Trip Report
Finding the right mountain for you can be a fun but challenging experience as you prioritize what you are specifically looking for when going skiing or riding. We have all been to resorts where it is too crowded, the amenities are not what you expected, or the terrain is not suited to your skill level. There are many things to look at when choosing the best mountain for your next trip.
If you are looking for a hidden gem that offers great terrain, open trails, and the feeling of skiing at your own private ski club, then Laurel Mountain is the resort for you. Laurel Mountain is nestled in the Laurel Highlands and is located a little over an hour east of Pittsburgh. It is one of eight ski resorts operated by Vail Resorts in Pennsylvania and would be classified as an intermediate mountain. It is the mountain for skiers and riders who seek out a place that is off the beaten path and to get away from the crowds.
Vail Resorts’ eight Mid-Atlantic ski resorts in Pennsylvania include Seven Springs, Hidden Valley, and Laurel Mountain in the Laurel Highlands; Jack Frost and Big Boulder in the Pocono Mountains; Liberty Mountain Resort outside of Gettysburg; Roundtop Mountain Resort near the capital, Harrisburg; and Whitetail Resort in the Tuscarora Mountains.
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Quick Facts and History:
- First Opened: January 11, 1941.
- Elevation: 2,766 ft
- Base Elevation: 2,005 ft
- Lodges: 1
- Skiable Terrain: 70 Acres
- Lifts: 1
- Trails: 19
- Beginner Terrain: 52%
- Intermediate Terrain: 36%
- Advanced Terrain: 16%
Laurel Mountain has a strong local vibe where it seems everyone welcomes you when you enter the main lodge regardless if they know you or not. The people at Laurel are there for the great terrain, the nostalgic atmosphere, and to just enjoy the day out on the mountain. It has the mystique of skiing back in the 70s and 80s with the rustic lodge, restaurant, and the people who have been skiing there for decades. It is a place where you can leave your bags, equipment, and gear lying out on a table in the main lodge and not worry about anyone stealing it.
Laurel Mountain has made some upgrades during the offseason to make the overall experience at the resort even better for its guests. Focusing on the safety of its guests is a priority and Laurel trimmed the trees under the lift lines in case of a situation where a person has to be evacuated from a lift. This would ensure that the areas would be clear and safe for the ski patrol members to perform their jobs most effectively. Another investment was to install state-of-the-art AEDs at the mountain in case of emergencies. “You never think about them until you need them, and almost every year we have an incident,” said Brett Cook, General Manager of Laurel Mountain, Hidden Valley, and Seven Springs. The AEDs are linked to the 911 system where a dispatcher can locate the closest AED to your position to help find it faster in case of an emergency.
Laurel Mountain also invested in its snowmaking capabilities by adding new guns that would improve its ability to open earlier and offer more trails throughout the season. Currently, about 50% of the mountain is covered by snowmaking, something that is on the agenda to increase in the future according to Cook. Terrain expansion is not in the short-term future, but making sure the current terrain has the best conditions possible.
Everyone wants to have cell phone service wherever they go and sometimes that may be difficult to do when traveling to resorts that are located in mountains that provide spotty coverage. Laurel upgraded its WiFi network over the offseason to improve its guest WiFi and added a mountain cam so guests can check the conditions before they arrive.
Vail Resorts took over Laurel Mountain in 2022 and it is still identifying, assessing, and understanding what is important to the guests at the resort. Vail Resorts is putting together a guest profile specifically geared for Laurel Mountain to know what the guests are looking for and want. The objective and goal are to provide the guests with what they want and not to just go in and change everything that may work at one resort, but not specifically at Laurel Mountain.
Growing the number of skiers and riders at Laurel Mountain is something that Cook is focusing on doing in the future. “We want to grow Laurel Mountain, it is a hidden gem, that not many people know about, and once you find out about it, people love it,” said Cook. He believes that increasing the attendance at Laurel while still keeping that great local vibe is paramount.
Laurel has only one lift, but the mountain holds the crowds well, and even on busy days, the trails are not overcrowded and the lift lines are not outrageous. There is great glade skiing on the mountain and it also boasts one of the steepest runs in PA called Lower Wildcat. It is also unique because it is an upside-down resort where the main lodge is located at the top of the mountain.
Laurel Mountain is located close to Seven Springs and Hidden Valley which are also owned by Vail Resorts. This allows a person or family to hit three different mountains in a short amount of time. Seven Springs is the biggest of the three resorts offering the most terrain, lodging, and amenities. The terrain is geared more towards intermediate to advanced skiers and riders. Hidden Valley Resort is geared towards beginner skiers and riders and offers great groomers for the whole family to enjoy. This provides the unique ability to hit three different mountains all under the same pass in a short amount of time.
Vail offers the Epic Local Pass and the Northeast Value Pass which allows guests to visit Seven Springs, Hidden Valley, Laurel Mountain, and many other resorts as well. The Epic Local Pass allows East region guests to ski or ride all season long at nearly all the company’s resorts across the East Coast, and take a trip out West with unlimited access at Breckenridge, Keystone, and Crested Butte, plus 10 days at Vail, Beaver Creek, or Whistler Blackcomb. The Northeast Value Pass is great for those who only plan to ski or ride on the East Coast, with access to many of the same destinations, including 21 resorts across the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, and Midwest–such as Liberty, Seven Springs, Roundtop, Stowe, Mount Snow, Okemo, and Hunter.
If you are looking for a rustic mountain that offers great terrain, wide open trails, and that old-school vibe then Laurel Mountain should be on your bucket list. A nice bonus is that it is not located far off of Interstate 70 or the PA Turnpike which means you will not be driving for hours on back country roads getting to the resort. The locals are very friendly and will welcome you to their mountain and be happy to show you around as well. It is just one of those hidden gems that locals want to keep a secret from everyone else, but once you ski or ride it, you will want to go back again.
For more information check out Laurel Mountain’s website.
