Elk Mountain Ski Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Elk Mountain Ski Area |
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| Location | Herrick Township, Susquehanna County, near Union Dale, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Nearest city | Scranton, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates | 41°43′16″N 75°33′32″W / 41.721°N 75.559°W |
| Vertical | 925 ft (282 m) |
| Top elevation | 2,667 ft (813 m) |
| Base elevation | 1,742 ft (531 m) |
| Skiable area | 180 acres (0.73 km2) |
| Runs | 27 : 25%—easy : 30%—difficult : 45%—more difficult : 0%—extreme |
| Longest run | 1.75 miles (2.816 km) |
| Lift system | 1 rope tow 6 chairlifts |
| Lift capacity | 5,400/hr |
| Terrain parks | 2 |
| Snowfall | 60 inches (1.5 m) |
| Snowmaking | 100% |
| Night skiing | 30% |
| Website | www.elkskier.com |
Elk Mountain Ski Resort is a cool place to ski and snowboard in Pennsylvania! It's located in the Endless Mountains on top of Elk Hill in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. It's about 30 miles (48 km) north of Scranton. People often say it's one of the best ski spots around. Ski Magazine even called it a "hidden gem" for skiing.
History of Elk Mountain Ski Resort
Elk Mountain first opened its slopes in 1959. Back then, it was a smaller place. It had a small lodge, a T-Bar ski lift, and some rope tow lifts. There were only a few trails to ski on.
In 1961, they added a double chair lift, which meant more trails could be opened. A year later, in 1962, they started making snow. This helped make sure there was always enough snow for skiing. They also built a new lodge at the bottom of the mountain.
Night skiing became available at Elk Mountain in 1966. This let people ski even after the sun went down! More trails were added in 1972. In 1994, Elk Mountain built a long quad chairlift, which can carry more skiers up the mountain faster.
Skiing and Snowboarding at Elk Mountain
Elk Mountain offers awesome skiing and snowboarding. The North Chair lift takes you to the very top, at 2,667 feet (813 m) high. This is the highest point you can ski in eastern Pennsylvania!
The mountain has a vertical drop of 925 feet (282 m). This is the difference in height from the top to the bottom. There are 27 different trails to choose from.
- Six trails are easy (green circle).
- Ten trails are difficult (blue square).
- Eleven trails are more difficult (black diamond).
Elk Mountain also has two special areas called terrain parks. These parks have jumps and features for snowboarders and skiers to try tricks.
To get up the mountain, there are five double chair lifts and one fixed-grip quad chair lift. Four of these lifts go all the way from the base to near the top. Most of the ski runs are smoothed out, but some are left bumpy. These bumpy trails, called moguls, offer an extra challenge for experienced skiers.
Elk Mountain gets about 5 feet (1.5 m) of natural snow each winter. But even if it doesn't snow much, they can make their own snow! Snowmaking covers all 180 acres (0.73 km²) of skiable land.
At the base of the mountain, you'll find everything you need. There's a lodge, guest services, and a ski school if you want to learn. You can also find a restaurant, rental shop for gear, and a ski and snowboard shop.
Weather at Elk Mountain
Elk Mountain has a climate with warm summers and cold winters. This type of weather is perfect for skiing!
During the summer, it can get warm and humid. In winter, it can get very cold and windy, especially at the top of the mountain. The average snowfall from October to April is about 83 inches (211 cm) at the top and 65 inches (165 cm) at the base. Sometimes, there are big snowstorms that bring more than 12 inches (30 cm) of snow. These often happen from December to March.
