Shawnee Mountain Ski Area: The Complete Guide

If you’re envisioning yourself flying down a white, snow-covered mountain in Pennsylvania this winter, then Shawnee Mountain is the place to strap on your skis and set out on an outdoor adventure. Located in the town of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, in the delightful Pocono Mountains, Shawnee Mountain Ski Area is a great destination year-round, but it is most well-known as a winter ski resort and attracts ski enthusiasts from across the region. It’s one of the closest ski resorts to Philadelphia, and it’s also not far from Northern New Jersey.

At Shawnee Mountain Ski area, you'll find more than 20 picturesque runs topping out at a a summit elevation of 3,500 feet. With the average snowfall usually about 50 inches, it’s an ideal mountain for family skiing, as most of the trails are relatively short, and range from beginner to expert. There’s an easy slope for first-timers, as well as two terrain parks and an area especially for snow tubing as well.

What to Expect at Shawnee Mountain Ski Area

Before heading out for your ski vacation, here's what to know about the terrain, the lodges, gear rentals, and more.

Terrain

There are 23 slopes and trails at Shawnee Mountain, so there’s something here for the entire family (including two bunny hills for young kids and beginners). It’s a relatively compact mountain, so you don’t need to go far from the main lodge to find the chair lifts. A few of the easier slopes include Hiawatha, Pocahontas, Indian Queen, Meadows, and Lower Pennsylvania. The more difficult slopes are Upper Bushkill, Bennekill, Lookout, and Upper Arrowhead. The expert slopes include Renegade, Chief Thunder Cloud, Lower Tomahawk, and Tecumseh.

Shawnee also features two terrain parks and a snow tubing park towards the bottom of the mountain, for snowboarders (and those who wish to enjoy other snow activities). It has two quad chairlifts, four double chairlifts, three carpets, one tubing carpet, and one tubing tow.

Lodges

Shawnee Mountain Ski resort has several dining options on the mountain, so you will have a wide selection of casual food to choose from.

• The Hope Lodge has a cafeteria that serves up breakfast daily until 11 a.m. A few of their lunch specialties are burgers, hot dogs, and deli sandwiches.
• The Hickory Licks restaurant is a somewhat elevated option. It serves lunch and dinner daily, and features a full-service bar. Some menu items include homemade soups, flatbread pizza, pasta, black angus burgers, and hearty salads.
• The Black Diamond grill serves food only on weekends and offers a wide array of casual offerings, such as chicken sandwiches, chili, soups, and pizza. This restaurant features a limited bar with Shawnee Craft Microbrews on draft.
• The Greenhouse Snack bar is the most casual dining option here—it’s a grab-and-go eatery that sells nachos, hot pretzels and hot and cold beverages.

Rental Shops

You can rent everything you need for an easy, stress-free trip at Shawnee Mountain Ski resort. If you’re doing a day trip, you will want to arrive as early as possible to ensure the rental lines are not too crowded.

If you’re planning to visit Shawnee for two or more days, you can rent all your equipment online prior to your trip! Rentals are $40 per day for skis (or a snowboard), poles, and boots; and a helmet is $15 a day. (See the website for other options, including evening rentals and two-day rentals).

The winter season is popular at Shawnee Mountain Ski resort (and at all the surrounding Pocono Mountain ski resorts), so expect the weekends to be very busy from late fall until early spring. Your best bet is to plan ahead.

What to See and Do

Shawnee Mountain Ski area is a full-service experience. In addition to the skiing and winter sports, you can eat your meals and relax on the mountain after your day on the slopes. If you're a beginner, you can sign up for lessons (both group and private).

If you bring your own equipment, you can also arrange for a ski or snowboard check or tune-up. Be sure to arrange for this in advance, especially during busy weekends. 

In addition to Shawnee Mountain Ski Resort, there are a number of other ski resorts close by. You can also visit historic downtown Stroudsburg, with its many quaint storefronts and independent restaurants. Or check out the nearby Pocono Bazaar and Marketplace, a fun shopping destination with hundreds of vendors.

If you still want more shopping, visit the Crossings Premium Outlets, featuring many name-brand stores selling brand items for less. For those seeking some alone time or wish to relax, check out the Spa Shawnee and Salon and get pampered with a spa treatment.

How to Visit

Shawnee Mountain is located about 100 miles from the city of Philadelphia, close to Route 209 North in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. For day trippers, Shawnee Mountain passes are $58 adult (midweek), $70 adult (weekend), and $40 night (3 p.m. to closing).

Shawnee Mountain Ski resort offers a seasonal ski pass. It’s $419 if purchased prior to December 1, and $449 afterward. You can also rent equipment and or boot lockers for the season as well.

If you’re new to the mountain, check out the Shawnee Mountain website’s “First Timer’s Guide” to ensure your visit is fun and safe!