. every night except Friday and Saturday, when it stays open an extra hour.
The Mountain
Weather permitting, skiers and snowboarders can
at Shawnee Mountain Ski Area through the end of March. The Poconos receive about 50 inches of snow annually, and the ski resort has 100 percent snowmaking capability. The vertical drop at Shawnee Mountain is 700 feet and the longest trail is 5,100 feet. A 12- to 28-inch base of machine-packed powder is covered by a secondary surface of granular snow.
Trails And Lifts
Shawnee Mountain Ski Area boasts 23
,
and a
on 125 acres of skiable area. Beginners and experts alike can find skiing and snowboarding here, with about 25 percent of the runs rated beginner, 50 percent intermediate and 25 percent expert. The mountain operates a high-speed detachable quad lift -- the Tomahawk Express -- another quad, two double lifts and four carpet lifts, for an uphill capacity of 12,600 skiers an hour. The terrain parks -- Bushkill and Incubator (for beginners) -- feature boxes, spines, table tops, rails, rollers, stairs, wall rides and sound systems. Six chutes, both single and two-person, beckon tubers to Pocono Plunge Tubing Park.
In The News
Boasting one of the region's largest snowboard and ski rental facilities, Shawnee Mountain Ski Area can outfit more than 4,000 people a day for snow play. NASTAR ski and snowboard racing begins in January on Upper Tomahawk.
giant slalom event is held in early February, and the Shawnee Rail Jam brings snowboarders and skiers of all abilities to the area in early March.
Cost
at Shawnee Mountain Ski Area are $32 to $55. Children shorter than 46 inches tall with a paying adult and seniors older than 70 ski free. Multiday lift tickets are also available.
are $215 to $485, and equipment rentals range from $98 multiday rates to $25 night rates. The mountain website offers
for skiers and snowboarders who don't want to wait in line.
include the Miser 5 Pak and a three-day Learn to Ski or Snowboard package.
rates range from $20 to $40.
Apres-Ski
have several options at Shawnee Mountain Ski Area with five on-site restaurant facilities. Relax with an adult beverage at the Black Diamond Bar & Grille after dropping off the little ones at
, the mountain's child care facility for tots 18 months and older. Late February features
, with vendors, entertainment, an outdoor barbecue, ski party and more. The Shawnee Mountain website features a lodging link for ski-and-stay packages.
WATCH: Shawnee Mountain Ski Area
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Opening day at Shawnee Mountain Ski Area in Pennsylvania.