Shawnee Mountain Ski Resort:

Shawnee Mountain's major asset is, that it is the closest Pennsylvania ski area to New York City, Long Island and New Jersey. Shawnee has 23 slopes and trails, a variety of beginner and intermediate runs, good lifts and because of it's lower elevation has excellent snowmaking and grooming.

Shawnee tends to be, as most Pocono resorts are, a family area, with an unusually large school and group session program at night. Shawnee Mountain is among the earliest Pocono ski areas to open, trying for the Thanksgiving weekend. The snowmaking system covers 100 percent of all slopes and trails, and 95 percent of the slopes are illuminated for night skiing.

They have a range of learn-to-ski programs. Shawnee Mountain offers SKIwee, a SKI Magazine-sponsored program for children ages 5 to 12 and pre-SKIwee for ages 3 to 5, and group and private skiing and snowboarding lessons.

In keeping with the family theme it also offers baby-sitting for children over 18 months. Groups and senior citizens take advantage of discounts.

To get to Shawnee, take I-80 to Exit 52. Go north on Route 209 and follow the signs.

Shawnee TownHomes

Other Hotels Near Shawnee

1-800-805-3559

Worst Thing: Double lifts are slow

Reason To Go: Good for intermediates

Food: A bit pricey

Lift Lines: Short in morning, long at night

Best Trail: Kittatinny

Worst Trail: Renegade (never seems to be open, not lit closed after dark)

Conditions: Some patches when we visited

Staff: Usually nice

Half Pipe or Boarder Friendly: Boarder friendly with park and pipe, but not as well maintained as others.

Private Boarder Trails: All Access

Rating: 7 thumbs up (10 best)

Size: Size of mountain ok

Bargain: Everybody, but us, had coupons

Boredom Level: Not boring when all trail open, medium level

Cleanliness: Below average

Comments: Not much to say, an average riding experience.