Blue Mountain Ski Area

Posted

Pros: Most Vertical Drop in PA, Good Variety of Terrain, Easy Access, Fast and Reliable Lifts

Cons: Icy Man-made Snow, Crowds, Weird Trail Layout

Growing up in NEPA (that's North Eastern PA) and skiing mostly the Pocono's, I never tried Blue Mtn until I moved to the Philly area b/c everyone said it's "too icy" or "very crowded".  When I went there for the first time, I was very much surprised. Despite all the negativity surrounding the conditions and crowds, Blue Mtn is actually a really good mountain.  There's something for everyone here: low pitches for beginers, medium pitches for the intermediates, and some nice steeps (PA steeps, that is) for the advanced skier. 

 

The trails on the west side of the mountain have a weird layout. The only green trail on that side, Burma Road, has a lot of switchbacks and is often strewn with the bodies of the fallen beginner skier.  (This trail should be a blue square b/c it is very narrow and has tons of switchbacks, even if it is not very steep.)

 

They have two lodges, both of which are fairly sized for the amount of skier they get there.  I can always find a seat or two in the lodges without too much trouble.

 

I usually go there on weekend nites and it's pretty dead there (maybe a 5 min wait at the 6-pack...but that's about it). Just make sure to have your edges tuned and bases waxed before you go!

 

Posted

Pros: Proximity, Variety of slopes.

Cons: Not as big as other Mountains you'll find north of PA.

Blue Mountain is a great mountain to visit if you live anywhere in the in the Central PA area.  You can get there in an hour and a half via interstate 78 fairly quickly.  Other options are Ski Round Top or Liberty, but those hills are not as long or as much fun as Blue Mountain.  Blue Mountain has a park and plenty of beginner hills that are long and fun, as well as black diamond runs to suit the needs of the expert skier.  We went after a 6" dump of powder and it was great.  They also have 2 high speed lifts which do a great job of getting you up the hill quickly for your next run. The busiest time of the day is around 1pm.  Everyone is coming off of their lunch break and the lift lines get long.  It was very busy the day we went which was a Saturday.  The lines were fairly long.  Blue mountain also as a pretty cool lift ticket system where you just put your ticket in your pocked and a subway style turnstile reads your lift ticket through your jacket so there is no dangling ticket for you to attach.  Also, you can get a discount on the ticket if you renew it on line.  If you renew online I think you save 3 dollars and can use the same lift ticket pass from your last trip.  I think I paid about $57 dollars for the ticket.  The lines thinned out around 4pm and wasn't bad in the morning hours either. As far as kids go, I couldn't believe how many lessons they had going for the kids.  Seemed very kid friendly.  The parking wasn't an issue either, plenty of space at the bottom of the hill.  Great day! IMAG0229.jpg

Posted

Pros: Convenient, inexpensive

Cons: crowds, lodge amenities are basic

Blue Mountain is located in Palmerton PA, about 20 miles north of Allentown, and about an hour and a half north of Philadelphia. It is the most accessible of the Pocono Mountain ski areas from Philly or from most of central/southern New Jersey. The down side to this accessibility is that the mountain will frequently become crowded, particularly on weekends and holidays. Blue's terrain is a plus, with more vertical than any other mountain in PA, and with sufficiently varied terrain to challenge most skiers. There are two lodges, summit and valley, of which the summit lodge is actually the 'main' lodge. The food there is basic cafeteria fare, with some bar food at the summit bar. Other local nightlife is fairly limited as well. The apres-ski scene consists of the summit bar, which stays open until 11pm (an hour after the lifts close), and the Covered Bridge Inn, which is a restaurant/bar about a mile north of the mountain. Blue Mountain does have night skiing, the hours of operation for the mountain are 9AM-10PM on weekdays, 8AM-10PM on weekends and holidays. The mountain is closed on Christmas day, and there is no night skiing on Christmas eve or on closing day. Ticket prices vary, from $59 for a weekend/holiday all day/night ticket, to $25 for a sunday night ticket. The snowsports school starts group lessons at age 4 for skiers, and age 7 for snowboarders. There are lessons available for all ability levels, although due to clientele, there is a particular focus on beginner level lessons. Telemark instruction is not available. Overall, this is a good, no frills, local ski area. If you are coming from NJ, Philly, or Delaware, Blue Mountain is a great place to visit to get your start in skiing or riding, or for day/weekend trips between New England vacations.
Blue Mountain Ski Area
Description:

The closest ski area to Philadelphia, Blue Mountain Ski Area has the highest vertical drop in the State of Pennsylvania at 1,082 feet. At Blue Mountain Ski Area you can enjoy night skiing and their 100% snowmaking capabilities. Blue Mountain has a little something for everyone from easygoing non-stop runs to headwalls with monstrous drops, for the more adventurous skier. Children, ages 4 to 12, can enjoy Blue Mountain's Explorers program, which introducers kids to the exciting world of skiing.

Details:
DetailValue
Snow making percent100%
Lifts-Surface Lifts-Magic carpet3
Lifts-Surface Lifts-Rope tow2
Lifts-Surface Lifts-Poma
Lifts-Surface Lifts-T bar
Lifts-Surface Lifts-J bar
Lifts-Chair Lifts-Single
Lifts-Chair Lifts-Double3
Lifts-Chair Lifts-Triple1
Lifts-Chair Lifts-Quad
Lifts-Chair Lifts-High speed quad1
Lifts-Chair Lifts-Five person
Lifts-Chair Lifts-Six person1 HS 6
Lifts-Chair Lifts-Eight person
Lifts-Gondola
Lifts-Tram
Lifts-Coggle train
Lifts-Funicular
Lifts-Other
Lifts-Total number of lifts11
Lifts-Total lift capacity
Trails-1-Beginner30%
Trails-2-Intermediate35%
Trails-3-Advanced17%
Trails-4-Expert only18%
Trails-5-Terrain park5
Trails-6-Half pipe
Trails-Total37
Runs-Steepest run
Runs-Longest run1.2 miles
General-Base elevation460'
General-Vertical drop1082'
General-Owner
General-Mountain rangePoconos
General-Annual skier visits
General-Back country access
General-Total area in bounds158 acres
General-Snow making coverage158 acres
Models:
Model Name/TypeMPNEAN/UPC

 

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Trail Map
Trail Map
 bluemountainmap.tiff

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Conditions

 

Snow Report

 

Snow Cams

 

Transportation
Transportation
AIR TRANSPORTATION

Philadelphia International Airport
Airlines operating from Philadelphia include Air Jamaica, Air Canada, AirTran Airways, American Eagle, American Airlines, British Airways, Charter, Continental, Continental Express, Delta Airlines, Delta Connection, Frontier, Lufthansa, United Express, US Airways, US Airways (Int’l), US Airways Express, USA 3000, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines.
 
 Newark Liberty International Airport
Airlines operating from Newark include Air Canada, Air France, Air India, Alaska Airlines, Alitalia, American, American Eagle, British Airways, Comair, Continental, Continental Express, Delta, Delta Express, El Al, EVA Airways, Express Jet - Continental, Frontier Airlines,Jet Airways, Jet Blue, Iceland Express, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, L'Avion, Lot Polish, Lufthansa, Malaysia, Miami Air (Charter), Midwest, Open Skies, Porter Airlines, Qantas, SAS, Singapore Airlines, Swiss, TAP Portugal, United, United Express, US Airways, US Airways Express, Virgin Atlantic and WestJet. 


John F. Kennedy International Airport
Airlines operating from JFK include Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, AeroGal, Aerolineas Argentinas, Aero Mexico, AeroSvit Ukrainian Airlines, Air Europa, Air Berlin, Air China, Aires, Air France, Air India, Air Jamaica, Alitalia, American, American Eagle, ANA (All Nippon), Arik Air, Asiana, Austrian Airlines, Avianca, Biman Bangladesh, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Caribbean, Cathay Pacific, Cayman Airways, China Airlines, China Eastern, Copa Airlines, Delta, Delta Connection, Egyptair, El Al, Emirates, Etihad, Finnair, Iberia, Icelandair, Japan Airlines, Jet Airways, JetBlue, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, Kuwait Airways, Lacsa, Lan Chile, Lan Ecuador, Lan Peru, LOT, Lufthansa, Meridiana Fly, Miami Air (charter), North American, Pakistan International Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Sun Country, Swiss International Air Lines, TACA International, TAM, Turkish, United Airlines, US Airways, Uzbekistan, Virgin America, Virgin Atlantic and XL Airways.

 

Baltimore/Washington International Airport
Airlines operating from Baltimore include Air Canada, Air Mobility Command, AirTran Airways, American Airlines, British Airways, Cape Air, Continental, Delta, Jet Blue, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways and US Airways Express.
 
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Airlines operating from Washington National include Air Canada, AirTran Airways, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental, Delta Airlines, Frontier, Spirit Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways, US Airways Shuttle and  US Airways Express.
 
Dulles International Airport
Airlines operating from Dulles include Aeroflot Russian Airlines, Air Canada, Air France, AirTran Airways, ANA, American Airlines, American Connection, Austrian, Avianca,  British Airways, Continental, Copa, Delta, Ethiopian, Iberia, Jet Blue, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Open Skies, Qatar Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines, South African Airlines, Southwest Airlines, SAS, Sun Country Airlines, Grupo Taca, United, United Express, US Airways, US Airways Express, Virgin America and Virgin Atlantic.

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
 

FROM ALLENTOWN (17 miles). Take Route 145 North (MacArthur Road), approx. nine miles to traffic light at far end of long bridge. At this intersection turn right onto Blue Mountain Drive and go approx. three miles to traffic light in Cherryville. Go straight thru Cherryville approx. three miles to Danielsville, go straight thru Danielsville to entrance sign just past the top of the mountain.


FROM BETHLEHEM (20 miles) & EASTON (22 miles). Take Route 22 West to Route 145 North (MacArthur Road), approx. nine miles to traffic light at end of long bridge. At this intersection turn right onto Blue Mountain Drive and go approx. three miles to traffic light in Cherryville. Go straight thru Cherryville approx. three miles to Danielsville, go straight thru traffic light to entrance sign just past the top of the mountain.

 

FROM RT. 309 & RT. 22 IN ALLENTOWN. Follow Route 309 North to Route 873 North. Stay on Route 873 N. into Slatington. In Slatington continue straight when Route 873 turns left. Continue straight thru 2 traffic lights on W. Mountainview Drive. At third traffic light in Danielsville go left onto Blue Mountain Drive. Follow to entrance sign just past the top of the mountain.

 

FROM PHILADELPHIA (75 miles). Route 476 North to Lehigh Valley Exit 56. After tollbooth, bear right and take Route 22 East approx. five miles to Route 145 North (MacArthur Road). Go approx. nine miles to traffic light at far end of long bridge. Turn right onto Blue Mountain Drive and go approx. three miles to traffic light in Cherryville. Go straight thru Cherryville approx. three miles to Danielsville, go straight thru Danielsville to entrance sign just past the top of the mountain.

 

FROM MAHONING VALLEY - EXIT 74 off Route 476. After tollbooth, bear left at the first "Y", then turn right at the stop sign onto Route 209 South. Go one mile to traffic light and turn left onto Route 248 East. Follow signs for the ski area.

 

FROM I-80 (27 miles). From Interstate 80 at Stroudsburg, take Exit 304 to Route 33/209 South. Exit at 209 South-Lehighton. Go 11 miles to Kresgeville. Make a left (immediately after the T. Polk Elementary School and Lee's Antique Shop) onto Kunkletown Rd. Go approx. 4.1 miles to the stop sign and make a right. Go approx. 3.4 miles to first stop sign and turn left, go thru the covered bridge and follow signs to Blue Mountain Ski Area.

 

FROM RT 78 in New Jersey. Route 78 West to Route 33 North to Route 22 West (towards Bethlehem/Allentown) to Route 145 North (MacArthur Road). Go about 9 miles to end of long bridge and make a right onto Blue Mountain Drive. Go approx. 3 miles to traffic light in Cherryville. Continue straight thru Cherryville approx. 3 miles to Danielsville. Go straight thru traffic light in Danielsville to entrance sign just past the top of the mountain.

 

FROM TRENTON (75 miles). Take Route 31 North to Route 78 West to Route 33 North to Route 22 West (towards Bethlehem/Allentown) to Route 145 North (MacArthur Road). Go about 9 miles to end of long bridge and make a right onto Blue Mountain Drive. Go approx. 3 miles to traffic light in Cherryville. Continue straight thru Cherryville approx. 3 miles to Danielsville. Go straight thru traffic light in Danielsville to entrance sign just past the top of the mountain.

 

FROM BALTIMORE & HARRISBURG. Take Route 83 North to Harrisburg, then take Route 81 North to 78 East. Take Exit 51 onto Rte. 22 East to Whitehall. Take Route 145 North (MacArthur Road), approx. nine miles to traffic light at far end of long bridge. Turn right onto Blue Mountain Drive and go approx. three miles to traffic light in Cherryville. Go straight thru Cherryville approx. 3 miles to Danielsville, go straight thru Danielsville to entrance sign just past the top of the mountain.

 

FROM READING. Take Route 61 North to Route 78 East. Take Exit 51 onto Rte. 22 East to Whitehall. Take Route 145 North (MacArthur Road), approx. 9 miles to traffic light at far end of long bridge. Turn right onto Blue Mountain Drive and go approx. 3 miles to traffic light in Cherryville. Go straight thru Cherryville approx. 3 miles to Danielsville, go straight thru Danielsville to entrance sign just past the top of the mountain.   

 

Lodging
Lodging
 
Name Description Maximum Occupancy Price Range

The Lodge at Woodstone Country Club

Convenient location, 19 beautifully decorated rooms with fitness center, indoor pool and spa.  Opened Fall 2010.

 

Extra person charges may apply

 

$159 and up

 

 

Staybridge Suites - Allentown Bethlehem Airport

 

108 suites,with a free daily breakfast bar, and free Sundowner Receptions Tuesday-Thursday with appetizers. Hotel has a fitness center, whirl pool, free Wi-fi and a 24-hour airport shuttle.

Extra person charges may apply

 

 

$99 and up

 

 

The Inn at Jim Thorpe

 

 

 

 

Built in 1849 and situated in the heart of Jim Thorpe’s National Register Historic District, the Inn at Jim Thorpe combines old world charm with modern conveniences.  45 rooms and suites, some with microwave and refrigerator, free Wifi, pub and restaurant on site.

 

 

Extra person charges may apply

 

 

 

 

$85 and up 

 

 

 

 

       
 

 

 

 

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Dining

 

Blue Mountain Drive-In & Family Restaurant

 

Blue Mountain Pub

 

Covered Bridge Inn

 

Fireline Hotel

 

 

  

REAL ESTATE
 
 
 
DEALS
 

Daily Specials

 

Fireline Hotel - Show your ski pass with dinner and receive a complimentary dessert.

WHAT'S NEW
 
 
 
ACTIVITIES
 
 
SERVICES

 

Several restaurants on site and a bar.  Available for weddings and celebrations.

 

GOOD, BETTER, BEST