Wintersports
Snowboarding
Top 10 snowboarding spots in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has a lot to offer for snowboarders, so it’s no wonder it has become such a popular place.
Red Bull Slide-In Tour is all about uniting snowboarders from across the U.S. celebrating snowboard culture one stop at a time.
The first stop that Zeb Powell, Jesse Augustinus and a group of snowboarders hit up for the 2022 Red Bull Slide-In Tour was at the Seven Springs Mountain Resort in southwestern Pennsylvania.
“These are the hidden gems,” Powell said from the chair lift on a crisp day in May. “These are the diamonds in the rough of the East Coast days.”
Zeb Powell rides at Seven Springs during the Red Bull Slide-In Tour 2022
© Brian Nevins / Red Bull Content Pool
The northeastern states offer a lot for snowboarders to enjoy, in particular the state of Pennsylvania. Granted, the temperatures can dip down to 32 degrees in January, so skiers have to bundle up, but once they are there, they can enjoy fresh powder, varied terrains, and gentle wide-open beginner trails.
Top 10 Snowboarding Spots in Pennsylvania
Below, we will talk about the ten top snowboarding spots in Pennsylvania and what makes each unique.
01
Seven Springs
- Location: Champion, Pennsylvania
- Highest point: 2,994 feet
Jesse Augustinus rides at Red Bull Slide-In Tour 2022 in Seven Springs, PA
© Brian Nevins / Red Bull Content Pool
There are seven really good reasons why snowboarders love Seven Springs: its seven terrain parks have a little something for everyone. Beginners and those looking for easier runs can hit up the North Park area, while those looking for a more street-style ride with stairways and handrails can hit up The Streets area just beyond Foggy Goggle. Seven Springs is also home to the only 22-foot superpipe in the eastern United States, drawing elite talent and major qualifying tournaments like the U.S. Revolution Tour.
02
Blue Mountain
- Location: Palmerton, Pennsylvania
- Highest point: 1,540 feet
Blue Mountain Resort is home to Pennsylvania’s largest vertical drop at almost 1,100 feet. The resort has over 40 different ski and snowboarding trails, so there are more than enough ways to get from the summit to the base. Blue Mountain also has five terrain parks, four of which are for snowboarders who are experienced with terrain parks.
03
Bear Creek Mountain
- Location: Macungie, Pennsylvania
- Highest point: 1,100 feet
Bear Creek Mountain is the lone winter resort located in Lehigh Valley, located an hour outside of Philadelphia. Formerly known as Doe Mountain, this resort offers an even mix of beginner (30%), intermediate (40%), and expert (30%) terrain. This resort has three terrain parks: one for beginners, one for intermediates, and one for experts. They also have the added benefit of an arcade for the little ones when they tire on the slopes.
04
Elk Mountain
- Location: Union Dale, Pennsylvania
- Highest point: 2,667 feet
Along with the natural snowfall that graces the resort, Elk Mountain also prides itself on its own snow-making process, ensuring visitors on the slopes have a great experience regardless of where they go. Further from major cities than the rest of the resorts at the Poconos, Elk Mountain offers great long runs that are always fairly open. There are 27 trails and two terrain parks here, with most of the trails being suited for experienced riders.
05
Montage Mountain
- Location: Scranton, Pennsylvania
- Highest point: 1,960 feet
Very close to the city of Scranton, Montage Mountain is very accessible to both locals and visitors. This resort has 27 trails and two terrain parks. Montage is best for experienced snowboarders, as less than 20% of the available runs are labeled for beginners. There are more than 140 skiable acres in total, as well as night skiing.
06
Camelback Mountain
- Location: Tannersville, Pennsylvania
- Highest point: 2,133 feet
With 39 trails, Camelback Mountain has much to offer for those looking to hit the slopes. The largest ski resort in Pennsylvania, measuring 166 acres of skiable area and 34 kilometers of ski trails. Some of the runs stay open until 9 pm, and the good news is that they are very well-lit. It’s also a great place for beginners to learn snowboarding. However, one of the more interesting parts about this park is its indoor waterpark, which is open year-round. The waterpark has the most waterslides in Pennsylvania, with 37.
07
Shawnee Mountain
- Location: East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
- Highest point: 1,351 feet
Shawnee Mountain Ski Resort is known as a “family-oriented” resort, hosting several options for both group instruction and group riding. The resort has 23 trails and two terrain parks. The action is more geared towards experienced snowboarders, with 75% of the terrain being rated intermediate or expert. Located near the Poconos, Shawnee draws heavy crowds often, serving a capacity of over 12,000 on the slope per hour.
08
Blue Knob
- Location: Claysburg, Pennsylvania
- Highest point: 3,146 feet
Blue Knob Resort is located on the Blue Knob, the second-highest point in Pennsylvania. At its highest point, Blue Knob Resort has the tallest skiable area and boasts the most challenging slopes in the state. The resort has 34 trails, and 80% of the terrain is unsuitable for beginners. With a vertical drop of over 1,000 feet, Blue Knob has a lot of nice, long trails for snowboarders to enjoy.
09
Whitetail
- Location: Mercersburg, Pennsylvania
- Highest point: 1,800 feet
Due to its proximity to Baltimore and Washington, Whitetail Resort is a very popular winter sports destination and always draws huge crowds. It has an even mix of easy and hard trails and two terrain parks. The resort is split up into three sections: the left side of the resort has the easier trails; the middle third has all of the intermediate trails; the right side has the advanced and expert-level trails. Whitetail offers a lot to its visitors.
10
Liberty Mountain
- Location: Carroll Valley, Pennsylvania
- Highest point: 1,190 feet
While Liberty Mountain may not get as much natural snow (31 inches per year) as the rest of the resorts on this list, the resort more than makes up for it with a very robust snowmaking system. Liberty is capable of producing over 1,800 tons of snow per hour! This location has 16 trails and two terrain parks across 100 skiable acres. This location is more forgiving to beginners, with over a third of the terrain being graded for beginners. This includes Dipsy Doodle, a near-mile-long beginner trail that serves as a great training ground for those who are new to snowboarding.
Conclusion
Pennsylvania has a lot to offer for snowboarders, so it’s no wonder it has become such a popular place for East Coasters to get a taste of the action. If you are a beginner looking to get better, or if you are just bored of how you are boarding and want to try a new spot, we highly recommend Pennsylvania!
