Where to Cross-Country Ski in Pennsylvania State Parks
Click on a region in the map or zoom in on the map using the zoom tool on the left. Clicking on a park in the map will reveal an information box with a listing of amenities in the park, and a link to the park in the listing far below.
The direction links below will take you to a listing of parks with cross-country skiing.
Northern Pennsylvania State Parks for Cross-Country Skiing
The following state parks in northern Pennsylvania offer cross-country skiing opportunities.
Bald Eagle State Park
Some park trails and open areas are suitable for cross-country skiing. About seven miles of ungroomed trails are available with proper snow conditions.
Black Moshannon State Park
All trails are open to cross-country skiers. Recommended trails are marked with the cross-country skier symbol on the map.
Chapman State Park*
At least 4.4 miles of groomed ski trails connect with numerous trails in the adjoining national forest and state game land.
Denton Hill State Park*
The eight miles of park trails connect with many more miles of trails in the adjoining Susquehannock State Forest, including the 29-mile Denton Hill Cross-country Ski Trail System, which is groomed.
Hills Creek State Park
Cross-country skiing is permitted throughout the park. Hills Creek also loans showshoes.
Kettle Creek State Park
Cross-country skiing is permitted throughout the park.
Little Pine State Park
The five-mile Lake Shore Trail follows level terrain and parallels the lake and headwaters and then returns to the starting location. Motor vehicles and snowmobiles are prohibited in this area.
Mount Pisgah State Park
Some of the park’s 11 miles of trails are good for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Ole Bull State Park*
In addition to a groomed cross-country skiing trail, cross-country skiers and snowshoers are allowed throughout the park.
Parker Dam State Park*
Conditions permitting, groomed ski trails are maintained on Beaver Dam, Souders, CCC, and Skunk trails.
Poe Valley State Park
While no specific trails are provided, most skiers use local roads since only minimal snow plowing is done in this area. Skiers should be cautious since both snowmobiles and four-wheel drive vehicles also use many of these roads.
Raymond B. Winter State Park
Five miles of park trails provide easy skiing with connecting trails and roads on surrounding state forest lands. Raymond B. Winter also loans snowshoes.
Hills Creek State Park
Skiers can enjoy the trails, service roads, and open areas. About five miles of ungroomed trails are available with proper snow conditions.
Simon B. Elliott State Park
Ski on more than four miles of easy to moderate roads and trails.
Sinnemahoning State Park
Park trails and open fields are available for skiing with adequate snow cover.
Sizerville State Park
Park trails provide access to many miles of trails on adjacent state forest land. The average yearly snowfall is 60-70 inches. The park provides parking and restrooms.
*This symbol indicates that a trail is groomed for cross-country skiing.
Southern Pennsylvania State Parks for Cross-Country Skiing
The following state parks in southern Pennsylvania offer cross-country skiing opportunities.
Blue Knob State Park
Most park trails are suitable for expert skiers. For beginner skiers, Chappells Field Trail and the closed campground are recommended. For the intermediate skier, the service roads, closed roadways, and open areas are recommended. Weather conditions on the trails are usually ideal, however, skiers should use expert or mountain ski equipment.
Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area
All 12 miles of hiking trails in the conservation area are open for cross-country skiing.
Caledonia State Park
Trails and open fields of the park are available for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Canoe Creek State Park
All hiking, equestrian, and biking trails are available for skiing.
Codorus State Park
There are 6.5 miles of trails in the 195-acre Mountain Biking Area on Bankert Road. Skiers may also use the fields of the marina, Main Launch, and the campground. Please wear fluorescent orange during hunting seasons.
Colonel Denning State Park
While there is no formal cross-country skiing trail system, skiing is permitted on existing roads and trails and in all areas of the park. Terrain is moderately hilly to mountainous.
Cowans Gap State Park
Closed park roads and some of the hiking trails are suitable for cross-country skiing.
Fowlers Hollow State Park
There are two miles of designated trail southwest of the campground. Skiing is also permitted in all areas of the park.
Gifford Pinchot State Park
When adequate snow cover is available, many of the hiking trails provide an excellent opportunity for cross-country skiing. The best trails are accessed from the Conewago Day Use Area or the special parking area at the campground entrance. These trails are marked for bicycling and include portions of Lakeside, Alpine, Oak, and Gravel trails.
Other good trails are the network of spur roads and trails in the interior of the park campground, which are closed to camping and vehicle use during the winter season.
Greenwood Furnace State Park
Tramway, Dogtown, Viantown, and Brush Ridge trails are recommended for cross-country skiing, as are the grassy areas of the day use area. Park trails connect to the Brush Ridge Multi-use Trail System in Rothrock State Forest.
Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area
All hiking trails in the Conservation Area are open for cross-country skiing. Evergreen and Old Sawmill trails are recommended for cross-country skiing.
Little Buffalo State Park
All hiking trails in Little Buffalo State Park are open for cross-country skiing, but skiing is recommended on Little Buffalo Creek Trail. A 2.5-mile loop can be skied by taking Little Buffalo Creek Trail to Main Picnic Area, then ski the Newport and Sherman’s Valley Railroad trace. Return to Little Buffalo Creek Trail along the edge of woods. Park in the lot at the trailhead.
A popular loop in East Picnic Area starts in the parking lot and follows the path to Clay’s Covered Bridge. The trail passes Shoaff’s Mill then returns to the starting point on either Mill Race Trail or the shorter service road. Skiing is also permitted on service roads and unplowed roads in the day use area.
Mont Alto State Park
Skiing is permitted throughout the park and in the adjacent Michaux State Forest.
Penn-Roosevelt State Park
Cross-country skiing is available.
Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Nordic skiers enjoy the rail trail when snow conditions allow. Although no trails are specifically designated for cross-country skiing, numerous opportunities exist, especially during winters with heavy snowfalls, both within the park and on the surrounding state forest lands.
Prince Gallitzin State Park
Seven miles of marked trails are available for this popular wintertime activity.
Reeds Gap State Park
Skiers can enjoy the trails, service roads, and open areas. About five miles of ungroomed trails are available with proper snow conditions.
Shawnee State Park
Most trails are suitable for novice and experienced skiers and snowshoers. Lake Shore is the most popular trail.
Susquehannock State Park
Visitors enjoy cross-country skiing on more than two miles of park trails including the Pipe Line, Chimney, Landis, and Overlook, as well as throughout open fields.
Trough Creek State Park
Skiing is permitted throughout the park and in the adjacent Rothrock State Forest.
Warriors Path State Park
About six miles of cross-country ski trails traverse through woods and field areas with the degree of difficulty ranging from easy to moderate.
Whipple Dam State Park
Park trails and roads, and roads in Rothrock State Forest are recommended for cross-country skiing.
Eastern Pennsylvania State Parks for Cross-Country Skiing
The following state parks in eastern Pennsylvania offer cross-country skiing opportunities.
Beltzville State Park
Many open and rolling fields and nine miles of trail are suitable for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Benjamin Rush State Park
Skiers can enjoy the 3.5 miles of mostly level trails.
Delaware Canal State Park
The 60-mile long Delaware Canal towpath runs from Easton to Bristol and is a National Recreation Trail. Once trod by mule teams pulling cargo-laden boats along the canal, the towpath is used today by walkers, joggers, bicyclists, cross-country skiers, and bird watchers.
Evansburg State Park
Most trails are open to cross-country skiing.
Fort Washington State Park
Beginner and expert skiers can enjoy the 1.7-mile loop trail in the Militia Hill Day Use Area.
Frances Slocum State Park
When conditions permit, the campground road and day-use areas are popular for skiing.
French Creek State Park
All hiking trails and open areas of the park can be skied with proper snow cover.
Gouldsboro State Park
Hiking trails can be cross-country skied with adequate snow. Old Route 611 Trail is recommended.
Hickory Run State Park
The 13 miles of designated trail are marked with blue blazes.
Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center
The 18.5-mile network of trails makes the center’s fields, woodlands, and streams accessible to both students and the casual visitor. These facilities are for use by hikers, all-terrain bikers, horseback riders, and cross-country skiers. Non-hunters should wear blaze orange during hunting seasons.
Jacobsburg loans showshoes.
Lackawanna State Park
All trails can be cross-country skied and snowshoed, although Lakeview, Snowflake, and most trails in the campground and picnicking areas are recommended.
Lackawanna loan showshoes.
Lehigh Gorge State Park
The Lehigh Gorge Trail on the west side of the river from White Haven to Glen Onoko is open to cross-country skiing.
Marsh Creek State Park
Red Trail, Blue Trail, and the fields of the park are recommended for cross-country skiing.
Memorial Lake State Park
The easy rolling terrain and open nature of the park lends itself to excellent opportunities for short distance cross-country ski trips for the novice and experienced skier.
Nescopeck State Park
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are permitted on several trails throughout the park. The trails are not groomed but are relatively flat or have slight grades making them a great way to explore the park during winter.
Nescopeck loans snowshoes. Inquire at the environmental education center about the snowshoe loaner program.
Nockamixon State Park
The bicycle trail and the roads in the closed day use area are open for cross-country skiing. There are also steeper hiking trails in the Sterner Mill Area. Cross-country ski trails are not groomed.
Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center
With adequate snow cover the trails of the center can be showshoed and cross-country skied.
Norristown Farm Park
The trails and open fields of the park are available for use with proper snow cover.
Promised Land State Park
Skiing and snowshoeing are permitted on all trails. Bruce Lake Natural Area and Conservation Island are the best trails for skiing.
Promised Land loans snowshoes.
Prompton State Park
Hiking trails can be cross-country skied.
Ricketts Glen State Park
Hiking trails may be skied when snow cover permits.
Ridley Creek State Park
Cross-country skiers may use hiking trails and Multi-Use Trail when snow cover permits.
Salt Springs State Park
Cross-country skiers may use the hiking and multi-use trails when snow cover permits.
Swatara State Park
The Swatara Rail Trail is good for skiing with adequate snowfall.
Tobyhanna State Park
Most of the hiking trails are recommended for cross-country skiing.
Tyler State Park
Cross-country skiers may use the edge of fields and non-paved hiking trails when snow cover permits.
Varden Conservation Area
All trails are recommended for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing when conditions permit.
Washington Crossing Historic Park
The paths and fields of the park are suitable for cross-country skiing when weather conditions permit.
White Clay Creek Preserve
Cross-country skiers may use the hiking and bridle trails when snow cover permits.
Worlds End State Park
Several park areas are suitable for nordic skiing. A 20-mile trail network is close by on state forest land.
Western Pennsylvania State Parks for Cross-Country Skiing
The following state parks in western Pennsylvania offer cross-country skiing opportunities.
Clear Creek State Park
Snowshoeing is permitted on all trails. Cross-country skiing is recommended on Clear Creek Trail, Sawmill Trail, and portions of Truby Trail.
Cook Forest State Park*
Snowshoeing is permitted on all trails. Cross-country skiing is recommended on selected trails on the maps. Cook Forest has three groomed trails:
Fire Tower Road
Toms Run Road
Part of Forest Drive
Jennings Environmental Education Center
All trails north of PA 528 (prairie side) are recommended for cross-country skiing. Snowshoeing is popular.
Jennings loans snowshoes from Monday through Saturday when there is adequate snow cover.
Keystone State Park
With adequate snow cover there is cross-country skiing on park trails and in open fields.
Keystone loans showshoes.
Kooser State Park*
The park’s elevation and heavy snowfall creates prime conditions for cross-country skiing. Park staff set track on 1.5 miles of ski trail, which is marked with blue diamonds. The trail is classified as “easiest” and is popular with beginners to experienced skiers.
There also is a 20-mile cross-country ski touring concession adjacent to the PA 653 parking area of nearby Laurel Ridge State Park. A trail fee is required. For current snow conditions on this trail, call 724-455-7303, or view the Pennsylvania Cross-Country Skier’s Association webcam.
Laurel Hill State Park
With adequate snow cover many hiking trails are available for cross-country skiing.
Laurel Hill loans snowshoes.
Laurel Ridge State Park*
About 35 miles of trail are available for cross-country skiing. Please check with the park office to see which sections are suitable for skiing. A free map is available from the park office.
There also is a 20-mile cross-country ski touring concession adjacent to the PA 653 parking area. A trail fee is required. For current snow conditions on this trail, call 724-455-7303, or view the Pennsylvania Cross-Country Skier’s Association webcam.
Linn Run State Park
With adequate snow cover many hiking trails are available for cross-country skiing.
Maurice K. Goddard State Park
There are about six miles of trails marked for cross-country skiing for beginner to expert skiers.
Moraine State Park
Pleasant Valley and Sunken Garden trails are groomed when snow conditions permit. The trails are blazed blue and are suitable for all skill levels.
Ohiopyle State Park*
There are 33.9 miles of trails recommended for cross-country skiing. The Sproul Trails and a section of the Kentuck Trail were created for cross-country skiing.
With deep snowfall, the 27 miles of the Great Allegheny Passage also are good for cross-country skiing.
Oil Creek State Park*
The park’s cross-country ski area features three main trails, Red, Blue, and Green with six White connecting trails. Most of the trails utilize old oil lease and lumber roads and are generally about 10 feet wide.
Ski passes are required for use of this groomed trail network.Passes can be purchased at the booth near the warming hut or at the park office. Day passes and Season passes are available.
Presque Isle State Park
The multi-use trail and the hiking trails are great for cross-country skiing. A cross-country ski concession, located at the picnic shelter area, operates during the winter, conditions permitting. Equipment rental is available.
Pymatuning State Park
Most open areas of the park are open to cross-country skiing.
Raccoon Creek State Park
Most trails are open to cross-country skiing, however, it is recommended to avoid trails rated ‘difficult.’ A designated 2.2-mile cross-country skiing trail is located between the beach access road and the roadside east picnic area.
Raccoon Creek also loans snowshoes.
Ryerson Station State Park
Cross-country skiing is permitted on the ungroomed hiking trails and open areas throughout the park.
Yellow Creek State Park
While no special area or trail system has been developed for these winter sports, the park has many opportunities for cross-country skiers and snowshoers of all levels of experience. Trails, open fields, forested areas, and abandoned roads may all be used for exploring the park in winter.
*This symbol indicates that a trail is groomed for cross-country skiing.