The Best Packages for Adult Beginners in the NYC Area

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Spring Mountain

Spring Mountain is a tiny mountain located near Philly, and its small size makes it a great spot for learning. The best part, though, is that the beginner package here is only $65 on weekdays and only $82 on weekends and holidays, which makes it one of the best deals in the area for first-timers. The beginner package includes:

• 1 beginner area lift ticket valid all day 
• 1 set of ski or snowboard rental equipment for use all day
• A 1-hour group lesson

The only drawback here is that you’re limited to the beginner area, but that will be okay on the first day for most people. At these hard-to-beat prices, it’s worth it for most people to stay in the beginner area and fine-tune their skills for a day before moving to the top of the mountain.

Note that helmets are an additional $10 each. Purchase the weekday snowboard package here, the weekday ski package here, the weekend snowboard package here, and the weekend ski package here.

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Montage Mountain

At just $40, Montage Mountain’s Ski-For-All special is a great deal for midweek lift tickets and rentals, and it’s conveniently located just outside of Scranton. However, if you need a lesson, it will cost an additional $65 and bring the total price for a beginner to $105 ($40 lift and rentals plus $65 lesson). This is still a better deal than most mountains in the area, but it’s not the great deal it once was, especially considering it’s only valid Monday-Wednesday (non-holiday) before 3 p.m.

As for weekends, Montage now has a beginner package called the Group Lesson Package that includes an all-area lift ticket, rentals, and a group lesson for $110. That’s only $5 more than it would be midweek, and at $110 on a weekend, it’s still one of the best options in the area, especially considering this lift ticket gives access to the full mountain.

You can also get a 3-pack of the Group Lesson Package for $265, which comes to $88 each—now that’s a good deal! Learning to ski and snowboard takes time, and getting three days on the slopes for just $88 each is a great way to ensure that you get in the practice time that you need to properly develop your skills, especially since the all-area lift ticket means that you will be able to head to the top of the mountain as soon as you’re ready—whether that’s your first day, second day, or third day. Choose this option if you’re serious about skiing and snowboarding and have no qualms about committing to three days on the slopes (and don’t mind paying $265 at the start).

Note that helmets are an additional $15 each.

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Shawnee Mountain

The VIP Learn to Ski/Snowboard Package at Shawnee Mountain in the Poconos is the best private lesson deal in the area for adults, so if you’re interested in a private lesson, this is definitely the way to go! For just $220, you will receive:

• 1 lift ticket for the day, which gives access to the full mountain
• 1 set of ski rental equipment for use all day
• 1 three-hour private lesson 

It’s hard to beat one-on-one instruction, because it allows you to progress at your own pace and get 100% personalized feedback, and an extra perk is that private lessons (and especially VIP packages like this one) are usually taught by the best instructors at the mountain. The typical cost for a 1-hour private lesson is over $100, so getting three whole hours of private instruction at this price is definitely worth it if you don’t mind spending $220 on a single day.

The only catch is that this package is for adults only (18+), and it is only available Monday-Friday (non-holiday) with an advance reservation. (You should also note that it is standard practice to tip private lesson instructors $10-20 per hour—though it’s always welcome in group lessons as well.) 

Alternatively, you can purchase the standard beginner package at Shawnee for $147 on weekends or $125 on weekdays. These packages include an all-area lift ticket, rental equipment, and a group lesson that is geared to first-timers. This package is pretty standard and is similar to many of the other mountains in the area (who didn’t make this list), but at Shawnee, you can buy the beginner package in advance online, where select dates have lower prices (ex: $92 weekdays in March or $120 during the weekend), so you can shop around for a cheaper option. Shawnee usually also has an especially good deal on Learn a Snow Sport Day (January 9th) as well.

Note that helmets are an additional $15 each.

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Elk Mountain

The beginner package at Elk Mountain in Northeastern Pennsylvania, which includes a beginner lift ticket, rental equipment, and a 1-hour group lesson is just $65 midweek or $80 during weekends and holidays. This is a great deal for a first-timer, but just note that the beginner lift ticket provides access to only the “A” lift, which is a double chairlift that solely services the beginner (bunny) slope.

Many people would be happy to spend their first day solely on the beginner slope here, but if you’re not satisfied with that, you can start off with the beginner package for $80 (weekend price) and then if you get REALLY bored at the beginner area, then you can still purchase the 4-hour all-area lift ticket for $60 (bringing your total for the day to $80 + $60 = $140 (less if it’s a week day), which still isn’t a bad price for a lesson, lift ticket, and rentals in this area.

Helmets are an additional $8.

*Note: Rental lines can be VERY LONG AND VERY SLOW at Elk Mountain. Arrive early to avoid delays!

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Bear Creek

First-Timer Wednesdays (available only on Wednesdays, of course) just beyond the Poconos at Bear Creek in PA are just $99 and include a 2-hour lesson (offered at 10 am, 1 pm, or 6 pm), a lift ticket, and rentals. In addition to the longer 2-hour lesson, helmets are included in this package, making this a fantastic deal for your first time out on the slopes. The only catch is that you’ve got to be available on a Wednesday.

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Big Snow

Did you know that you can go indoor snowboarding in NJ? If you’re okay with learning on an indoor slope (yes, the snow in there is real—just not from the sky!) instead of heading to an actual mountain, then you should check out the Snow Day Package at Big Snow in the American Dream Mall. For $70, you will get:

• 1 slope access ticket, good for only 2 hours
• 1 set of ski or snowboard rental equipment for the 2 hour period—helmet included!
• 1 set of outerwear (snow pants and a snow jacket) to use during your 2 hours on the slopes
• Plus “Complimentary access to our Terrain Based Learning™ skills areas and dedicated instructors” (Big Snow has an area designed for beginners where you can do a self-guided lesson. Be prepared to scan QR codes on your phone to watch instructional videos. There will also be instructors circulating in the area who can offer some guidance.)

This package is very different from all of the other options. One of the main things that sets this package apart (other than the fact that it’s an indoor slope) is that your entire experience on the snow is only two hours long. For some, that may be fine, because beginners tend to tire out quickly, but others will leave unsatisfied. Another potential drawback is that you will not be given an actual lesson from a single instructor, which could be confusing for some people; or, if you enjoy figuring things out on your own and at your own pace, then this might just be another perk.

The other unique thing about this package is that it is the only package that includes rented outerwear. Having a set of warm, waterproof pants is particularly useful for learning snowboarding, which starts off with a lot of time sitting on the cold, wet snow. If you don’t have your own snow pants, that’s a good reason to consider this package. Another perk of this package is that the American Dream Mall is right near Met Life Stadium, making it the easiest slope to get to from NYC, JC, Hoboken, and the surrounding area, particularly for people who do not have access to a car, and since Big Snow is open all year (currently closed until early 2022 due to a fire), you can even go in the summer.

Big Snow also offers a 3-day Snow Day package for $110, which is an even better deal if you want to commit to three days on their indoor slope. That’ll give you 6 hours of practice, which is similar to what you’d get from a full day at another mountain, but in this case, you won’t have to worry about tiring out too quickly. Instead, you will be able to rest as many hours/days/weeks/months between 2-hour sessions as you’d like!