Ski Big Bear at Masthope Mountain

Founded in the 1970s, Ski Big Bear at Masthope Mountain is a small Poconos ski resort in the northeastern corner of Pennsylvania. It’s situated closer to New York City than to Philadelphia, but it certainly doesn’t have a big city vibe. It’s a public ski resort—a good place for beginner or take-it-easy skiers—but it’s operated as part of the Masthope Mountain Community, a condo association on beautiful Masthope Mountain in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains. Residents of the association get free use of Ski Big Bear as part of their condo fees. That’s a perk.

With 18 runs set on 26 skiable acres, Big Bear Ski Resort is a fairly small mountain. The most challenging runs are the lift-lines under Thundercloud and Grizzly and the double-black rated Screamin Demon. For the best intermediate cruiser at Big Bear Ski Resort, meander from Upper Jamboree (blue) to Grizzly (blue) Devil’s Dip (black, though short) to Cruisin’ (green) to the bottom of the Thundercloud chair.

Beginners can start at the magic carpet lift then head to the Little Bear chair and loop the gentle green Snowbird, which is also the site of a snowtubing run. Once you have Snowbird mastered, you can take the two-mile green run to the bottom of Ski Big Bear by continuing on Lower Jamboree to Upper Eagles Pass (left) to Lower Eagles Pass to Cruisin’ to the bottom of Thundercloud chair.

Big Bear Ski Resort also has a small terrain park along Devils Dip. There are some marked crosscountry trails along Masthope Mountain. Parking for Ski Big Bear and its recently remodeled lodge are at the top of the hill, so you can always take you first run without a lift ticket.

With inexpensive lift tickets and a solid ski school, Ski Big Bear is a good place to learn how to ski or have a relaxing day out. Or indeed, to live.

• Distance from Philadelphia: 152 miles, 2 hours 45
• Distance from Pittsburgh: 335 miles, 5 hours 17 minutes
• Distance from Harrisburg: 173 miles, 2 hours 17 minutes

Elevation  1250 feet
Vertical drop   650 feet
Area  26 acres
Trails   18
Lifts   6

Ski Big Bear at Masthope Mountain
192 Karl Hope Blvd
Lackawaxen PA 18435
570-685-1400
ski-bigbear.com