Best Poconos Skiing for Beginners
The Shawnee Mountain Ski Area is the ideal place in the Poconos for beginners to learn how to ski or snowboard. With private and group lessons, plenty of trails perfect for beginners, and competitive lift ticket and equipment rental pricing, this ski area has everything you need for an unforgettable skiing experience.
Group Lessons + Private Lessons for Beginners
Shawnee Mountain welcomes all levels of skiers! Whether you’ve never been on skis or a snowboard before or it’s been a while since you’ve hit the slopes, Shawnee Mountain has group and private beginner lessons with experienced ski and snowboard instructors to help you feel confident and ready to take on the trails.
First Time Packages for skiing and snowboarding are group lessons meant to help you learn the basics. Your First Time Package also includes an all day lift ticket, rental equipment, and a one hour group lesson. Your lesson group will include up to 10 people. If you’d like to learn one-on-one, you can book a private lesson!
Already a skier or snowboarder, but want to learn how to better control your speed and direction? Opt for the Beginner Package. You’ll refresh your knowledge of the basics, plus learn how to control your speed and directions on Shawnee Mountain’s beginner hill.
Slopes and Trails for Beginners
There are plenty of slopes and trails for beginners at Shawnee Mountain Ski Area.
The Learning Center and Little Chief trails, at the lowest elevation, provide short, easy to navigate slopes that are perfect to help beginners gain confidence and feel comfortable with their equipment.
The Greenhouse Slope is the lowest slope at Shawnee Mountain Ski Area once skiers have graduated from the learning area.
As skiers gain confidence and move up the mountain toward higher elevations, they’ll choose from the Lower Pennsylvania, Minisink, Indian Queen, Pocahontas, Hiawatha, Blue Mountain, and Kittatinny trails. Beginner trails at Shawnee Mountain Ski Area are marked with a green circle on the trail map.
Safety and Support
Your safety is top priority at Shawnee Mountain Ski Area. In addition to lessons to ensure that all skiers and snowboarders feel comfortable on their equipment, there are two first aid locations on site. One first aid station is located at the base of the high speed quad, and the other is located at the summit lodge.
There are multiple ski patrollers and mountain hosts present on the mountain during opening hours, including during special night skiing events.
The trails at Shawnee Mountain Ski Area are groomed nightly after close. There is also snowmaking on 100% of the trails, ensuring ideal conditions. You can check on the trail conditions and snow report here.
Equipment Rentals
Shawnee Mountain offers competitive lift ticket pricing that sets their Ski Area apart from others. Purchase your tickets online in advance to save, with FREE tickets for youth (46” tall and under) and Super Seniors (ages 70+). Ski for two consecutive days and save with Shawnee Mountain’s Two-Day Rates.
Ski Rentals at Shawnee Mountain include boots, skis, and poles. Board Rentals include boots, bindings, and snowboard. Helmets are available to add on to any rental purchase. Daily equipment rentals are $45, night equipment (after 3 pm) rentals are $35. Helmets for single day skiers and snowboarders are $17.
With Two-Day Rates, rent your equipment for two days for $85 and helmets for $30.
Ski & Stay Packages
The most convenient way to plan a ski vacation is with the unbeatable Poconos ski resorts packages offered by Shawnee Inn. Save big with Weekend Ski and Stay, with overnight weekend accommodations, a full hot breakfast, and an all-day lift ticket to hit the slopes at the nearby Shawnee Mountain Ski Area.
Bundle your accommodations and ski rental with the Ski Rental Package, including your overnight stay, a full hot breakfast, an all-day lift ticket, and ski or snowboard rental for your trip to the Shawnee Mountain Ski Area.
Visiting midweek? Book the Midweek Ski and Stay for midweek overnight accommodations, a full hot breakfast, and all-day lift ticket so you can hit the slopes at Shawnee Mountain.
With beginner lessons, multiple trail options, and affordable equipment rentals, Shawnee Mountain Ski Area is the perfect place for beginners to get the hang of the slopes. Add in accommodations at the nearby Shawnee Inn, the closest lodging site for Shawnee Mountain, where guests can bundle their stay with lift tickets and equipment rentals, and you have the recipe for the perfect Poconos ski trip.