Camelback, Blue Mountain, Montage, Shawnee, Jack Frost, Big Boulder and Ski Big Bear compared by trails, vertical drop, lifts and terrain, plus who each one suits and the safety basics before you ski.
We list seven ski areas in the Poconos and nearby Northeastern Pennsylvania, from Blue Mountain's 1,082-foot vertical, the largest in Pennsylvania, to Big Boulder's compact 15-trail layout for beginners. This guide compares them by trails, vertical drop, lifts and terrain, says who each one suits, and covers the basics to know before you ski.
Key Takeaways
- I.Blue Mountain has the largest vertical (1,082 feet), followed by Montage (1,000) and Camelback (800).
- II.Camelback is the most amenity-rich, with an adjacent adventure park, waterpark and resort village, plus 39 trails, 166 skiable acres and two terrain parks. Big Boulder (15 trails, 475 feet) and Shawnee (23 trails, 700 feet, a ski school) are the beginner and family picks.
- III.Season dates (except Ski Big Bear's), ticket prices and snowmaking aren't listed here. Check each resort for conditions and operating status before you travel.
- IV.Helmet use among skiers and riders reached about 90% in the 2023/24 season, according to the National Ski Areas Association.
How we compared them
We compared the seven ski areas using the same fields for each: trails, vertical drop, lifts, terrain parks and skiable acres. This isn't a ranking, since "best" depends on your group. Where a field is blank, the data wasn't available, and the table says so.
| Ski area | Town | Trails | Vertical | Lifts | Terrain parks | Skiable acres | Nearest destination guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Mountain Resort | Palmerton | 40 | 1,082 ft | 16 | Not listed | Not listed | Mauch Chunk Lake |
| Camelback Mountain Resort | Tannersville | 39 | 800 ft | 16 | 2 | 166 | Lake Naomi |
| Montage Mountain Resort | Scranton | 26 | 1,000 ft | 6 | 2 | Not listed | Gouldsboro Lake |
| Shawnee Mountain Ski Area | East Stroudsburg | 23 | 700 ft | 9 | Not listed | Not listed | Promised Land Lake |
| Jack Frost Mountain | Blakeslee | 21 | 475 ft | 10 | Not listed | 100 | Lake Harmony |
| Big Boulder Ski Area | Lake Harmony | 15 | 475 ft | 10 | Not listed | Not listed | Big Boulder Lake |
| Ski Big Bear at Masthope Mountain | Lackawaxen | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Promised Land Lake |
Each place is listed under its nearest destination guide by drive time. Montage is in the Scranton area, outside the core Poconos.
Pick by what you want
- A family or first-timers: Big Boulder, which is the more beginner-friendly half of the Jack Frost Big Boulder operation, and Shawnee, which is described as having a well-regarded ski school.
- Skiing plus other things to do: Camelback, with an adjacent adventure park, waterpark and resort village.
- The most vertical drop: Blue Mountain (1,082 feet) and Montage (1,000 feet, with expert terrain).
- Intermediate and advanced terrain in a quieter setting: Jack Frost.
- Terrain parks: Camelback and Montage, with two each.
- A small, semi-private option: Ski Big Bear at Masthope Mountain.
Six ski areas with full records
Blue Mountain Resort in Palmerton has 40 trails, 16 lifts and the 1,082-foot vertical, the largest in Pennsylvania. It has longer, more sustained runs than anywhere else nearby and a trail mix of steep, advanced terrain alongside beginner and intermediate options, and it is a short drive from Jim Thorpe.
Camelback Mountain Resort in Tannersville has 39 trails across 166 skiable acres, an 800-foot vertical and 16 lifts, including a high-speed six-pack and a detachable quad. The trail mix leans heavily beginner and intermediate, and it pairs skiing with an adjacent adventure park, waterpark and resort village, so it suits a group that wants skiing plus other activities in one place.
Montage Mountain Resort, just outside Scranton, has 26 trails, a 1,000-foot vertical and six lifts, with two terrain parks. It has an expert reputation thanks to steep pitches such as Smoke and White Lightning, alongside gentler intermediate trails.
Shawnee Mountain Ski Area in East Stroudsburg has 23 trails, a 700-foot vertical and nine lifts, with a mix of high-speed and fixed-grip lifts. It is independently owned and family-run, and its ski school is well regarded, which makes it a strong choice for families teaching kids to ski.
Jack Frost Mountain in Blakeslee has 21 trails across 100 skiable acres, with a 2,175-foot summit elevation and a 475-foot vertical. It skews toward intermediate and advanced terrain, with smaller crowds than the busier resorts. It also shares an operation with Big Boulder, and a combination ticket gives access to both, so confirm current ticket options with the resort.
Big Boulder Ski Area in Lake Harmony has 15 trails, a 475-foot vertical and 10 lifts. It is described as Pennsylvania's first commercial ski resort and a compact, gentler layout suited to families and first-timers.
A small mountaintop option
Ski Big Bear at Masthope Mountain in Lackawaxen is a semi-private mountain in Pike County that offers skiing, snowboarding and tubing, with equipment rentals and lessons. Its mountaintop village has a snack bar, lounge, country store and restaurant. It's open mid-December through mid-March, though trail and vertical figures aren't listed here.
Before you ski: safety and conditions
The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) says helmet use among skiers and riders rose from 25% in 2002/03 to 90% in 2023/24, with about 96% of those 17 and under wearing one. Its advice is to wear a helmet "but to ski or ride as if they are not wearing one" (NSAA, Helmet Safety, retrieved October 6, 2026). NSAA's Your Responsibility Code, updated in 2022, now has 10 points, and the first is to always stay in control and be able to stop or avoid people and objects (NSAA, Safety, retrieved October 6, 2026).
Cold is a risk too. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says redness or pain in any skin area may be the first sign of frostbite, and that a white or grayish-yellow patch, unusually firm or waxy skin, or numbness are other signs. It adds that a person is often unaware of frostbite because frozen tissue is numb (CDC, Winter Weather, retrieved October 6, 2026). The National Weather Service gives an example: at 0 degrees Fahrenheit with a 15 mph wind, the wind chill is -19 degrees and exposed skin can freeze in 30 minutes (NWS, Understanding Wind Chill, retrieved October 6, 2026).
Conditions and operating status change daily, and season dates for six of the seven areas and any ticket prices aren't listed here, so confirm with each resort before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
Which Pocono ski resort has the biggest vertical drop?
Blue Mountain Resort sits at 1,082 feet. Montage Mountain Resort is next at 1,000 feet, then Camelback at 800.
Which is best for beginners and families?
Big Boulder is described as the more beginner-friendly half of its operation, and Shawnee as having a well-regarded ski school. Camelback's trail mix also leans beginner and intermediate.
Which ski areas have terrain parks?
Camelback and Montage have two terrain parks each.
When does ski season run?
Ski Big Bear is listed with a season of mid-December through mid-March. Check each resort for current operating dates and conditions.
Do I need a helmet?
Resort rules aren't listed here. NSAA says about 90% of skiers and riders wore helmets in the 2023/24 season, and it urges wearing one. Check each resort for any requirements, especially for lessons and rentals.
Keep planning
Each destination page linked in the table lists more places to eat and explore near these ski areas.
Last updated October 6, 2026. Resort details come from Pocono Reserve research. Seasons, ticket options and conditions change, so confirm with each resort before you go. Cover photo: Almondpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources
- National Ski Areas Association, Helmet Safety. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
- National Ski Areas Association, Safety. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
- CDC, Winter Weather. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
- NWS, Understanding Wind Chill. Retrieved October 6, 2026.