Four seasons of activities, lodging and best of all, great skiing in New Jersey is what makes Mountain Creek ski area special. It is one of the quickest drives to go skiing from New York City and draws plenty of new skiers and snowboarders each year.
We will look at why Mountain Creek is worthy of a visit, how to get there, a few tips for visiting and where to stay.
Mountain Creek Ski Area: Getting There
Mountain Creek is quite possibly one of the easiest places to ski or snowboard outside of New York City. So how long does it take to get to Mountain Creek from the city or other nearby areas?
Here’s the distance to some places close to the ski area:
- New York, NY – 1 hour and 40 minutes, 55 miles
- Newark, NJ – 1 hour and 10 minutes, 50 miles
- Allentown, PA – 2 hours, 70 miles
- Trenton, NJ – 2 hours and 10 minutes, 90 miles
Mountain Creek Ski Area: A Few Stats
It might seem like a lot of runs on paper but once you see it in person, you’ll realize a lot of them connect or are parts of upper and lower runs. With that said, here are a few stats on the slopes.
- 46 runs
- 7 lifts and 2 magic carpets
- 167 acres
- Night skiing
- Snow tubing
Mountain Creek Lodging: Places to Stay
You just can’t beat slope-side accommodations. Stay at The Appalachian and you’ll be able to go right outside from your accommodations onto the slopes. It is one of the best options if you want to be skiing the whole time you are there.
Otherwise, there are a few lodging options like:
- Vacation rentals by owners (“VRBOs”) – families and pets
- Grand Cascades Lodge – a high-end experience
- Quality Inn near Mountain Creek – a budget option
Thankfully there are plenty of options so if staying on-site seems expensive then checking a private rental could be your next best bet.
Does Mountain Creek Have Night Skiing?
As we were just saying, there are benefits to staying close to the slopes. One of those is being able to take full advantage of the night skiing at Mountain Creek. The fun doesn’t stop till late after dark. You can even pick up a Twilight ticket starting at 3 p.m. if you just want to ski or snowboard during the night session.
Mountain Creek Ski Area Weather: What to Expect
Being in New Jersey you just can’t expect the powder dumps. There are the occasional winter storms but for the most part, the slopes rely on the team at Mountain Creek to pump out man-made powder.
It tends to pack down into a hard pack and get icier later into the evenings. Temperatures are your typical sub-30’s so bundle up!
Rentals at Mountain Creek: Getting Gear
Burton snowboards and Head skis are the options at Mountain Creek. With all the people heading out on weekends, the rental center can be a bit crazy. Make sure you reserve in advance and get there ahead of your lift time.
The team inside the Read Tail Lodge will sort you out and certainly is helpful so you have nothing to worry about if you are new to the sport.
Is Learning to Ski at Mountain Creek a Good Place to Learn?
You better believe Mountain Creek is a good place to learn to ski or snowboard. Look at it as a gateway before going up north. The trails are not overly challenging, the ski school is helpful and you can learn a new sport in a weekend.
From group and private lessons, the ski school has you covered to take you from beginner to expert. Not all in one weekend of course!
Read More:
Runs at Mountain Creek: Can’t-Miss
While Mountain Creek isn’t huge, there are some runs we want to highlight on the slopes as follows:
Beginners
- Lower Horizon
Intermediate
- Southern Sojourn
- Gorge Run
Expert
- Kamikaze
Kamikaze is one of the most challenging at Mountain Creek but you just can’t deny the fund of Gorge Run.
Terrain Park: What Mountain Creek Offers
Rails, pipes, boxes and jumps. You heard that right. There is a wide mix of features for all skill levels and the fun continues into the dark with lit terrain park runs and features. If you are one that is just getting started or likes to throw down something big then you can find a bit of everything at Mountain Creek.
Tubing at The Mountain Creek
Some of the best fun to be had at Mountain Creek is found off the ski slopes and on the tubing slopes. Kids, adults and families can all enjoy the snow tubing at Mountain Creek. There’s no skill level required and kids just need to meet the height requirement of 42”.
Make sure you book online because there aren’t in-person sales.
Mountain Creek Ski Area: Final Thoughts
Do you ever feel like you need to get out of the big apple? Mountain Creek is the winter ski, snowboard and snowtubing destination that you need to visit. Book a room slope-side or rent nearby, unwind and enjoy a few days on the slopes. It’s just too convenient to skip!
Alec Wilson writes for Proper Peaks and lives near Claremont, VT. He hardly misses a weekend on the ski slopes in the winter. If there is snow, Alec’s skis are on for a go. Look out for his stickered-up helmet and you might just meet him on the trails.
