cross country skiing and snowshoeing In West Virginia, Maryland and PEnnsylvania
PENNSYLVANIA
WEST VIRGINIA
Closer to the Washington DC and Baltimore area is the White Grass Touring Center (304-866-4114, www.whitegrass.com) in the Canaan Valley in Davis, WV. White Grass has 50 km of groomed trails, 3 km of lighted trails and glades for telemark skiing. This area is a Mid Atlantic xc ski mecca known for great karma! There is a cozy day lodge and a popular cafe featuring homemade natural food cuisine. Lessons, xc ski, snowshoe, and telemark rental equipment are available. Click for a full page about White Grass.
Timberline Ski Area is an alpine ski area with 17 km of ungroomed backcountry trails that offer 1,000 feet of vertical and are in the Dolly Sods Wilderness area. Day care, lodging, lessons, xc ski and telemark equipment rentals are available. CCSAA member
The resort's nordic skiing operates out of the Snowshoe Outdoor Adventure Center between Snowshoe and Silver Creek. The trail system covers 40 km along the Cheat Mountain Ridge Trail, as well as through the nearby backcountry. The center is fully equipped with rentals and offers instruction. Snowshoeing is also available with treks and lessons.
The Elk River Inn in Slatyfork, WV is about 5 miles from the bottom of the Snowshoe Ski Area access road. It has a touring center and immediate access to 5 km of adjacent cross-country skiing groomed trails. Another 35 km can be accessed nearby. The Inn offers ski rentals and will give instruction by appointment and has lodging and a restaurant. Cross-country skiing in the Monongahela National Forest. There is a trail fee to ski the groomed trails.
MARYLAND
The Savage River Lodge in Grantsville, MD is in the Allegheny Mountains of western Maryland on 42 acres encircled by 700 acres of the Savage River State Forest. There are 15 miles of packed trails. XC ski and snowshoe rental equipment available and there are private lessons, too. The accommodations include private cabins, a gourmet restaurant, pub, and gift shop.
The Backbone Ski Farm in Oakland, Maryland is near Deep Creek Lake in western part of the state. There are 520 acres of skiing and snowshoeing on 15 km of trails on fields and forests at the base of Backbone Mountain. Lessons and rental xc ski and snowshoe equipment are available. Backcountry tours offer a guide with or without a lunch.
PENNSYLVANIA
The XC ski areas in Pennsylvania with commercial type operations (regular grooming, rental gear, lessons, indoor facility, etc.) include Wilderness Lodge in Wattsburg, 814-239-1023, Blue Knob State Park in Claysburg 800-239-1023 and Laurel Ridge State Park in Rockwood 724-455-7303. It is highly recommended that if interested in XC skiing in any of the XC ski trails in Pennsylvania that you call first to see if there is snow on the trails and if they are open.