Blue Mountain Resort

Pennsylvania’s biggest vertical and a giant tubing park.

The most vertical in Pennsylvania at 1,082 ft, with 40 trails, two high-speed six-packs, full night skiing and a huge snowmaking system. Its tubing park has up to 56 lanes and turns into a light-and-music show after dark. A good pick for strong skiers in the Mid-Atlantic, about 90 minutes from Philadelphia, but weekends are crowded.

The mountain

Vertical drop

1,082 ft

Summit

1,540 ft

Skiable terrain

171 acres

Trails

40

Lifts

16

Average snowfall

33″ a year

Longest run

1.2 mi

Snowmaking

100% of terrain

Terrain mix

• Beginner 46%
• Intermediate 11%
• Advanced 43%

What’s here besides skiing

• Night skiing
• Terrain park
• Snow tubing
• Kids programs

Holidays and events

2026–27 dates where they’re posted. “Usually” means the date follows past years. Confirm before you go.

• ChristmasSelect days Nov 27–Dec 24, 10:30 am, 1 pm and 3:30 pm

  Lehigh Gorge Santa Claus trains

  Santa and his elves ride along on an 80-minute round trip from Jim Thorpe. Adults from $25.

• ChristmasThu–Sun nights in December (annual)Usually

  Christmas snow tubing

  Red and green lights and Christmas music on the tubing hill, fire pits and s’mores. Santa tubes with kids on select Thursdays.

• ChristmasFirst weekend of December (annual)Usually

  Breakfast with Santa

  Breakfast buffet in the Vista Ballroom. Kids visit Santa and get a free tubing ticket. A gingerbread house workshop runs the same weekend.

• New Year’sDec 31, 7 pm–midnight (annual)Usually

  Tube in the New Year

  Family snow tubing until midnight with a dinner buffet and DJ. Adults 21+ can also party in the Last Run Lounge.

• FestivalSat Nov 14, 5–9 pm

  Ullr Fest

  Free pre-season party at the Valley Lodge with live music, a bonfire to burn painted skis, a shotski station and a Viking costume contest.

• FestivalLate February (Feb 21–22 in 2026)Usually

  Winter Fest

  Free festival at the Summit Lodge with on-snow games, vendors, live music, a luge demo and a fireworks and drone show.

• Pond skimLate March (Mar 29 in 2026)Usually

  Pond Skim

  Free to enter outside the Slopeside Pub & Grill; helmets and a lift ticket or pass required.

Where to stay

• hotelHampton Inn Lehighton–Jim Thorpe

  Chain hotel by the Turnpike exit in Lehighton, with free breakfast.

  20 min drive
• innThe Inn at Jim Thorpe

  Built in 1849 in the middle of Jim Thorpe’s historic district, steps from restaurants and shops.

  30 min drive
• b&bThe Harry Packer Mansion Inn

  Victorian mansion inn above Jim Thorpe, with antique-filled rooms in the main house and carriage house.

  30 min drive

Rates are typical winter lows before taxes and fees, and change constantly. Book on the property’s own site.

Things to do

• Sonic Snow Tubing · On site

  Up to 56 lanes, which Blue bills as the largest tubing park in the US. After 5 pm the hill gets lasers and music. Riders must be 36 in or taller.

• Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway · 30 min drive

  Diesel train rides from Jim Thorpe along the Lehigh River. Santa trains run late November to Christmas Eve.

• Winter Light Spectacular · 25 min drive

  Walk-through holiday lights at the Lehigh Valley Zoo, with fire pits and Santa photos. Nov 13 to Jan 2 this season.

• Penn’s Peak · 20 min drive

  Mountaintop concert hall near Jim Thorpe with a restaurant and bar and big views.

• Molly Maguire’s Irish Pub · 30 min drive

  Pub food and pints on Jim Thorpe’s main square.

Après and nightlife

• Last Run Lounge

  In the Summit Lodge, with drinks, food and live music every Saturday and Sunday all winter.

• Slopeside Pub & Grill

  Pub and grill right on the slopes, home of the spring pond skim.

• Tipsy Tuber Bar

  Bar at the tubing park, open during evening tubing sessions.

These themes are our summary of recent skier reviews, not quotes.

Getting there

• Lehigh Valley International (ABE) · about 30 min drive
• Philadelphia · about 1.75 hr
• New York City · about 2 hr

Directions in Google Maps