Blue Knob

Blue Knob
1418 Overland Pass
Claysburg, PA 16625-9306
(814) 239-5111
http://www.blueknob.com
Directions


Trail Map (click to enlarge):

What's new this season:

- Renovations and remodeling of the lodge.
- New snowmaking equipment and a new groomer.


Joe's Resort Review:
I have to be honest and fully disclose that this is my home mountain of which I am an instructor. But even if it wasn't the closest mountain to my house, I would still be frequenting this mountain . On The Snow magazine has ranked the resort as having the best terrain in the Mid Atlantic region for two years in a row.

The top down resort is best for hard core skiers who are looking for a challenge and is often nicknamed the Mad River Glen of Pennsylvania.  80% of the slopes are intermediate or higher in difficulty. 20% of the slopes are "beginner" but first timers should walk down the first steep of Snow Drop to gain confidence. Novice's will love taking Mambo Alley to Run Out for one of the longer continuous runs in the region for skiers of that level. The vertical drop is 1072 feet means that you can get a fair amount of ski runs in before hitting the chair back up.

Being the highest skiable, and second tallest mountain, in Pennsylvania means that it often gets a low more snow and cold than the valley spots and often has a lot more snow than you can perceive from your backyard. This type of mountain can also bring challenges too. The winds can be quite strong and the cold can take a real bite on unprepared skiers. Do make sure you bring plenty of cold weather gear for your trip. Blue Knob is rumored to be quite icy, and honestly, the terrain and wind can make it prone to icy spots, but mostly later in the day. Many who speak of Blue Knob being icy mainly frequent later in the day. All resorts in the Mid-Atlantic will be prone to ice which is why I always say that skiing is a morning sport. Anyone who hasn't given this resort a try at first tracks doesn't know what whey are missing.

New management has really made a lot of changes at the mountain, including major improvement in snowmaking and an expansion of glade territory. Chair pads have been added to Chair 1 and will make that long trip up a lot more comfortable this year too. Speaking of the chairs, this resort is also great for those who don't want to wait in lift lines. Rarely is the wait long.


Joe's Favorite Slope:
Stembogen ranks as my favorite by far. It offers everything from steeps, to bumps, to hairpin turns. For those who like the challenge, I highly suggest the bowl. Something you usually won't get in an eastern resort.