The Poconos and the mountains just around them have more than half a dozen ski areas, from small family hills to Blue Mountain, which claims the most vertical in Pennsylvania. Each one has a different mix of trails, night skiing, snow tubing and season passes, so it helps to see them side by side.
Our homes in Lake Harmony and Blakeslee sit in the same towns as Big Boulder and Jack Frost, and Camelback is the next closest for homes near Pocono Summit, Long Pond and Pocono Pines. Resorts usually open in December, weather permitting. No 2026-27 opening dates had been announced as of late October 2026, so check each resort's website before you go.
The resorts at a glance
Numbers come from each resort or its pass partner. Trail and lift counts change a little from season to season.
- Jack Frost (Blakeslee): 20 trails, 600 ft vertical, 9 lifts and a terrain park. No night skiing. Snow tubing. Epic Pass, shared with Big Boulder.
- Big Boulder (Lake Harmony): 19 trails, 475 ft vertical, 7 lifts and 2 terrain parks. Night skiing. Snow tubing. Epic Pass, shared with Jack Frost.
- Camelback (Tannersville): 39 trails on 166 acres, 800 ft vertical, 14 lifts. Night skiing on select lit trails. A large snow tubing park. Ikon Pass, plus the local Poconos Peak to Peak pass.
- Blue Mountain (Palmerton): 40 trails, 1,082 ft vertical, the most in Pennsylvania by the resort's own claim. Night skiing on all terrain. Snow tubing. Ikon Pass, plus Peak to Peak with Camelback.
- Shawnee Mountain (East Stroudsburg): 23 trails, 700 ft vertical, 11 lifts. Night skiing. Snow tubing. Independent, with its own season pass; not on Epic or Ikon.
- Montage Mountain (Scranton): 27 trails on more than 140 acres, about 1,000 ft vertical. Full-mountain night skiing. Snow tubing. Indy Pass.
- Elk Mountain (Union Dale, north of the Poconos): 27 trails on 180 acres, about 1,000 ft vertical. Night skiing on scheduled Thursday to Saturday nights until 9 PM. No snow tubing.
- Ski Big Bear at Masthope Mountain (Lackawaxen): 18 trails, 650 ft vertical, 7 lifts including 3 magic carpets. Snow tubing.
Which resort fits your group
- Closest to the most homes: Big Boulder and Jack Frost. One Epic pass covers both, and Big Boulder has the night skiing.
- Most terrain nearby: Camelback, with 39 trails and a big tubing park.
- Most vertical: Blue Mountain in Palmerton, at 1,082 ft.
- Night skiing: Big Boulder, Camelback, Blue Mountain, Shawnee, Montage and Elk. Jack Frost does not have it.
- No tubing: Elk Mountain. Every other resort on this list has a tubing park.
Après-ski
Bar hours and live-music nights change each winter, and some spots close between seasons, so check before you head over.
- Jack Frost: E2000, on the upper level of the main lodge, has live bands on Saturdays in January and February.
- Big Boulder: T-Bar in the main lodge has live bands every Saturday. Frosty Toboggan has a fireplace and drinks, and The Incline Lodge has a full bar with mountain views. Big Boulder also runs night dining on select January and February nights.
- Near Big Boulder: Boulder View Tavern on Lake Harmony Road has live music Friday and Saturday evenings. It closed for a kitchen renovation in late October 2026 and is due to reopen November 10.
- Camelback: Trails End Pub & Grill is slopeside at the base of Nile Mile and opens for the winter in December. Thirsty Camel Bar & Grille in Mountain Village is the resort's other après spot, and the Tap Bar truck parks at the snow tubing park.
- Near Camelback: Barley Creek Brewing Co. on Sullivan Trail in Tannersville, a local brewpub open every day.
- Blue Mountain: Slopeside Pub & Grill, on the first floor of the Summit Lodge, is open year-round.
- Shawnee: Groomers Grill & Bar, a full-service bar off the Hope Lodge, and a Summit Bar at the top of the mountain that only skiers can reach, open select weekends and holidays.
- Montage: Slocum Hollow Bar & Restaurant, known for its long craft-beer draft list.
