Industry News
Growing up just outside Philadelphia in South Jersey (Go Birds!), ski options were pretty limited. Fortunately, I had family in northeastern PA, and like it or not, I was on skis by the age of five. These days, I’ve since converted to the dark side—snowboarding—but that’s a story for another time.
After a three-hour drive from Philly, you’ll arrive in Union Dale, PA. Along the way, you’ll pass countless ski resorts in the Poconos, and as a kid, I never understood why we didn’t stop at any of them. But then I went to college near Elk Mountain, and it all clicked. Nestled in the northeastern hills, Elk is a hidden gem. It’s not a Rocky Mountain or Tahoe resort, but it delivers an old-school ski vibe that’s tough to beat. From ripping signature runs like Tunkhannock and Tioga to lapping the terrain park with the classic cable tow, this is where I, and so many other East Coasters, fell in love with shredding.
The resort boasts 180 skiable acres with 27 trails, accommodating skiers of all levels: 25% beginner, 30% intermediate, and 45% expert and a vertical drop of 925 feet. The skier’s left side boasts some of the best blue runs in the state: winding, scenic, and seriously fun. My personal favorite was always Seneca though, ungroomed and right below the chair lift, what could go wrong? (I have had multiple epic wipe outs here). And while winter in the Mid-Atlantic is notoriously “spotty,” Elk’s 2,667-foot summit gives it a bit of an edge. They might report five inches, but it feels like the deepest five you’ve ever ridden. No storm in the forecast? That’s ok too, I remember showing up a few times to a fresh few inches not forecasted and no one expected. No crowds, no traffic, and longer runs than any other PA resort I’ve visited. Sometimes, you’ll even spot elk along the trail—probably how it got its name.
And Tuesdays? $15 for college students. I was “sick” a lot of Tuesdays. I have skied multiple countries, numerous states, been in waste deep powder, and hiked chutes that have left me in awe, but every time I get on that first lift at Elk, it reminds me why I fell in love with skiing and snowboarding—and why it’ll always feel like home.
-Teo
