The expert trail starts right in your face by challenging skiers/boarders with an imposing vertical drop at the beginning of the trail while adding a very large mogul field for people to navigate through. It could have easily turned into a 15 minute run for a beginner skier/snowboarder just honing their abilities or wanting to enjoy a nice run.Įlk Mountain’s signature trail is “Tunkhannock,” and it does not allow skiers/boarders the opportunity to settle into their run at all. One of Elk Mountain’s beginner slopes, which I thought was great for skiers/boarders wanting to take a long and relaxing run down the mountain, was the trail, “Lehigh.” It took about 7 minutes for me to get from the summit to the mountain base moving at a pretty quick pace. There are some beginner trails for skiers/boarders to hit as well that offers a very nice trip down the mountain. The trails are longer and steeper than most other resorts in the Poconos, and the day I was there, the moguls were in full bloom. They offer more intermediate and expert trails than beginner slopes. It is one of the only resorts in the Poconos that is geared towards more experienced skiers. The cool thing is that all those things work beautifully at Elk Mountain and truly make you reminisce about times past.Įven with all the things that make Elk Mountain such a nostalgic place to visit, make no mistake that Elk is the top mountain in the Poconos. However, all of those things give Elk Mountain that sense of character and dignity of a place that pretty much has not changed since the late ’70s. Locker Room Elk Mountain Photo: Gregg Frantz Elk still has a double seat chair lift that dates back to the early ’60s, they still utilize the old sticker lift tickets with the steel wire that goes through one of your zippers on your jacket, an “old school” open-air shuttles escorts guests from the lower parking lot to the lodge, and they still have the old-style lockers that you insert quarters in to for use for the day. The lodge is rustic and small, and it looks like it has not been changed in decades. It has that mystique of Pocono ski resorts back in their glory years of the late ’60s and ’70s. The atmosphere at Elk Mountain is undeniable old school Pocono Mountains. Any skiers/boarders looking to check out a serious ski resort in the Poconos must put Elk Mountain on their bucket list. Elk Mountain elevation is 2,667 ft (813 m)Įlk Mountain is the most northern ski resort in the Poconos and is about 2 1/2 hrs away from both New York City and Philadelphia.I finally had the opportunity to visit the mountain this week, and it lived up to its reputation. Over the years, I have been told by fellow skiers/boarders that Elk Mountain is impressive, and if I was ever skiing in the Poconos, I had to check it out. I was a bit underwhelmed with the amount of terrain and the length of the trails, but you will have fun.Elk Mountain has been on my radar for a long time. Ultimately, this is a great mountain to learn to ski or ride, and/or prep for a big trip to Killington, VT or out west. Worst case you’re waiting maybe 20 mins tops. The lift lines (only two major lifts, with one line) can get a big crowded during the mid day peak, but it was not too bad. The snow was decent in mid January, not too icy at all. It’s not super big, and the trails are not super long, but I had a good time. No big restaurants at the base or summit lodges. Much different from the extravagance of Camelback or even Blue Mountain in PA. The Mountain is no frills basic lodge, nice bar with music and standard food. I thought it would be a huge inconvenience, but it’s really not that big of a deal. Parking is free, but you must take an open motor cab to the base. It’s a nice drive and that’s always a bonus. Highway driving leads to back country roads, and then eventually to Elk. Elk doesn’t feel like it’s in Pennsylvania, rather somewhere in the central part of the country. A three hour drive from New York City, ELK Mountain in the northern Poconos is a great escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.
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