As the weather begins to chill, hiking is more attractive than ever. The leaves are at their most colorful point and the weather is the perfect combination of warmth and coolness. As the weather continues to get cooler heading into winter, those same destinations that were once perfect backdrops for hiking turn into some of the best places for snowboarders and skiers. Here’s our list of the best mountains for hiking and winter sports within driving distance from Bucks County and Philadelphia.

Here are the best mountains for hiking and winter sports near Bucks County & Philadelphia

John’s Driving School is not affiliated with any of the businesses, organizations, or locations below.

BAKE OVEN KNOB

(Northwest of Allentown)

Located northwest of Allentown and about an hour and a half’s drive from Philly, Bake Oven Knob is a 1,585-foot peak on the Blue Mountain rocky ridge in southeast Pennsylvania. The Appalachian Trail runs in this area and is your best option for hiking this interesting peak.

BEAM ROCKS

(Laurel Highlands Trail)

Beam Rocks is a 2,661-foot summit about 90 feet above the Laurel Highlands Trail. It is a short hike from the trailhead by the parking lot off of Laurel Summit Road. It offers beautiful views of Laurel Ridge and Jennerstown.

GILLESPIE POINT

(Tioga State Forest)

Gillespie Point is a 1,800-foot-high mountain above the town of Blackwell in the Tioga State Forest, offering fantastic views of Pine Creek Gorge. Because of its strange, almost pyramidal shape unusual in the state, locals call Gillespie Point the “Matterhorn of Pennsylvania.”

CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN

(Pocono State Park)

The 2,133-foot high Camelback Mountain is part of the Big Pocono State Park in the Pocono Mountains, about 15 miles from the Delaware Water Gap. It is the highest mountain in the Poconos. The mountain is best known for the ski resort and waterpark on its northern slopes. It has about 7 miles of rocky trails to offer, with only one trail that starts from the base.

MOUNT NITTANY

(State College, PA)

Mount Nittany is a 2077-foot mountain located in State College, Pennsylvania, a few miles from Pennsylvania State University. The mountain is an important landmark for the town of State College and Penn State University. There is a 3 to 4-mile-long path that goes around the mountain. It is not used much and offers a pleasant, solitary hike.

JACK FROST BIG BOULDER

(Poconos)

Nestled in the Pocono Mountains just a few hours from New York City and only an hour or so from Philly, the mountains of Jack Frost and Big Boulder complement one another nicely. With a plethora of skiing and snowboarding trails along with cozy lodging, Jack Frost Big Boulder is the ultimate winter trip.