Shawnee Mountain Announces Early Opening

Thanks to favorable November weather and aggressive snowmaking at the resort, Shawnee Mountain will open for early season skiing and snowboarding this weekend, Nov. 23-24.

The ski resort – located at Shawnee-on-Delaware, Pennsylvania – plans to open nine trails ranging from beginner to expert level. According to the resort, trails opening this weekend will include the Little Chief beginners’ slope, the 5,000-foot Pennsylvania Trail and the black diamond Chief Thundercloud trail. There will be three lifts in operation: Carpet Lift for beginners, the Little Chief Double Chairlift and The Tomahawk Express Quad.

Snowmaking efforts at Shawnee Mountain have contributed greatly to this season's early opening. The resort will open early for the 2019-20 season on Nov. 23. (Photo courtesy Shawnee Mountain Resort.)
Snowmaking efforts at Shawnee Mountain have contributed greatly to this season’s early opening. The resort will open early for the 2019-20 season on Nov. 23. (Photo courtesy Shawnee Mountain Resort.)

Resort officials say midweek rates will be in effect for the early opening this weekend.

The resort will be closed during the week and will reopen on Friday, Nov. 29. Officials said snowmaking efforts will continue on Shawnee Mountain as temperatures permit.

Shawnee Mountain is in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania and is a well-known, family friendly ski area that is popular with beginners and welcomes both skiers and snowboarders. The ski area has wonderfully groomed trails and runs, as well as a six-chute tubing park. Offering both affordability and small crowds, the resort is somewhat of a hidden gem of East Coast skiing.

The ski area is located just off Exit 309 on Interstate 80 via Route 209 North. It’s one of the closest resorts to the Tri-County area and New York City (1.5 hours) and is about two hours from Philadelphia. The intimate resort sits in the beautiful Pocono Mountain range and is surrounded by crystal clear lakes, flowing streams and lush alpine forests.

Once completely open, Shawnee Mountain offers 10 ski lifts with access to 23 trails of varying difficulty (25% beginner, 50% intermediate and 25% expert) across 125 acres. The ski area features 700 feet of vertical drop. There are two terrain parks – Bushkill’s Park and Incubator Park – that offer rails, stairs, feature boxes, table-tops, spines and rollers along with a massive sound system pumping out jams. Incubator Park is a perfect destination for beginners to improve their fundamental skills and gain confidence. Bushkill’s Park is aimed more toward intermediates and experts.  

At the resort, there are a few wonderful dining options, including Trepp Lodge for quick bites and the Black Diamond Grill and Hickory Licks family restaurant for more sit-down dining. There’s also a snack bar to stock up on quick essentials.

Off the slopes, the area has something to offer everyone. Outdoor activities in the region include snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, ice skating and ice fishing. Shawnee Mountain is near the town of Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg that have ample museums, theatres and shopping to explore, in addition to a plethora of restaurants, cafes and pubs. Dining options range from classic American to more international cuisine like Thai, Peruvian and Italian.

There are also plenty of lodging choices in both towns ranging from high-end condominiums and townhomes to more affordable hotels and bed and breakfasts. Shawnee Inn and Shawnee Village Resort are two of the more desirable lodging options.

Shawnee Mountain works with Skier Deals to provide deals on everything from lift tickets and season passes to activities, tours and even ski and snowboard school. Current snow conditions and a live webcam can be found on the Shawnee Mountain website.

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