For many people in Philadelphia and surrounding area, skiing or snowboarding in the Pocono Mountains means a trip to Blue Mountain Ski Area. For advanced skiers and snowboarders, Blue Mountain Ski Area is best choice in the eastern Mid-Atlantic, with several long steep slopes, a challenging terrain park, and some opportunities for brief forays into the trees.
Blue Mountain PA is not a particularly tall mountain. The summit is just 1,645 feet above sea level. Despite this, Blue Mountain Ski Area has the largest vertical drop in the Mid-Atlantic: 1,082 feet. Its 27 designated trails spread across 75 skiable acres include some of the longest continuous runs in Pennsylvania. Blue Mountain PA has eight lifts; the recent construction of a high-speed six person lift has done much to alleviate lift lines on busy weekends and holidays.
The pride of Blue Mountain skiing is Challenger, a long double-black diamond with several steep pitches, including a long fall near the summit. Be careful skiing this in icy conditions (unfortunately not uncommon in the Poconos, despite the careful snowmaking and grooming at Blue Mountain Ski Area), falls and injuries are frequent on this slope. Challenger ends in a great steep pitch known as the Falls, this section is accessible from nearby Sidewinder park or the long blue Lazy Mile. Razor’s Edge, next to Challenger off the summit lifts (including the new high-speed six person), is another fun black-rated slope.
Blue Mountain Ski Area has two main lodges. The main
summit lifts leave from the Valley base, but the better
dining options and bar are at the top mountain lodge.
From here, you must traverse across the mountain to get
to the summit lifts. Along the way, advanced skiers and
snowboarders should tackle one of the two short steep
runs that connect to Main Street run: The Chute or Midway.
Unfortunately for skiers, the best intermediate trail at Blue Mountain Ski Area, Sidewinder, was recently converted into a terrain park. To make up for this, the resort has constructed a new blue trail next to Razor’s Edge. For good blue cruising runs, riders must now look to Sidewinder, off the Main Street double chairlifts, or Lazy Mile, which connects the two parts of the mountain.
Beginners have some great options for Blue Mountain skiing. There are learning areas at both Blue Mountain ski lodges and some nice long winding runs, perfect for practicing turns: Paradise off the summit lifts and Easy Out–Vista–Burma Road off the Main Street lifts.
Snowboarders are spoilt at Blue Mountain Ski Area. There are four designated freestyle areas. Sidewinder run has many jumps, rails, and other features; Lower Sidewinder is a winding trail with huge banks for jumps or tricks; the halfpipe at Blue Mountain Ski Area is over 300-feet long. This is a big change from the early 1990s, when boarders were banned from the Blue Mountain ski slopes!
Another change to appeal to a new generation of winter sport fans is Blue Mountain’s large snowtubing area, with numerous tracks spread across the hill near the Valley base.
Blue Mountain PA has no on-site lodging, though there is a good après ski bar in the lodge open until after the slopes close at 10 pm. With Philadelphia only 75 minutes away, this is not a problem for most visitors. For overnight lodging, one of the affordable motels at nearby Allentown is a good option. Closer to the ski resort, there are some friendly bed and breakfasts; The Roth House B&B is the closest. If you do plan on a ski weekend at Blue, consider getting here on Friday night. Get a cheap night ticket that night, a full-day pass on Saturday, and a cheap four-hour pass on Sunday for a perfect and affordable Blue Mountain ski trip.
