If you love skiing, but don’t want to drive too far from Philadelphia, you’re in luck – There are several great mountains to ski or snowboard near Philly that will offer a challenging day on the slopes for winter travelers.
If you’re looking for a winter getaway close to home, look no further than these best places to ski near Philadelphia. There are plenty of options within driving distance, so you can hit the slopes without spending a fortune on travel. Plus, with so many great resorts to choose from, there’s something for everyone. So pack your skis and boots and get ready for some fun in the snow!
These Mountains have a bit of everything – blacks, blues, greens, terrain parks, and other awesome amenities like lodging, food options, and bars.
From Pocono resorts to New York’s Catskills and Vermont’s beloved Green Mountains, there’s a place for everyone who wants to ski or snowboard without being too far from Philadelphia. So strap on your skis or snowboard and hit the slopes!
Day Trips – The Best Mountains Within 1-3 Hours From Philly
Bear Creek Mountain Resort
- Location: Macungie, PA
- Lift Tickets: Starting at $40 all-day
- Amenities: Night skiing, Ski/board rentals, Lodging, Dining options, and Bars
- Trails: Mostly beginner to intermediate with a few expert
Bear Creek Mountain Resort is known for its family-friendly ambiance and well-maintained slopes. The resort’s attention to detail is evident in its luxe amenities, making it a comfortable and enjoyable destination for all.
If you’re looking for a truly great day on the slopes, Bear Creek Mountain offers a great ski experience for both families and experts. Many would consider Bear Creek to be one of the more luxurious ski resorts near Philly, clearly reflected in its atmosphere and amenities.
Lift tickets are fairly priced at Bear Creek, that being said you get what you pay for. The mountain is well-maintained, safe, and fun for everyone. While lift lines can be long at Bear Creek, you’ll find plenty of trails for any experience level, making it well worth the wait for most experience levels.
Bear Creek’s most appealing feature is its distance from Philadelphia, likely the closest to Philadelphia by car with plenty of amenities to spend a full day. Not to mention, their terrain parks are awesome for beginners to intermediates, with some Advanced features thrown in. Bear Creek is without a doubt the nicest of the local ski resorts, with a lot of attention to detail, you can find their amenities truly are luxury.
Blue Mountain
- Location: Palmerton, PA
- Lift Tickets: $50+ on weekdays, $95 all-day on weekends
- Amenities: Night skiing, Ski/board rentals, Lodging, Dining options, and Bars.
- Trails: A great mix for all experience levels. Blue Squares are fun and perfect for all.
About an hour and 45 minutes away from Philadelphia is my personal favorite Ski and Snowboard Resort that is within 2 hours from Philadelphia. With its long, winding trails to its feature-packed terrain park, Blue Mountain Ski Resort is well worth the trip.
Blue Mountain is also an excellent place to learn how to ski or snowboard. Their green circle trails are truly a hybrid between beginners and intermediates, making them a great place to learn the ropes. Burma Road is one of the longest green trails I’ve experienced and is even fun for an advanced rider like myself.
One of my favorite trails on the whole East Coast is called The Lazy Mile, a mile-long ski slope that twists and turns down Blue Mountain and can take up to 6-7 minutes to complete depending on your speed.
Not to mention, the Pocono mountain also offers some of the best double black diamonds you can find near Philadelphia. For expert skiers and snowboarders, this place is a haven. You’ll find plenty of challenging terrain and incredibly steep hills to fulfill your need for speed.
Jack Frost / Big Boulder
- Location: Lake Harmony, PA
- Lift Tickets: $50 – $95 all-day
- Amenities: Ski/board rentals, Lodging, Dining options, Bars
- Trails: A diverse range of ski trails across its two mountains, catering to all skill levels from beginners to advanced skiers and snowboarders.
If you’re looking to make a full-day trip, Jack Frost Big Boulder is your best option for mountains within driving distance of Greater Philadelphia. While their Mountain may not be long, Jack Frost features some awesome trails while Big Boulders offers incredibly well-lit trails for night skiing and is open until 10 pm.
The crew behind Jack Frost Big Boulder are always creating new and creative features for skiers and snowboarders alike, including fallen trees turned into rails, table tops, and a rail park to truly express your riding and skiing ability. Big Boulder is by far one of the best spots for terrain skiers and snowboarders near Philadelphia.
The lodges offer your typical selection of burgers, wraps, salads, and more – with plenty of snacks and drinks to take out on the slopes.
Elk Mountain
- Location: Union Dale, PA
- Lift Tickets: $83 8-hour weekday, $99 weekend
- Amenities: Ski/board rentals, Lodging, Dining options, Bars
- Trails: Well-suited for skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels, with 11 advanced trails for experts
One of the largest Ski and Snowboard Resorts within 2 hours of Philadelphia can be found in the Northernmost county of Pennsylvania, called Elk Ski Resort Mountain. If distance is not an issue, Elk is definitely worth making a day trip to ride their awesome trails.
With 180 Acres of skiable terrain, Elk Mountain offers a huge mountain to make your winter playground. Named one of the best mountains in the Mid-Atlantic region, Elk Mountain is truly an awesome experience that is within day trip driving distance.
Elk Mountain is known for its challenging terrain and wide range of trails including a vertical drop of 925 feet, with the highest lift-serviced point reaching 2,667 feet. The ski area spans 180 acres, and all trails are equipped with snowmaking capabilities, ensuring good conditions throughout the season.
Weekend Trip – Under 5 Hours Away
Belleayre Mountain
- Location: Highmount, NY – heart of the Catskill Mountains
- Lift Tickets: Vary based on the day and time of purchase. For 2024, adult 1-day lift tickets can be as low as $57 on off-peak weekdays, while window rates peak at $104.
- Amenities: Ski/board rentals, Lodging, Dining options, Bars
- Trails: 61 trails across 174 skiable acres, with a vertical drop of 1,404 feet.
I love Belleayre Mountain. If you’re looking for a Vermont feel without a Vermont Drive, Bel Air is a great option. It’s steep hills and winding trails give you the feeling of a big mountain, including a high-speed gondola and detachable quad..
Just four hours from Philadelphia, Belleayre is nestled in the stunning Catskill Mountains and is the best ski and recreation resort in the state, perfect for a weekend trip. Not to mention, it’s the only Catskill resort that contains a gondola!
Belleayre is the perfect place to hit the slopes, with an extensive trail system for both Alpine skiing and Cross-country skiing spanning 9.5 km. Expert skiers will love the challenging trails, including the border trails Cathedral Brook and Roaring Brook. With 175 skiable acres and Belleayre Summit reaching 3,429 feet, you’ll have plenty of terrain to explore.
One of the best features of Belleayre is the variety of trails. With 60+ trails, there’s something for everyone, regardless of skill level. From the Sunset Lodge at the peak of the mountain to the Discovery Lodge at the bottom, skiing down can take 10 to 15 minutes. But with so many trails to choose from, you’ll want to stay all weekend to make the most of your time on the slopes.
Belleayre Mountain Ski Resort is the only Catskill resort that boasts a gondola. That’s right, you can take in the breathtaking views of the mountain range as you ascend to the peak. Once you get there, you’ll be greeted with an extensive trail system for both Alpine and Cross-country skiing, spanning 9.5 km. With 175 skiable acres and a summit elevation of 3,429 feet, you’ll have plenty of space to explore.
Windham Mountain
- Location: Windham, New York, in the Northern Catskills region
- Lift Tickets: Vary by day and season. For the main season, adult day tickets are approximately $95-$225
- Amenities: Ski/board rentals, Lodging, Dining options, Bars
- Trails: 54 trails spread across 285 skiable acres, with a vertical drop of 1,600 feet
In terms of distance, Windam Mountain might be the best bang for your buck for both skiers and snowboarders living near Philly. The 54 trails on 285 skiable acres offer a Vermont mountain with 2 hours shaved off.
Surrounded by the gorgeous Catskill mountain range, Windham is one of the tallest peaks in eastern New York at 3,100 ft. The resort offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape and an abundance of outdoor activities.
One of the standout features of Windham Mountain is its family-friendly atmosphere. The resort offers a variety of runs for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities, including the beginner-friendly Wanderer run and the more challenging black diamond trails loved by locals. The Upper Wolverine trail, a double black-diamond run, is also a must-try for experienced skiers looking for a thrill.
At an elevation of 3,100 feet, Windham Mountain offers stunning views from the top of the East and West peaks. The resort’s proximity to the city also makes it the closest big mountain skiing option for Philadelphia residents. In fact, Windham Mountain has been voted the #1 ski resort in New York and best for beginners by those who have hit the slopes.
Overall, Windham Mountain Ski Resort offers a fantastic blend of affordability, family-friendliness, and variety of runs for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities. With its proximity to the city and its impressive array of runs, it’s no wonder that Windham Mountain is a favorite among ski enthusiasts.
Ski Vacation Resorts – 5-6 hours away
Gore Moutain
- Location: Northern New York – Adirondack Mountains
- Amenities: Ski/board rentals, Lodging, Dining options, Bars
Gor Mountain is New York state’s biggest mountain at 42 total trail miles on 448 acres of snow-topped mountains. The ski resort features 14 Lifts & 109 Trails on nine mountainsides of four separate Adirondack peaks. Starting at the 2537′ vertical, the network of trails to the bottom can take you through 7 different skiing areas with a little something for all levels.
Smack in the middle of a stunning mountain range, Gore Mountain has an elevation of 4,865 feet above sea level and has a summit elevation of 5,230 feet. Gore Mountain’s base elevation is at 2,400 feet and its vertical drop is 3,830 feet.
It offers downhill skiing with a variety of trails for beginners to experts. The resort also has cross-country skiing trails that are groomed daily as well as snowshoeing trails that are groomed weekly in the winter months. Gore Mountain is also known for its scenic views and the chance to see wildlife such as moose and deer.
The mountain has a few different restaurants on-site, including a food court with plenty of options and a waffle cabin for hot, fresh, chocolate-covered Belgian waffles to take on the go.
