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PA2

Wilderness Lodge

Description | Ratings

Trails: 35 km (21 miles) of trails are groomed for cross-country skiing, including lots of single track, some double track, lots of skating lanes. There are trails for skiers of all abilitites including some for backcountry skiing. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Trail fees: Adults & teens $10, children (5-12) $5 (winter 2002/3)
Tel: 814-739-2946
Snow report: Conditions are posted on their website
Nearest town: Wattsburg, PA
Web site: Wilderness Lodge
Trail map: Available at the office and on their website
Equipment rentals: Ski and snowshoe rentals (call ahead to confirm)
Ski lessons: Yes
Other winter activities: Snowshoeing
Facilities: Day lodge, restaurant and bar
Lodging on site: Inn rooms accommodate 40 guests but are usually booked solid for winter weekends.
Lodging nearby: Erie region has hotels and other accommodations
Location of trails: From Wattsburg go east on Route 474 (Jamestown Rd) for 2.8 miles, then turn left onto Weeks Valley Road and continue 2.5 miles to the lodge.
Weather forecast: Wattsburg
Tourism info: Erie Area CVB
Map of local region: Wattsburg Area
Update submitted by: RJ
from:
Date submitted: May 30, 2002

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Number of ratings: 3
Average rating: 4.00  

3        

Name of XC Area: Wilderness Lodge
Times that I have skied there: Weekly
I last skied there in: Apr, 2002
Trails that I skied: All
My favorite trails: Peek Trail, Ryan's Run, Docs
Trail marking: Very good
Trail grooming: Very good
Rating: 5 stars
What I liked: Scenery here is amazing deciduous forrests of North-West Pennsylvania mixed with towering pine stands and rolling hills. The trails are well marked and groomed in a series on interlocking loops that always seem to lead you back to where you want to be. Throughout the woods there are signs at all intersections for which is the fastest way back to "The Lodge". This is one of the only cross-country ski resorts that actually have a snow-cat as well as snowmobile grooming equipment.
The trails range from cozy and twisting to wide skating lanes and nearly all of the trail network is in the woods. The trails are set for both skating and traditional with groomed track set. No golf-course skiing here!
The lodge itself is all stone and open beams with a large round fireplace to warm youself by over a bowl of honest to God Homemade soup and a cup of hot cocoa. This is one of the only places on earth where you can show up a stranger and end up having lunch with the 79 year old owner named Nansi who came here from Wales in 1946 as a G.I. Bride. This place is DEFINITELY one of a kind!
What I disliked: There is nothing to dislike here aside from the fact that the Lodge (with rooms for 35 people) books over a year in advance! There is plenty of rooms available at nearby hotels and at Peek N' Peak.
Comments: Season passes and rentals are available as well as lessons (contrary to the write-up).
Submitted by:
from: Meadville PA
Date submitted: May 30, 2002

2      

Name of XC Area: Wilderness Lodge
Times that I have skied there: Once
Date that I skied there: Feb, 2001
Trails that I skied:
My favorite trails:
Trail marking: Fair
Trail grooming: Very good
Rating: 3 stars
Likes and dislikes: trails needed to be marked better--but it is difficult to be "lost" for long. The scenery is beautiful. This was my first time there and I quite enjoyed skiing there.
Comments: The lodge is very nice and the appointments all over the walls are great. The food was good and tasty. This is a family run business so it seems to be very laid back and sometimes the service was a little slow but the servers were really pleasant and helpful and I think they also did some of the cooking--they were really busy. It was a great place to ski and I will be going back there soon. It is too bad that it takes a while to drive there---the drive on the back roads is like riding the roller coaster---but they were cleared and plowed and even thought the hills were steep they were no problem for the car. This is a really nice place with nice people. I hope the snow keeps up!
Submitted by: sg
from: Erie, Pa.
Date submitted: Feb 12, 2001

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Name of XC Area: Wilderness Lodge
I have skied there: A few times
I last skied there in: Jan, 2001
Trails that I skied: All west and east side
My favourite trails: west side
Trail marking: Fair
Trail grooming: Very good
Stars: 4
Likes and dislikes: Interesting layout, scenery, size
Comments: Some country road driving to get there. Roads might be difficult for a small car under high snow conditions. Near Peak 'n Peak resort.
Submitted by: M.D.
from: Cleveland, Ohio
Date submitted: Jan 23, 2001

Rate this XC Area