On Route 6 west of Ulysses, two addresses sit almost directly across from each other. The Pennsylvania Lumber Museum is at 5660 US 6 West. The entrance to Denton Hill State Park is at 5661 US-6, and that is the address to put into a GPS. Todd Brown of Denton Go told northcentralpa.com that typing "Denton Hill State Park" into a GPS will not take you to the park entrance.
Every December, someone asks whether Ski Denton is back. For the 2026–27 season, winter on this stretch of Route 6 happens at the bottom of the hill and on the other side of the road. The summit is still waiting on a chairlift.
What the State Says About the Slope
The park sits on the northern slope of Denton Hill, at elevations from 1,800 to 2,400 feet. That steep grade is why a downhill ski area and lodge were built here in the 1950s and 1960s. The ski area closed in 2014. In 2023, the state announced it was negotiating a public-private partnership so that Denton Go, LLC could operate the park's concession and turn Denton Hill back into a four-season destination.
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Denton Hill winter recreation page says it in bold type: the park is closed for downhill skiing. The park's master plan page lists downhill skiing and snow tubing among the activities the park "may include," next to mountain biking, adventure courses and dark sky viewing. That page also says the next step is for DCNR and Denton Go to work out the terms of a 35-year lease.
So the plan for a ski revival is on paper. The open list for this winter is different.
The Winter That Is Actually Running
DCNR's winter page lists four activities, and only one of them is closed:
| Activity | Status on DCNR's winter page | Where it happens |
|---|---|---|
| Downhill skiing | Closed | The main slope |
| Sledding | Designated areas available | Base of the hill, near the Adventure Center |
| Cross-country skiing | Trails open | 8 miles of park trails, connecting into Susquehannock State Forest |
| Snowshoeing | Trails open | Park trails |
The sledding is at the base of the hill, near the Adventure Center, which is the same lodge building the master plan calls the base of operations for four-season recreation. On a snow day, the most usable part of Denton Hill is the bottom of it, where the sledding area and the lodge sit together.
The Trails Run Farther Than the Old Slope
The park has eight miles of its own trails. In winter, they matter mostly as an entry point. DCNR says they connect with many more miles of trail in the adjoining Susquehannock State Forest, including the 29-mile Denton Hill Cross-country Ski Trail System, which is groomed. DCNR asks skiers and snowshoers to check each trail's difficulty rating before heading out.
That puts 29 groomed miles within reach of a park whose downhill runs are closed. Hikers also have year-round access from the park to Susquehannock State Forest's Billy Lewis Area Trail System. The state's Winter Report posts ice and snow depth information for state parks, so you can check conditions before you load the car.
The Lodge Is Open for Events, and the Cabins Are Rentable
The other winter use of the hill is indoors. DCNR describes Denton Go as currently running recreation in the park and offering some amenities while the public-private partnership takes shape. Denton Go lists four cabins inside the park, with hiking, biking and UTV trails steps from the door. It also offers the Denton Hill Lodge for celebrations, retreats and weddings, plus 10 RV sites along a stream.
For anyone who skied here before 2014, the lodge is the most familiar piece. In 2024, northcentralpa.com reported that the building had reopened for events after closing with Ski Denton in 2014. It described tall wood-paneled ceilings, a fireplace and wide windows looking out at the mountains. The same story reported that events there had to be catered because the kitchen was not working, and that DCNR funds would eventually pay for more than $10 million in renovations, including a new kitchen.
Denton Go's site says its plans for the year ahead include more campsites, cabin rentals, hiking and biking trails, and ATV and UTV rentals, along with events meant to bring the community together.
Where the Lift Stands
Downhill skiing comes back only with a new chairlift. In the same 2024 northcentralpa.com story, Brown described the plan: tear down the double chairlift at Avalanche Trail and replace the triple chairlift near the lodge. The new lift would have two exits, one at the mid-station and one at the top. Crews had already taken the chairs off the lifts that summer to get ready.
Brown told the outlet the new lift would follow the same profile as the old one, so new pieces could go where the old system stood, which "will save a lot of money." He also said the park would need a new snowmaking system, since "the snowmaking system here is outdated." He added that the lift would run year-round, including for dark skies events and for bicyclists.
He also asked for patience, in words northcentralpa.com printed:
"We need to gently remind ourselves to be patient as we work with DCNR on the multitude of projects (lodge rehabilitation, new ski lift, and updated snowmaking system) that it will take time."
The story said that work would hopefully begin the following year. For this winter, DCNR's winter page still lists downhill skiing as closed. So a winter outing on Denton Hill this year still means the sledding area, the trails, the lodge and the cabins.
Across Route 6, Santa Is in the Shay
The one dated winter event on this stretch of Route 6 is across the road from the park entrance. On Saturday, December 12, from noon to 3 p.m., the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum holds Santa in the Shay. Santa sits in the cab of the museum's Shay locomotive and takes holiday requests. Visitors can take an instant photo with him and make an ornament, and the Eastern Loggers model railroad will be running. Cookies and hot cocoa are served in the museum program room.
Admission for the event is $5 per person, and children under 4 get in free. Regular general admission at the museum is $8, and youth ages 4 to 11 pay $5. On December 12, the event price covers adults at the youth rate. The museum notes that special-event prices can differ from general admission, and its online pre-purchase link does not sell event tickets. Its events page also says listings are subject to change and points visitors to the museum website and Facebook page for updates.
The museum's hours change the week before. Through November 30, it is open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. From December 1 through March 31, it is open Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum is closed on nearly all state and federal holidays, so Thanksgiving week runs on that rule. It also suggests arriving at least 90 minutes before closing, because the outdoor exhibits and the store start closing 30 minutes early. Starting December 1, a winter visit has to fit into a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
One Saturday, Both Sides of the Road
All of this lines up on December 12. Santa in the Shay runs from noon to 3 p.m. at 5660 US 6 West, and the sledding area at the base of Denton Hill is across the road at 5661 US-6, if there is snow. A family can spend the early afternoon at the Shay and the late afternoon on the sledding area near the Adventure Center. Anyone heading out on the cross-country network can reach the 29 groomed miles of the Denton Hill system through the park's own trails. Check the state's Winter Report that morning for snow depth before planning the second half of the day.
If you're wondering what that ski-revival talk could mean for property along the Route 6 corridor, or you have a cabin near the Susquehannock trails and want to know how it fits into a four-season market, Mountain Valley Realty knows this stretch of Potter County well. Call now and talk to a local agent.
