Pocono skiing, snowboarding: Where to find best deals on lift tickets, snowtubing
Ski season is upon us and the Poconos is the perfect place to learn or perfect your skills on the slopes.
Many resorts are offering early deals on season passes and reduced rates on weekdays and nights.
Check out the some of the savings below.
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Ski Big Bear
One of the smaller ski areas in the Poconos, the resort offers extensive lessons and caters to guests who are just learning or haven't skied or snowboarded in awhile.
There are 18 trails and seven ski lifts onsite. Anticipated season start date is Dec. 26.
Rentals: Full day rentals are $44, night rentals are $32 and helmets are $15.
Lessons: $69 semi-private, $110 private (must be four-years or older).
Tickets: Daily tickets start at $35 (night, beginner access) or $40 (night, all access). Season passes cost $345 (ends Nov. 28) or $395. Night season passes cost $220 (ends Nov. 28) or $235.
Info: 192 Karl Hope Boulevard, Lackawaxen, skibigbear.com
Jack Frost Big Boulder
One of the area's premiere and challenging ski areas, the resort features skiing, snowboarding and tubing.
The best time to purchase lift passes and tickets is before Nov. 20 (after that date the prices jump).
Big Boulder offers 15 slopes and nine lifts. Jack Frost offers 20 slopes, nine lifts and offers cross-country skiing.
Rentals: $35-$49 (online rate), $40-$54 (on-site) and $12 for helmets.
Lessons: $99 (adults, semi-private) or $315 (private). $133 (group, children ages 13 and under), or $315 (private child rate).
Tickets: Discount online lift ticket prices are $79. and $61 (for adults and children). Call for nighttime prices.
JFBB allows riders to purchase customizable EPIC season passes that grant access to participating resorts across the country. The customizable pass allows patrons to select the amount of days they'd like, starting at $669 for guests aged 13 and up.
Want more trails, holiday access, and country-wide shredding opportunities? Those passes start at $457 for younger shredders and $899 for adults, ages 13 and up, for a special discount rate.
Northeast passes include JFBB resorts and more, $546 (ages 18-64), $410 teens (13-17) and seniors (65-79) for $410 and college students (aged 17 and up) for $384.
Get a sneak peek of mountain conditions here: jfbb.com/the-mountain/mountain-conditions/mountain-cams.
Info: 434 Jack Frost Mountain Road, White Haven, 570-443-8425, jfbb.com
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Blue Mountain Resort
The resort offers five terrain parks and 40 trails to choose from.
The ski spot is also home to one of the largest snowmaking systems in the country, and is capable of working with the warmer East coast temperature.
New this season: A lift, named the Main Street Express, replaces two double lifts and improves access to the terrain on the western part of the mountain – as well connectivity between Valley Lodge and Summit Lodge. The new high-speed lift will transport riders from bottom to top in under five minutes and accommodate 3,000 guests per hour.
In addition, a nighttime, after-dark Sonic Tubing with music and disco lighting. With 46 lanes, Blue Mountain is one of the largest snowtubing parks in the country. Each lane is more than 1,000 feet long. The tubing park is serviced by three lifts, and tubers can choose between single or double tubes.
Rentals: $48 (for skis or snowboard) and $15 for helmets.
Lessons: Beginner ski or snowboard lessons cost $209 (includes lift ticket and rentals).
Tickets: Night tickets start at $29 and are valid from 3 p.m. to close. Eight-hour lift tickets, which enable the rider to arrive at any time, start at $44. Off-peak season Pass is $549; all-access season pass is $809; and student season pass costs $179 (ages 6-22).
Info: 1660 Blue Mountain Drive, Palmerton, (610) 826-7700, skibluemt.com
Camelback Resort
The largest ski slopes in the area, named "one of the Best Ski Resorts in the U.S. and Canada" in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, Camelback boasts 35 trails and two-high-speed quads, snowboard competition halfpipe, two terrain parks and a wide selection of trails for all ability levels. Night skiing is available on all trails.
Skiing Rentals: Rentals are $63 (ages 6 and up).
Lessons: Children’s lesson packages (ages 4-12) start at $199 and include 90 minutes of instruction, a snow pass, rentals and helmet. Family and friend lesson package is $209 for the first person and $189 for each addition person. Includes lift ticket, 60 min lesson, rentals and helmet for up to 8 people. Smaller groups may be grouped with other people. Adult/child private lesson is $195 for 60 minutes, lesson only. $75 to add an additional person.
Tickets: Full day ticket starts at $62 (Monday - Friday), $95 for weekends; twlight tickets start at $50 (midweek), $70 weekends. Value Season Passes start at $399 for adults (ages 23 and up), $219 for students (ages 6-22).
Value Season Pass ($399) gives you midweek mountain access and weekends after 3 p.m. offers access from open to close daily and weekends from 3 p.m. to close, and includes general parking as well as an equipment check.
Get 'Galactic'
Snowtubing is also on offer at the resort in Monroe County. With over 40 lanes, day or night tubing (marvel at the Galactic snowtubing with music and lights), there's plenty of fun to be had on the mountain. Snowtubing sessions last two hours and start ever hour on the hour.
Ticket Requirements: All riders, regardless of height or age are required to have a valid Snowtubing ticket to participate in any snowtubing adventure at Camelback Resort.
Height Requirements: Riders must be 44 inches tall to ride alone. Riders who are 33 inches to 43 inches tall may ride in a double tube or chain with a participating adult (over age of 18). The resort is unable to accommodate riders who are under 33 inches tall.
Age Requirements: There is no minimum age to participate as long as the height requirements are met and riders have a valid Snowtubing ticket. Riders under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a participating adult and each rider must have their own valid Snowtubing ticket.
Info: 301 Resort Drive, Tannersville, 855-515-1283, CamelbackResort.com.
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Shawnee Mountain Ski Area
Shawnee Mountain offers a family-friendly ski area with the Poconos' premier terrain park.
There are 23 slopes and trails, along with two terrain parks, and a snow tubing park. According to Shawnee's website, the projected opening date this season is Dec. 16.
Watch the trails come to life this season by tuning into Shawnee's mountain cameras at shawneemt.com/mountain/mountain-cams/.
For trail conditions, go to shawneemt.com/mountain/snow-report/.
Rentals: $44, $34 (after 3 p.m.), $80 (must be used in two consecutive days with a two-day lift ticket), and $17 helmet rate.
Lessons: Private lesson $165, group rate (for three people $180, weekend rate (for three people) is $225.
Tickets: Just in time for the holidays, purchase three lift tickets for $156 or three lift tickets (plus rentals for $242). Deal ends Dec. 24.
In addition, adults 19-64 can hit the slopes for $58 on weekdays, $80 weekends and holidays.
Rather shred after 3 p.m.? Lift tickets for night riders are $45. Two-day options are available for adults: $150 Thursday-Sunday. Two-day passes must be used for two consecutive days.
Young riders 18 and under can enjoy weekday passes for $45, or $60 on weekends.
Youth nights (starting at 3 p.m.) are $45. Two-day youth passes are $86 for weekdays, $110 on weekends. Children under 46 inches tall ski for free when accompanied by a paying adult.
College students, active military and seniors over 65 can enjoy $45 weekday lift tickets, $70 tickets on weekends and holidays with a valid ID. Super seniors (those 70 and older) ride for free.
Season passes score riders an overall 10% discount on lift tickets, and are on sale. Passes start at $499 (before Nov. 30) or $529 (Dec. 1 until end of season).
Info: 401 Hallow Road, East Stroudsburg, 570-421-7231, shawneemt.com
This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Poconos skiing, snowboarding: Where to find the best deals
