A complete guide to the region's slopes
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It isn't unusual about this time of year for the first snow reports to arrive, often from television weather forecasters who appear to be too easily excited by a few flurries and flakes.
But when reports and photos of several inches of snow come in from ski areas north, east and south of Pittsburgh, as they have in the past few weeks, snowsports enthusiasts start to assemble their clothing and equipment.
Although most local and regional ski areas plan to open by early to mid-December, some of the larger ones may offer limited skiing the weekend after Thanksgiving if they get enough natural snow or if it becomes cold enough to turn on their snowmaking systems.
The information on this page is designed to help you compare the price of lift tickets, rental equipment and group ski lessons; the types of lifts; the number of slopes and trails; and the length of vertical drops at the 17 ski areas in the quad-state region. Also included are addresses and telephone numbers.
Each area has Learn-to-Ski and/or Learn-to-Snowboard packages but may restrict them to weekdays. That's the best time to use them because the slopes are less crowded. Some offer special programs to help women learn to ski or snowboard or to improve their skills.
Each area offers group and private lessons for skiers and snowboarders of all ages and abilities. Ask for an instructor certified by the Professional Ski Instructors of America. The beginner equipment and terrain are user-friendly, and some areas have installed Magic Carpets to make it easier for beginners to get back up the slope.
If you're skiing for a weekend or a week, ask about packages that include lift tickets, rental equipment and lessons. The savings can be considerable. Many areas also offer night skiing with lower-priced lift tickets and rental equipment. Most areas offer child-care facilities.
In addition to snowboarding and downhill skiing, many areas offer cross-country skiing, snowtubing, snowshoeing and snowblading.
Cross-country trails can be found at or near many of the following ski resorts. Some areas allow cross-country skiers to buy tickets to use their chairlifts for a ride to the top.
Don't be surprised if you encounter "ski math" at some ski areas. In a shameless attempt to pad the number of their slopes and trails, they include crossovers and connecting trails, some of which are only a few hundred feet long. If they counted only the runs that go from top to bottom, some areas would have fewer than half of what they claim.
Absent from our listing are Boyce Park, the Allegheny County-owned ski area in Plum that will reopen next winter after the completion of $1 million in long-awaited renovations and the installation of a new snow-tubing area, and Willowbrook near Rostraver, which will not offer skiing and snowboarding this season.
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
Blue Knob
Adult weekend lift ticket, $45; weekdays, $35. Junior (12 and under), active members of the military and seniors (65 to 69) weekends, $35; weekdays, $28. Seniors (75 and older) ski free. Children 5 and younger ski free when accompanied by a parent with a valid lift ticket. Group lesson for four to eight people: $90. Ski rental: $25. Snowboard rental (includes boots): $37. Cross-country rental: adult $10, child $8. Trail fee: adult $10, child $5.
Lifts: Two triple chairlifts, two doubles, one handle tow.
Slopes and trails: 34.
Vertical drop: 1,025 feet.
Address: Box 247, Claysburg, PA 16625; 1-800-458-3403; 1-814-239-5111.
Hidden Valley
Adult weekend lift ticket, $45; weekdays, $30. Junior (6 to 17) and seniors (65 to 69) weekends, $35; weekdays, $24. Children 5 and younger, $10 anytime. Seniors 70 and older, $15 anytime. Group lesson: $18; snowboard lesson (three-person minimum), $18 per person. Ski rental: $20. Snowboard rental (includes boots): $20. Cross-country rental: $20. Adult cross-country trail fee (includes unlimited use of the lifts), $14; junior (6 to 12), $12; child (5 and younger), free. Snowshoes: $20.
Lifts: One quad chairlift, two triples, three doubles, two handle tows.
Slopes and trails: 28.
Vertical drop: 340 feet front; 430 feet North Summit area.
Address: 1 Craighead Drive, Hidden Valley, PA 15502; 1-814-443-2600; 1-800-458-0175 for reservations only; and 1-800-443-7544 for recorded snow reports.
Mountain View at Edinboro
Adult weekend lift ticket $18; weekdays $15. Student (9 to 21) weekends, $15; weekdays $13. Child (5 to 8) weekends, $13; weekdays, $10; child (4 and under) free when accompanied by a parent who skis; seniors (70 and older) free. Group lesson: $15. Ski rental: $15 adult, $10 for students and for children ages 5 to 8. Snowboard rental: $23.
Lifts: One T-bar and one Poma lift.
Slopes and trails: 10.
Vertical drop: 320 feet.
Address: Box 447, Edinboro, PA 16412; 1-814-734-1641.
Mystic Mountain
Open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays through Mondays. Adult lift ticket $38; child (6 to 11), $30. Group lesson (maximum of three persons): $105. Rental: adult $29; child $25. Snowboard rental (includes boots): adult $29, child $25. Snowshoe rental: $20. Cross-country rental (includes trail fee): $20.
Lifts: One regular quad chairlift and one handle tow.
Slopes and trails: 8.
Vertical drop: 300 feet.
Address: 1001 Lafayette Drive, Farmington, PA 15437; 1-800-422-2736; 724-329-8555.
Seven Springs
Adult weekend lift ticket: $48 Saturdays, $42 Sundays; weekdays, $36. Child (11 and under) weekends: $37 Saturdays, $32 Sundays; weekdays $29. Children 5 and under ski free when accompanied by an adult with a lift ticket. Seniors 70 to 79 pay half price; seniors 80 and older ski free but need a lift ticket. Group lesson: $24. Rental: adult, $23; child, $16. Snowboard rental (includes boots): $29. Telemark rentals also are available.
Lifts: One six-person; three quad chairlifts, five triples, two surface lifts and two Magic Carpets.
Slopes and trails: 31.
Vertical drop: 360 feet front, 750 feet back.
Address: Champion, PA 15622; 1-800-452-2223; 1-800-523-7777 for recorded snow conditions; and 1-814-352-7777.
Ski Denton
Adult weekend lift ticket, $34; weekdays, $21. Youth (6-11) weekends, $23; weekdays, $15. Child (5 and under) $3 anytime when accompanied by an adult. Seniors (65-69) weekends, $15; weekdays, $10. Seniors (70 and older) free. Group lesson: $12. Rental: adults, $19; youth, $15. Cross-country rental: $15. Snowboard and snowblade rental (includes boots): $18 for four hours, $27 for eight hours. Sled Dog Boot Skis: $4 per hour; $7 for two hours.
Lifts: One triple chairlift, one double and two Pomas.
Slopes and trails: 20.
Vertical drop: 650 feet.
Address: Box 367, Couders-port, PA 16915; 1-814-435-2115.
Ski Sawmill Family Resort
Adult weekend lift ticket (Fridays through Sundays), $34; weekdays (Mondays through Thursdays), $21. Youth (11 and under) weekends, $23; weekdays, $19. Senior (65-69) weekends, $15; weekdays, $10; Seniors (70 and older), free. Child 45 inches or shorter gets a free lift ticket when accompanied by an adult who buys a full-price lift ticket.
Group lesson: $14. Rental: $22 weekends; $14 weekdays. Snowboard rental (includes boots): $34 weekends; $26 weekdays.
Lifts: One double chairlift, two T-bars.
Slopes and trails: 13.
Vertical drop: 515 feet.
Address: 383 Oregon Hill, Morris, PA 16938; 1-800-532-7669.
SnoZone Snowboard and Tube Park
Open 4:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 4:30 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon to 8 p.m. on non-holiday Sundays. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays except for holidays. Snowboarding and snowtubing: $10 for adults and children Wednesdays through Fridays; $14.50 for adults and $11.50 for children (9 and under) on weekends and holidays.
Snowboard Park: Includes one halfpipe (350 feet long, 10 feet high); one Big-Air Jump; one Novice Jump; three rail slides. No rental snowboards available. Lessons: $14.
Tube Park: Six 1,000-foot-long lanes served by three handle tows. Children (2 to 5) free when using carousel and play area in the Kinder Zone.
Address: Box 86, Finleyville, PA 15332; 724-348-7399.
Whitetail
Adult weekend lift ticket, $53; weekdays, $44. Junior (6 to 12) weekends, $47; weekdays $38. Children (5 and under) receive free lift ticket with the purchase of an adult lift ticket. Seniors (65 and older), weekends, $53; weekdays, $26.50. Group lesson: $32. Ski rental: $36. Snowboard rental (includes boots): $42.
Lifts: One high-speed quad chairlift, four regular quads, one double, one Magic Carpet.
Slopes and trails: 19.
Vertical drop: 935 feet.
Address: 13805 Blairs Valley Road, Mercersburg, PA 17236; 1-717-328-9400.
WEST VIRGINIA
Canaan Valley
Adult weekend lift ticket, $52; weekdays $34. Child (12 and under) weekends, $28; weekdays, $25. Children 5 and under ski free when accompanied by a parent who skis. Group lesson: $30. Rental: adult, $27; child, $25. Snowboard rental (includes boots): adult, $36; child, $27. Cross country rental: adult $17, junior $15. Snowshoe rental: adult $17, junior $15.
Lifts: One quad chairlift, two triples.
Slopes and trails: 37.
Vertical drop: 850 feet.
Address: HC 70, Box 330, Davis, WV 26260; 1-800-622-4121; 1-304-866-4121.
Oglebay
Adult lift tickets: $22 Fridays through Sundays and holidays; $15.75 Mondays through Thursdasy. Youth (6 to 17) $16.50 Fridays through Sundays and holidays.; $10.50 Mondays through Thursdays. Child (5 and under) skis free when accompanied by an adult with a valid lift ticket. Lesson (includes rental equipment): $50 per person per hour, $30 for each additional person. Reservations required. Adult rental: $22 Fridays through Sundays and holidays; $15.75 Mondays through Thursdays. Youth rental: $16.50 Fridays through Sundays and holidays; $10.50 Mondays through Thursdays. Adult snowboard rental: $27.50 and $21, respectively; youth $22 and $15.75, respectively.
Lifts: One triple chairlift.
Slopes: one.
Vertical drop: 168 feet.
Address: Route 88 North, Wheeling, WV, 26003; 1-800-624-6988; 1-304-243-4177 for snow conditions.
Snowshoe
Adult weekend lift ticket, $65; weekdays, $50. Student (high school or college) and seniors (60 and over), weekends, $60; weekdays, $45. Junior (6 to 12), weekends, $47; weekdays, $36. Children 5 and under ski free when accompanied by a parent or guardian who skis. Group lesson: $39. Rental: adult, student and senior $30; junior (12 and under) $22. Snowboard rental (includes boots) $34 and $30, respectively.
Lifts: Two high-speed quad chairlifts, five triples at Snowshoe; two quads, two triples, one tube tow at Silver Creek.
Slopes and trails: 39 at Snowshoe; 18 at Silver Creek.
Vertical drop: 748 feet front and 1,500 feet back at Snowshoe; 663 feet at Silver Creek.
Address: Box 10, Snowshoe, WV 26209; 1-304-572-1000; 1-304-572-5252 for reservations.
Timberline
Adult weekend lift ticket, $51; weekdays, $34. Child (6 to 12), weekends, $28; weekdays, $22. Child (5 and under) ski free when accompanied by a parent who skis. Group lesson: $25. Rental: adult, $24; junior (6 to 12) $18. Child (5 and under) $10 anytime. Snowboard rental: $36.
Lifts: One triple chairlift, two doubles, one surface lift.
Slopes and trails: 36.
Vertical drop: 1,000 feet.
Address: HC 70, Box 488, 488 Timberline Road, Davis, WV 26260; 1-304-866-4801; 1-800-766-9464 for general information; 1-304-866-4828 for snow reports.
WESTERN MARYLAND
Wisp
Adult weekend lift ticket, $55; weekdays, $39. Child (11 and under), weekends, $39; weekdays, $34. All tickets include night skiing Tuesdays through Saturdays. Group lesson: $29. Rental: $32; shaped skis and snowboards (includes boots), $36. Helmet rental: $10.
Lifts: Two quad chairlifts, five triples, four surface tows, two ski carpets.
Slopes and trails: 32.
Vertical drop:
700 feet.
Address: Box 629, McHenry, MD 21541; 1-301-387-4911.
WESTERN NEW YORK
Cockaigne
Adult weekend lift ticket, $34; weekdays, $24. Child (12 and under), weekends, $26; weekdays, $18. Children ages 6 to 12 pay half-price with a parent with a full-price lift ticket. Children 5 and younger ski free when accompanied by a parent who skis. College and military lift ticket discount: $5 anytime. Group lesson: $20. Rental: adult weekends, $21; weekdays, $17. Child: weekends, $17; weekdays, $14. Snowboard rental (includes boots): weekends, $26; weekdays, $21.
Lifts: Three double chairlifts, one J-bar.
Slopes and trails: 15.
Vertical drop: 430 feet.
Address: 1493 Thornton Road (CR66), Cherry Creek, NY 14723; 1-716-287-3223; taped snow reports 1-888-287-3545.
Holiday Valley
Adult weekend lift ticket for any eight hours, $49; weekdays, $42. Junior (6 to 11) weekend lift ticket for any eight hours, $36; weekdays, $32. Children (5 and under) free. Group lesson: $25. Downhill rental: adult, $22; junior, $19. Cross-country rental: $15. Snowboard rental (includes boots): adult, $29; junior, $25. Snowshoes: $15.
Lifts: Two high-speed quad chairlifts, seven standard quads, one double, one handle tow, one Magic Carpet.
Slopes and trails: 53.
Vertical drop: 750 feet.
Address: Box 370, Ellicott-ville, NY 14731; 1-716-699-2345; 1-716-699-2644 for recorded ski reports.
Kissing Bridge
Adult weekend lift ticket: $42 for any eight hours; $40 for any four hours. Junior (13 and under): $32 for any eight hours; $30 for any four hours. Adult weekday lift ticket: $32 for any eight hours; $30 for any four hours. Junior weekday lift ticket: $24 for any eight hours; $22 for any four hours. Group lesson: $22. Rental: adult, $20; child, $15. Snowboard (includes boots): $26.
Lifts: Two quad chairlifts, one triple, three doubles, two handle tows.
Slopes and trails: 36.
Vertical drop: 575 feet.
Address: Route 240, Glenwood, NY 14069; 1-716-592-4963; 1-716-592-4961 for recorded ski reports.
Peek'n Peak
Adult weekend lift ticket: $46 for any eight hours; $41 for any four hours. Weekdays: $38 for any eight hours; $36 for any four hours. Junior (6 to 11) weekends: $34 for any eight hours; $31 for any four hours. Child weekdays: $28 for any eight hours; $26 for any four hours. Seniors 65 and older $33 every day. Five-year-olds ski free when accompanied by an adult with a valid lift ticket. Group lesson: $24. Rental: adult $23, child $18 for any eight hours on a weekend; adult $21, child $16 for any four hours on a weekend. Snowboard rental: adult $28, child $23 for any eight hours on a weekend; adult $26, child $21 for any four hours on a weekend. Cross-country rental: $9. Trail fee: $8.
Lifts: Six triple chairlifts, two doubles, two Magic Carpets.
Slopes and trails: 27.
Vertical drop: 400 feet.
Address: 1405 Olde Road, Box 360, Findley Lake, N.Y. 14736; 1-716-355-4141.
First Published November 12, 2006 12:00 am
