Elk Mountain

Big, old-school vertical north of the Pocono crowds.

One of Pennsylvania’s first commercial ski areas (1959), with 27 trails on 180 acres and close to 1,000 ft of vertical in the Endless Mountains north of the Poconos. It is known for careful grooming, long runs and quieter slopes. Expect older double chairs, one quad and a simple base, with night skiing Thursday to Saturday.

The mountain

Vertical drop

925 ft

Summit

2,667 ft

Skiable terrain

180 acres

Trails

27

Lifts

7

Average snowfall

60″ a year

Terrain mix

• Beginner 25%
• Intermediate 30%
• Advanced 45%

What’s here besides skiing

• Night skiing
• Terrain park
• Kids programs

Holidays and events

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

• EventDec 26 (usual start)Usually

  Night skiing begins

  Lifts run until 9 pm Thursday to Saturday from the day after Christmas, conditions permitting.

• RaceLate February (Feb 23 in 2025)Usually

  Elk Mountain Memorial Race

  Community race that raises money for Timmy’s Town Center.

Where to stay

• hotelHotel Anthracite

  Boutique hotel in downtown Carbondale with coal-mining history on the walls, the Kōl Grill and an evening wine tasting.

  25 min drive
• hotelHampton Inn Clarks Summit

  Chain hotel off I-81 north of Scranton with free breakfast.

  35 min drive
• condoEndless Mountain Resort

  Two-bedroom rental residences about 3 miles from the slopes, the closest place to stay.

  5 min drive
• b&bThe Rosemont Inn Bed & Breakfast

  Bed and breakfast in the small town of Montrose, on Elk’s own list of places to stay.

  35 min drive

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

Things to do

• Steamtown National Historic Site · 45 min drive

  Steam locomotives and a working roundhouse in downtown Scranton. Winter hours are Wednesday to Sunday.

• Electric City Trolley Museum · 45 min drive

  Restored Scranton-area trolleys next to Steamtown.

• Everhart Museum · 40 min drive

  Natural history, science and art museum in Scranton’s Nay Aug Park.

• Lackawanna State Park · 30 min drive

  Trails around 198-acre Lackawanna Lake, ten miles north of Scranton.

Après and nightlife

• Winter Garden Restaurant and The Loft

  Elk’s sit-down restaurant with cocktails, wine and beer, open until 9 pm on night-skiing nights.

• Kōl Grill

  Restaurant and bar at Hotel Anthracite in Carbondale, with handcrafted cocktails.

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

Getting there

• Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International (AVP) · about 45 min drive
• Syracuse · about 2 hr
• New York City · about 2.75 hr
• Philadelphia · about 2.75 hr

Directions in Google Maps