The Mountains of Poconos has always been one of my best choices for a captivating vacation time along with my mates and myself never did back out of any of the adventures. The regions of Poconos was my very first pick for a great adventure during the winter, and cross country skiing being my most preferred adventurous activity among all the others. Cross Country skiing in Poconos has always been an amazing experience, the mountains along with its most beautiful landscapes and trails makes the activity much more amusing than any other.
As a person who is still exploring the wonders of the world, visiting the mountains of the Poconos with my friends to enjoy the alluring outdoors and to witness the beautiful mountains along with Skiing through the peaceful forests in the region has always been a blissful feeling for me. The well groomed and maintained ski trails in the region makes it the best in town for skiing.
Winter Wonderland of Poconos offers a multitude of attractions in the regions throughout the whole year, but still the winter season is just something else. I’m pretty sure you’ll love doing those activities and especially skiing in the meadows. So get ready to pack your bags along with your ski and head straight to the mountains and have the best winter experience in your life.
The Peculiarity of Pocono Cross Country Skiing
Are you thinking about why you should choose the mountains of the Poconos for a cross country skiing experience? Then let me brief you about the beauty and subtlety of the place which will take you out of your confused phase and make the perfect decision of visiting the regions for some of the best days of your life.
If you’re into thrilling activities or if you wish to glide through the snow while embracing the beauty of the various landscapes all around you, then Poconos would be the best choice for you. The mountains offer some of the best scenic locations to witness and provide the visitors with the chance of reconnecting with nature with many thrilling and top things to do in the Poconos.
More than that, I’m sure you will love to do this with your friends and family because I did and it was extremely magical for me. It does not matter even if you don’t have the right equipment for your cross country skiing in Poconos, rentals are available just for everyone. The well maintained and groomed trails around the regions makes the ski experience much better for every visitor.
The Distinctiveness of the Best Cross Country Skiing in Poconos
Now, if you are confused about choosing which part you should visit for the best ski experience for your winter adventure in the Poconos, then don’t worry as I will provide a great list to guide you to perfect cross country skiing. Among the many distinct trails and parks available for skiing in Poconos, the ones I’ve felt as the best ones around the regions are:
| Name | Difficulty | Length | Highlights |
| 1800 Trail | Easy | 0.43 miles | Bird Watching, Camping |
| McDade Trail | Easy- Difficult | 31 miles | Fields, Rivers |
| Slate Ford | Easy- Medium | 2.5 miles | History |
| Christman, Falls, and Cove Ridge Trails | Easy | 4.5 miles | Birding, waterfalls, lakes, wildlife, wildflowers |
| Old Entrance, Frank Grantz and Old 611 Loop in Gouldsboro State Park | Easy | 5.7 miles | Forest, Lake |
| Ridley Creek State Park White to Yellow Trail Loop | Moderate | 7.7 km | Forest, Wildlife, Historic, Lakes |
| Tobyhanna State Park Lakeside Loop Trail | Easy | 8.2 km | Beach, Forest, Wildlife |
| D&L Trail, Jim Thorpe to White Haven | Easy | 39.3km | Historic Site, Waterfalls, Wildflowers, Forest |
Moreover, there are many state parks in the regions which offers seamless gliding experience with several well groomed trails and cross country ski rental in Poconos, such as:
- Delaware State Forest
- Delaware Water Gap Recreational Area
- Beltzville State Park
- Gouldsboro State Park
- Tobyhanna State Park
- Mauch Chunk State Park
Cross Country Skiing Beyond the Horizon of Poconos
The Ski experience in the vicinity of Pennsylvania just does not end with the Poconos. There are so many hidden gems across the regions waiting just to be explored by you. Among the various unique and alluring trails in the regions, lemme list out some for your ease:
1. Old Mill Trail
Located in the Nockamixon Park near Bedminster in Pennsylvania, Old Mill Trail is a moderately challenging trail which extends up to 8.4km and takes approximately 2 hours to complete. Not only cross country skiing, this spot is popular for birding and fishing. One can even bring their dogs to this trail but should be on leash all the time. Hunting is also open to the public in a part of Nockamixon Park which extends above 5,286 acres.
2. Green Lane Park Trail
One of my favorite cross country skiing trails in Pennsylvania, Green Lane Park Trail is a 17.9km long and almost moderately challenging trail, which is situated at Green Lane Reservoir Park. Takes mostly 4 hr and 20 mins to complete the trail yet it offers many other highlights in between your travels such as wildlife spotting, birding, forest and lake views and many more. The trail is also popular for fishing, hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, horseback riding and more. Moreover, the trail is open all year for the visitors and you may even bring your dog but always on leash.
3. Pinchot Trail Lakeside Loop
Situated near Wellsville in Pennsylvania, Pinchot Trail Lakeside loop is considered as a moderately challenging trail system which is 14.8 km in length and takes almost 3 hours and 10 minutes to finish. The trail is located inside the Gifford Pinchot State Park which is popular for many activities like camping, fishing, hiking, running and many others. Dogs are always welcome in these regions but just like everywhere- always on leash.
Tips & Tricks Before Your Cross-Country Ski Experience
Now, before you head straight into that thrilling and electrifying experience, there are some things you should have both in your mind and backpacks. Cross-Country Skiing can obviously be a fun and intense activity, however, before that make sure you know how to do skiing properly. Don’t worry, even if you are just a beginner in skiing, there are a ton of cross country skiing lessons in Poconos for you. Some of the best places for you to learn skiing would be:
- Blue Mountain Learning Centre
- Jack Frost Ski Resort
- Shawnee Mountain Ski Area
- Camelback Ski Resort
Furthermore, prepare a list of equipment and gears you should have with you as safety precautions before heading out for the most immense time of your vacation days. The most essential items checklist would be:
- Small Backpack
- Warm Clothing & some extras
- Ski boots & poles
- Water & Extra Food
- First Aid Kit
- Navigation
- Sun Protection
- Lighter/Fire matches
Also, try to practice stretching exercises and balancing before you head out, as it can greatly increase your physical & mental stats. Always drink more water and do more cardio exercises to enhance your endurance.
Signing Off!
With everything I’ve shared above, I believe that you might’ve gotten a pretty good idea about your next holiday adventure, haven’t you? The mountains of the Poconos were always one of the best places for travel enthusiasts like me to explore the regions through many activities like cross country skiing, snowshoeing and many more. Among those, my all time favorite thing to do in the Poconos was always cross country skiing just because of the vivid and beautiful experience I received from it.
With that being said, it is more important that you have a perfect vacation rental for your winter holidays in Poconos. For that, We HolidayKeepers are always ready to welcome you and your loved ones into our best vacation rentals along with the ultimate hospitality and amenities. So make sure you have picked the right home for you before heading out!
Contact Us for any further doubts or queries.
FAQs
Q: Is cross country skiing a safe sport?
A: Yes, it is completely safe but still make sure you have all the right safety equipment and gears along with you.
Q: Which is the best winter sport in Poconos?
A: There are many winter attractions in the Poconos for the visitors to enjoy a great vacation, such as:
- Ice skating
- Snow Shoeing
- Horseback riding
- Winter Hiking
- Ice fishing
- Snow Tubing
- Snowboarding and more!
Q: How much time does it take to reach Poconos from NYC?
A: It will take roughly 2 hours to drive to reach the Poconos from NYC.
