Sno Mountain Ski Resort - Scranton, Pennsylvania - ski mountain and resort in northeastern Pennsylvania

Located in the heart of the Pocono Mountains, Sno Mountain is one of the most popular ski resorts in northeastern United States. This resort is also known as Montage Mountain, as Montage, Inc. opened the resort in 1978. Although it is most popular as a ski mountain during the winter, it is also a tourist location year-round, with a multi-season recreation center.

Originally, this mountain was owned by the Pennsylvania Gas and Water Company, who sold it to the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce for $14 million. Construction to commercialize the location started in 1982, and it opened to the public in December 1984.

Sno Mountain has 30 trails open to the public, covering a total area of over 200 acres. Of these 30 trails, over 50% are for beginners or novice skiers. They also have 9 trails for intermediate or advanced skiers and a few more difficult trails for experts on the slopes. All of the tails are 100% lit for night skiing, and the mountain's seven lifts can carry up to 80,000 guests up the mountain every hour. New in the 2007 - 2008 season, the mountain also offers glade skiing, for people who want a unique and challenging opportunity.

The trails aren't just for skiers, either. The mountain caters to snowboarders as well, offering a terrain park that includes both a rail park and a jump park. In addition, they have two half-pipes, one of which is 22 feet tall, and the other of which is 13 feet tall. Over 250 snow guns dot the trails, so all of the trails can be open, even if there is not naturally snowy weather.

Beginners to the slopes can take one of the many classes offered by Sno Mountain before they hit the trails. For the youngest skiers, they have a class for those aged three to five, which includes one-on-one instruction and a special ski lift called the Magic Carpet, which keeps younger guests close to the ground. Children ages six through ten can participate in a beginner's course and there are classes for older skiers new to the sport. These classes are slightly longer and taught in a group setting, though private lessons are also available. Children older than ten and adults can also participate in lessons to learn to ski. Sno Mountain ensures that no one is too old to learn, and these group lessons only cost $25 or $60 for those who want a lesson, lift ticket, and rental package. Others may want to try out the snowboarding lessons offered by the resort. They have snowboarding classes for everyone from people who have never tried snowboarding before to experts who want to work on new skills. Snowboarding lessons are available for children ages eight and up and for adults.

Sno Mountain also has tubing for those who don't like skiing or snowboarding, and they have a lodge where guests can warm up between runs down the mountain. During the summer, the trails may close, but the resort operates Sno Cove, a summer water park for families. They also have a zip line, batting cages, miniature golf, an arcade, and a scenic ski lift rides. For more information about hours and directions, call 1-800-GOT-SNOW.