The city of Pittsburgh lies within the northern reaches of the Appalachian Mountains and is the county seat of Allegheny County and the second-largest city if the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. There is one small ski area just a few miles from downtown Pittsburgh and another three that are about an hour's drive away. Among them, the resorts cater for downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding and tubing.
Close to Pittsburgh
Boyce Park Ski Area is located in Monroeville, which is less than 15 miles from the city center. This is a very small area but is ideal for family skiing, with 75 percent of its trails suitable for beginners and 25 percent for intermediate skiers. The area has two chairlifts, two tow bars and a magic carpet, and there is a terrain park. All of the slopes are covered by snow-making equipment and are floodlit for night skiing.
More Distant Resorts
The remaining three resorts are between 50 and 75 miles to the east of the city. Seven Springs is the state's largest ski area. Its 18 trails, 14 slopes, terrain park and half-pipe, which cover all degrees of proficiency, are covered by two six-man high speed lifts, three quads, five triples, two tow bars and two carpets. Ninety-five percent of the slopes are covered by snow-making equipment and are floodlit.
Almost next door to Seven Springs is Hidden Valley, a much smaller resort with three chairlifts, two tow bars and a carpet serving 11 trails of mixed difficulty and a terrain park. It has 100 percent lighting and snow making.
Blue Knob Resort, which is essentially a resort for the more experienced skier, is a little more distant but has 34 trails and a terrain park with four chairlifts and three surface tows. The longest run here is two miles with a vertical drop of more than 1000 feet. About 40 percent of the slopes here are floodlit and 90 percent covered by snowmakers.
Lodging
Seven Springs has several different options when it comes down to accommodation. On the slopes you'll find an hotel, condominiums, town houses and chalets. At Hidden Valley, the Four Seasons Lodges offer affordable overnight lodging. All of the rooms have a refrigerator, coffeemaker, microwave and hair dryer. Blue Knob and Boyce Park do not have their own accommodations, so you'll have to rely on local accommodation choices, of which there are many.
Apres Ski
Most skiing enthusiasts visiting these Pennsylvania resorts that offer night skiing make the best of the healthy outdoor life that is offered by skiing and snowboarding well into the night, leaving little time to indulge in apres ski partying. You will, however, find inns, bars, cafeterias and restaurants at all four resorts that offer ample entertainment. You'll also find clubs, bars and restaurants in all of the local towns and villages.
How to Get There
To get to Hidden Valley and Seven Springs, take the Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 76) from Pittsburgh to the east. Both resorts are to the south of the highway, about 30 miles out of Pittsburgh. Boyce Park is located in the Pittsburgh area, about 15 miles to the east of the city center. Blue Knob is located just to the west of I-99, some 70 miles due east of Pittsburgh.
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