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| Blue Knob Peak |
Blue Knob State Park is located on the second highest peak in Pennsylvania at 3,146 feet. Part of the Allegheny Front range, it intercepts moisture off the Great Lakes, making it one of the snowier parts of the state. Home primarily to a downhill skiing concession, it also provides 20 km or so of groomed cross country skiing. Every Saturday (as conditions allow) they bring down a tiller from the hill and groom the golf course and miles of adjacent forest roads.
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| Condo entrance and Clubhouse |
The nordic trails are located below the peak at around 2,700 feet, next to the condos, club house, and golf course. I happened to have time on a Friday, so there was a nice 4 inches of powder on top of last weekend's grooming with a strong wind, temps around 20 F, sun and flurries. Beautiful.
The entrance road took me over the peak past the downhill center and lifts. All the trees were encased in white from the snow making operation, lending a fairy tale look against the grey clouds and blue sky. Then down a steep, well plowed descent to the clubhouse and nordic trails.
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| Overlook from Ski Trail |
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| Skiing Along the Golf Course Path |
I found the trails to be scenic in a small, resorty kind of way, with one spectacular overlook, and with good snow. They're only groomed once a week, but as the nearest groomed trails, just 1.5 hours down US 99, I can't complain. And they are tilled which will be nice when we start into the freeze-thaw season. The next nearest are at Laurel Ridge 2.5 hours away. They are groomed more regularly, but with no tilling.We'll definitely have to go back to Blue Knob some Saturday and try the fresh grooming.
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