Ratings of Pennsylvania XC Ski Areas

Advertisements

Ratings are submitted by skiers who have visited the areas listed in Cross Country Ski Areas in Pennsylvania.

Number of ratings for this region: 13

Name of XC Area: Crystal Lake Ski Center
Area number: PA13
Times that I have skied there: A few times
I last skied there in: Mar, 2005
Trails that I skied: Almost all beginner/ intermediate, some advanced
My favorite trails: Blue moon is nice, Zingers will do just that.
Trail marking: Very good
Trail grooming: Very good
Rating: 5 stars
What I liked: There is something for everyone of any ability, both skaters and classic skiers.
What I disliked:
Comments: There is a nice range of rental gear for young and old, beginner to those wanting to try skate technique. Dottie, the proprietress, will tell you which trails she recommends for your ability. The onsite cabins are rustic and overlook both lakes. The large ski/camp cafeteria building is cool. Hughesville has the burger joints, etc. if you need those. The access road is unpaved for about 5 miles leading to Crystal Lake and is marked with signposts at all uncertainty points. After a good snow you will be most confident in an SUV or equivalent vehicle with all wheel or 4 wheel drive.
Submitted by: Rose
from: Greenbelt, MD
Date submitted: April 3, 2005

Name of XC Area: Delaware Water Gap NRA
Area number: PA19
Times that I have skied there: Several times
I last skied there in: Feb, 2004
Trails that I skied: Blue Mountain Lakes
My favorite trails: outer loops are more interesting
Trail marking: Very good
Rating: 2 stars
What I liked: Scenery is lovely & there are nice rocks for a picnic at Beaver Pond at the end of the loop.
What I disliked: Trails are old development roads which have suffered serious washouts and no maintenance. You need at least 1 foot of snow to keep from grounding on the rocks.
Comments:
Submitted by: KSG
from: New Jersey
Date submitted: Nov 15, 2004

Name of XC Area: Hanley's Happy Hill
Area number: PA14
Times that I have skied there: A few times
I last skied there in: ,
Trails that I skied:
My favorite trails:
Rating: na
What I liked:
What I disliked:
Comments: Unfortunately it is true that this center is and has been closed for many years now. However, many of its trails were located on State Forest Lands and can still be skied. For those who like developed ski areas, I recommend nearby Crystal Lake Ski Area. While visiting in January and February, don't miss the fantastic Toboggan Slide at Eagles Mere. It is managed by the local fire department and consists of large ice blocks taken from the lake and build into a long track down one of the streets onto to the lake. It is a great ride.
Submitted by: Ezra Burgess
from: Picture Rocks, Pa.
Date submitted: Nov 15, 2004

Name of XC Area: Crystal Lake Ski Center
Area number: PA13
Times that I have skied there: Several times
I last skied there in: Feb, 2004
Trails that I skied: Almost all of them
My favorite trails: I'm not telling - try them all
Trail marking: Very good
Trail grooming: Very good
Rating: 5 stars
What I liked: Beautiful varied scenery, all types of trails for all levels of skiiers and it doesn't take all day to get there. My best option when seeking groomed trails.
What I disliked: Let's face it - PA just doesn't get the same snow conditions you can get farther north or out west. Even Baltimore has gotten snow that has missed central PA in recent years.
Comments: Always be careful on the road to and from Crystal Lake - at ALL times of the year!
Submitted by: WWH
from: Central PA
Date submitted: March 5, 2004

Name of XC Area: Crystal Lake Ski Center
Area number: PA13
Times that I have skied there: Several times
I last skied there in: Dec, 2000
Trails that I skied:
My favorite trails: zig zags
Trail marking: Very good
Trail grooming: Fair
Rating: 4.5 stars
What I liked: Wide rage of trails from flat and easy to more advanced trails for the more adventurous
What I disliked: not all groomed all the time
Comments: Willamsport very close
Submitted by: MLS
from: Hanover, PA
Date submitted: Dec 16, 2003

Name of XC Area: Callenders Windy Acres Farm
Area number: PA15
Times that I have skied there: Weekly
I last skied there in: Mar, 2003
Trails that I skied: entire farm
My favorite trails: all
Trail marking: Fair
Trail grooming: Fair
Rating: 3 stars
What I liked: variable terrain
What I disliked: wind blows over tracks and wet snow slows skiing.
Comments: the people who run it are wonderful.
Submitted by: d.i. w.
from: scranton pa
Date submitted: March 14, 2003

Name of XC Area: Laurel Ridge State Park
Area number: PA5
Times that I have skied there: Weekly
I last skied there in: Feb, 2001
Trails that I skied: Red, Yellow, Oarnge, Blue, and all the Greens
My favorite trails: Yellow for fast downhill and Red for a good work-out
Trail marking: Very good
Trail grooming: Very good
Rating: 4.5 stars
What I liked: very fast trails and excellent scenery
What I disliked: nothing i can think of.
Comments: only ski Yellow trail if you are an expert skiier. state park shelters along trails!!
Submitted by: Justin Garrity
from: Connellsville PA
Date submitted: Feb 22, 2003

Name of XC Area: Crystal Lake Ski Center
Area number: PA13
Times that I have skied there: Weekly
I last skied there in: Feb, 2003
Trails that I skied: All of them
My favorite trails: Mountain Trail, Blue Moon, Porcupine
Trail marking: Very good
Trail grooming: Very good
Rating: 4.5 stars
What I liked: The layout of the trails is excellent and provides a very long season for the area. There is also great variety in terms of scenery and trails for every skill level.
What I disliked: Nothing to dislike
Comments: The only problem is the 7 mile mountain road. It can be ineteresting, but is usually plowed and sanded.
Submitted by: Ron
from:
Date submitted: Feb 21, 2003

Name of area: Crystal Lake Ski Center
Area number: PA13
Times that I have skied there: A few times
I last skied there in: Jan, 2003
Trails that I skied:
My favorite trails:
Trail marking: Very good
Trail grooming: Very good
Rating: 4.5 stars
What I liked: Essentally all of the trails were wooded and very scenic. The trails are well mapped and designated according to difficulty. There is something for everyone here. Relatively flat trails for the beginner and more challenging trails for the intermediate skier. (Since I am a marginal intermediate skier, I can't comment on the advanced trails which I avoided.)
What I disliked: there is really nothing to dislike about
Comments: Aside from the excellent skiing, I especially like the friendly atmosphere at Crystal Lake provided by Dottie and her staff. The lodge is especially nice (with its large fireplace) and is a good place to get warmed up and eat a home cooked meal.
Driving up the mountain road to Crystal Lake can be a little tricky when snow covered. It is especially harrowing when you leave since the road contains a number of steep grades. After getting stuck on my first visit to Crystal Lake, I invested in some tire chains for my Ford Escort Wagon. I haven't had any problems in subsequent visits.
Submitted by: Pete
from: Dover, Delaware
Date submitted: Jan 10, 2003

Name of XC Area: Wilderness Lodge
Area number: PA2
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

Name of XC Area: Wilderness Lodge
Area id: PA2
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

Name of XC Area: Elk Valley Cross Country
Area id: PA1
Date of rating: Jan 23, 2001
Likes and dislikes: They don't have xc skiing there anymore
Comments: They don't have xc skiing there anymore.
Submitted by: M.D.
from: Cleveland, Ohio
Date submitted: Jan 23, 2001

Name of XC Area: Wilderness Lodge
Area id: PA2
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

Pennsylvania

Parks and Forests

Travel info

Weather forecast for Pennsylvania

PA Road Report

Get Away From It All
Find lodges and resorts in our Lodging Listings

Travel Guides
Pennsylvania Handbook
Pennsylvania: Off the Beaten Path
more Travel books...