The longer you stay in the Poconos, the more drawn you feel to the region. The Pocono Mountains are a unique and charming beauty you can find nowhere else in the whole of Pennsylvania. The area boasts of clear streams, breathtaking waterfalls, shimmering lakes, resorts and facilities for recreation and rejuvenation.
The charm of the area Illuminates even better during the winter season. The Pocono Mountains in the winter become a white, beautiful, snow filled landscape radiating picturesque charm all over. There are some amazing activities in the Poconos winter that can make your winter getaway here a memorable one.
In this blog post, I will guide you through all the things to do in the Poconos in the winter. Read on to know more about these activities and get ready to go on an exciting snow adventure in your next visit to the Poconos.
Winter Activities in The Poconos
The Poconos in winter becomes a stunning winter wonderland during the season. You can enjoy the playfulness of winter by immersing yourself in a winter adventure filled with ice and snow activities in the Poconos.
There are various types of activities available for visitors to make their winter in Poconos a thrilling and exciting one. Some of them include skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, snowshoeing and ice skating to name a few.
1. Skiing and Snowboarding
Skiing is a wonderful sport and one of the best things to do in the winter in the Poconos. It is a high-impact but fun sport for people of all ages to have a good session of adrenaline rush and thrill.
Snowboarding is another good sport to have fun and adventure over the snow. While skiers use skis and poles to move around on the snow, snowboarders use just a single board. Both skiing and snowboarding provide a number of benefits, such as improvement of balance and circulation, strengthening of muscles, burning calories, weight loss, boosting of your mental health and longevity.
Skiing in the Poconos is a top-tier fun and blissful experience you can have with breathtaking downhills and winding trails. You need not worry about your trail options as Poconos is suitable for every level of ski enthusiast, from beginner to expert.
Different Types of Ski Slopes for Skill Levels
The Poconos offers different slopes for skiers depending on their skill levels. They can range from slopes for beginners to intermediate to expert level skiers. The slopes are named as green circles, blue squares and black diamonds accordingly, which I will explain below.
Green Circles
Green circles are slopes with gentle turns and are ideal for beginners and kids for quick learning. This slope is sustained with regular maintenance and grading. This makes it suitable for other snow activities too, like snowshoeing, sledding and snow tubing.
Blue Squares
Blue square slopes are heavily groomed and turn busy during the peak seasons. Since the slopes are steeper than in green circles, skiers must be skilled enough to handle the speed and turn with ease.
Black Diamonds
Black diamond slopes are too steep and are recommended only for expert level skiers. These slopes can be fatal if you are not cautious at every turn. In addition to this, there are even steeper slopes called double black diamonds that are the hardest slopes to ski on.
Below I have added further information on the types of slopes, the skill levels needed and the trail conditions. The slope types and skill levels of skiing can be referred to if you are planning to go for Poconos Mountains snowboarding.
| Types of Slopes | Skill Level | Angles | Trail Conditions |
| Green Circles | Beginners | 5-15 degrees | Groomed, easy terrains; obstacles are minimal |
| Blue Squares | Intermediate | 15-25 degrees | Hazards like trees; heavily groomed terrain with steep pitches |
| Black Diamonds | Expert | 25 degrees or higher | Ungroomed; very steep slopes; trees are extremely close; large moguls |
Top places to enjoy skiing and snowboarding in Poconos
Skiing and snowboarding is all about moving through the highs and lows of the snowy terrain, especially through the tricky paths. Here I have given a list of top places to try out these highly sought after Pocono Mountain winter activities.
| Top Places | Address | |
| Family Friendly Destinations | Woodloch Resort | 731 Welcome Lake Rd, Hawley, PA 18428 |
| Bear Creek Mountain Resort | 101 Doe Mountain Ln, Macungie, PA 18062 | |
| Camelback Mountain | 301 Resort Drive Tannersville, PA 18372 | |
| Beginner Friendly | Ski Big Bear | 192 Karl Hope Blvd, Lackawaxen, PA 18435 |
| Shawnee Mountain | 401 Hollow Rd, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301 | |
| Jack Frost Mountain | 434 Jack Frost Mountain Road White Haven, PA 18661 | |
| Seasoned/Expert Skiers | Blue Mountain | 1660 Blue Mountain Dr, Palmerton, PA 18071 |
| Big Boulder Ski Area | 357 Big Boulder Drive Lake Harmony, PA 18624 |
2. Snow Tubing & Snowshoeing
Snow tubing is a simple but thrilling activity that combines the speed of skiing with the rush of sledding. It uses inflatable tubes to slide through snow and is a favorite pastime of both kids and adults during winter.
Snowshoeing is a great winter sport that uses snowshoes to walk and run on snow. It is a low-impact sport that provides a number of benefits for both adults and kids. Beating the winter blues, reducing muscle soreness, burning calories and getting better sleep are some of the benefits of snowshoeing.
Snowtubing Poconos can take you and your family on a safe and exciting adventure sliding through the snow in the region. So, tag along your family and stay in one of the best Poconos winter resorts for families for a good group experience. If you’re looking for snow tubing spots in Poconos, you can check out these top snow tubing spots in the Pocono Mountains.
Poconos is the best destination where you can try out snow tubing and snowshoeing. Last winter, I had a wonderful experience with my family doing these activities and having fun together. Below I have given the top places where you can do both snowshoeing as well as snowtubing in Poconos.
| Top Places | Address |
| Blue Mountain | 1660 Blue Mountain Dr, Palmerton, PA 18071 |
| Camelback Mountain | 301 Resort Drive Tannersville, PA 18372 |
| Shawnee Mountain | 401 Hollow Rd, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301 |
3. Ice Skating
All the winter’s happiness comes out on the ice skating rinks. And that is what you will experience when you step into the ice skating rinks of Poconos too. During ice skating, you must put on ice skates, skate guards, gloves, hip and elbow pads, a helmet, and warm, insulated, waterproof clothing. You can choose any of the indoor or outdoor ice skating rinks to enjoy ice skating.
Here are a few of the outdoor and indoor ice skating rinks you can explore in the Poconos.
| Outdoor Ice Skating rinks | Indoor Ice Skating rinks |
| Gouldsboro State Park | Toyota SportsPlex |
| Hickory Run State Park | Skytop Lodge |
| Pocono Township Outdoor Ice Skating |
Escape into Cozy Indoors
When you feel tired from all the winter adventures you enjoyed outdoors, you can escape into the cozy indoors and observe the sight of snow by the window. You can stay at any of the Poconos winter resorts and enjoy some of the winter culinary delights. Or you can visit any of the winter-themed exhibitions and fests, and immerse yourself in the winter traditions of Poconos.
Cultural Experiences
You can experience the traditions of Poconos in the winter season by immersing yourself in the winter-themed fests and exhibition events. You can enjoy a number of winter fests in Poconos such as the Hawley Winterfest, Honesdale Winter Wonderland, Jim Thorpe Olde Time Christmas and Downtown Stroudsburg’s Winterfest. Apart from this, you can visit various museums and galleries. Schisler Museum of Wildlife & Natural History, McMunn Planetarium, Columcille Megalith Park, The Frazetta Art Museum, Pocono Cinema & Cultural Center are few famous places you can explore.
Family Friendly Resorts
Poconos is home to a multitude of family friendly resorts and almost all of them offer spa and wellness retreats. You can enjoy the charm and beauty of the Poconos winter landscape as you rejuvenate from your spa treatments. Taking the time to relax and rejuvenate from the daily stresses of life is very important for individuals and families alike.
Winter Culinary Delights
There are a number of prominent foods served in winter in the Pocono Mountains. You can try out these dishes in any of the popular restaurants and cafe in the region. Oreo hot chocolate, Philly cheesesteak, caramel cinnamon roll, tuna sandwich, sirloin steak, special ice cream and frozen yoghurts, caramel apples, last bite biscuits are few of the prominent winter foods in the Poconos.
Best Time to Visit Poconos in the Winter:
The early winter months from November to mid-December is a suitable time to try out the various things to do at the Poconos in the winter. This is a great time to visit with your families and friends. Kids will also find it much easier to travel through and enjoy the snow. The temperature ranges from 49°F to 31°F during the early winter. If you are an adrenaline junky and want to experience the complete winter in the Poconos, then the months from mid-December to late January is your best time. The temperature varies between 32°F to 18°F. The highest snowfall occurs during this period with snow reaching up to 12.4 inches.
Conclusion
The Poconos becomes a snowy paradise in the winter with a scenic charm. The region transforms into a winter utopia with a variety of things to do in Pocono mountains in winter. These activities are sure to keep you thrilled and excited throughout the winter season.
It is also important to plan your winter trip to the Poconos so you can enjoy your stay and the winter activities in a seamless manner. Visit the Pocono Mountains this coming winter and enjoy the adventurous snow activities this winter wonderland has to offer you.
If you are looking for a perfect stay for your exciting Poconos winter getaway without having to compromise on your experience, Holidaykeepers is your best bet. With luxurious amenities and best-in-class vacation rentals, we offer you the best place to stay in Poconos in winter. Reach out to us to know more about your winter accommodation.
FAQs
Q1: Do Poconos have any age restrictions? Or is it suitable for all age groups?
Yes, Poconos is a perfect destination for all age groups. It hosts activities that suits everyone, from toddlers to elderly folk to solo travelers to family groups. You are sure to find your ideal spot in the Poconos.
Q2: Are there any indoor activities that adults can do in the Poconos in winter?
Indoor shooting ranges, indoor water parks, wineries, breweries, spa and wellness treatments are some of the indoor activities adults can do in winter in the Poconos.
Q3: Are there any activities that I can do in Poconos in February?
In February, the snow settles down in Poconos and this gives you a chance to explore and do a number of things here. You can try out ATV rides, winter hikes, escape rooms, horseback rides and much more.
Q4: What are some unique, out-of-the-box activities to do in Poconos during winter?
Some of the unique, out-of-the-box activities you can do in Poconos during winter are exploring the Schisler Museum of Wildlife & Natural History and McMunn Planetarium, Pocono Cinema & Cultural Center, Columcille Megalith Park, The Frazetta Art Museum, to name a few.
