Looking for free or low-cost ski options? Centre County’s parks may offer just that
Skiing is too expensive. That’s the complaint I’ve heard most often as an instructor, usually from families who just spent four figures on a vacation only to face long lines and artificial intelligence customer service bots.
But that isn’t the whole sport. In Centre County and throughout Pennsylvania, you can actually ski for free or as low as $16 — with no crowds. And with over a foot of fresh snow on the ground after a weekend storm, it can be done in your backyard.
Let’s first get some vocabulary out of the way. The type of skiing that comes to mind for most people is alpine skiing, where you wear heavy plastic boots and ride a chair lift. I’ve taught alpine for nine years. We’re not talking about that today.
Instead, we’re talking about cross-country skiing, also known as Nordic skiing. It’s slower-paced and can be done on flat terrain, but requires a little more effort.
And I had never done it until I began working on this article.
I ventured out to learn from the pros about cross-country skiing in and near Centre County — where and when to do it, and what equipment you need for a successful day on the trail. Maybe I’ll see you out there when the weather permits.
The most important prerequisite: snow
You need snow to ski, and thanks to a massive snowstorm this past weekend, there’s no shortage.
But unlike with alpine skiing, where your lift ticket guarantees at least some skiable, if artificial, snow, there is no guarantee a cross-country trail at a state park or forest will have snow at any point in the year. Longtime Pennsylvanians know it doesn’t snow like it used to.
Jon Nelson, a longtime cross-country skier and retired Penn State economics professor who is active in the Nittany Nordic Facebook group, said “6 to 8 inches of snow is sufficient to begin cross-country skiing.” Otherwise, you’ll need a pair of what he called “rock skis,” or skis you’re “willing to risk on trails with less snow.”
Snowfall throughout December allowed cross-country skiing at some of Centre County’s state parks, including Black Moshannon, earlier this winter, but conditions deteriorated. They only rebounded after this weekend’s storm.
Elevation may allow some parks to keep snow throughout rough winters, Paul Pastelok, an AccuWeather meteorologist said recently. Clearfield County’s Parker Dam State Park, which is 50 minutes northwest of Philipsburg and one of nine parks in the state with groomed trails, held onto its snow through early January, when Centre County’s parks ran dry.
I skied Parker Dam in early January, and it just barely had enough snow for the activity.
State parks report snow depth at least weekly on a state website, and I’d recommend calling in advance regardless of what the site says.
What about gear? You’ll need some
At the most basic level, you need boots, skis and poles to cross-country ski.
Black Moshannon State Park near Philipsburg offers free loaner gear as long as there are more than 4 inches of snow on the ground, according to Michelle McCloskey, an environmental educator at the park. The gear is only available to adults who provide identification or children accompanying an adult.
“We give them a little educational speech about how to use them, how to pick which gear you want to take, all before going out,” McCloskey said. A guide is also available to skiers with instructions on technique.
The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle also loans out complimentary cross-country gear for two hour-windows if there are at least 6 inches of snow on the ground.
The other gear option in the county is Appalachian Outdoors in State College. My total came to $15.90 for a rental package of boots, skis and poles for one day, and I was able to use it anywhere that had adequate snow. The shop also sells cross-country gear.
I would not recommend first-timers purchase gear. If you must own gear and you know what you’re looking for, you can find some in the area on Facebook Marketplace for less than $100. Naomi Jarvis, the head of the Pennsylvania Cross Country Skiers Association, noted even old gear should be safe to use and “tends to just last forever,” which is usually not the case with alpine skiing.
But for those who do not know what they’re doing and would like to buy gear, Jarvis recommends going to a shop like Appalachian Outdoors. The most important piece of gear, she noted, is the boots.
“If your boots hurt, you’re going to have a really miserable time,” she said.
There are two types of cross-country skis: classic and skate. If you’re a newbie, ignore skate skis, as skating requires smooth, wide trails you will likely not find in a state park.
Jarvis added that skiers should dress in layers and wear clothing they would wear for a run, since cross-country skiing requires more effort from the skier than alpine. Especially cold weather might necessitate a heavy coat. Her group has a suggested packing list based on one she made for her son that includes windproof clothing, mittens, water and sunscreen, among other things.
Where to ski around Central Pennsylvania
You can cross-country ski basically anywhere that is public and has snow. You can do it in your backyard, too.
“I can see my ski tracks on the lawn outside my office,” Jarvis said.
But in Centre County, the most common places to cross-country ski are state parks and forests, which, unlike in most other states, are always free to access.
Skiing the Rock Run Trails in the Moshannon State Forest is popular, and Bald Eagle, Black Moshannon, Penn-Roosevelt and Poe Valley state parks all advertise cross-country skiing on their websites. Not all parks are created equal, however.
“Honestly, our trails are not particularly suited for skiing,” Poe Valley park manager Josh Bruce wrote in an email. The trails are steep and not designated for skiing, he noted, adding that “some folks ski the roadway from Poe Valley to Poe Paddy” State Park because the road isn’t plowed.
At Black Moshannon, McCloskey, recommends the Hay Road Trail and the group tent area for beginners.
I skied on Beaver Dam Trail at Parker Dam State Park, which was largely flat. That said, I quit a little early because there were rocks poking out of the snow.
Nelson, the retired professor, said he tends to ski at Penn State’s golf courses if he skis locally. The courses are free to access for skiers, he said.
What to do on the trail
I rather sucked at my first attempt to cross-country ski, so I’d recommend speaking to some people who know what they’re doing. Black Moshannon State Park gives some pointers to skiers, but there is no formal cross-country instruction in the county.
Nelson said those in the area hoping to learn should reach out to someone already in the sport.
Jarvis, who founded and was the head coach for the Pennsylvania Cross Country Skiers Association’s youth team, recommended a “How to Cross-Country Ski” webpage run by REI, the outdoor gear retailer. The first thing people should learn, she said, is how to get off the ground after falling.
Cross-country skiers should also familiarize themselves with the sport’s code of responsibility. Highlights include not blocking the trail, yielding to skiers traveling downhill and staying to the right of the trail. Nelson said to yell, “Skier!” if you’re passing someone on a groomed trail.
Perhaps most importantly, you should try not to mess up any tracks already in the snow. I found it helpful to think of myself as a train on train tracks.
If you plan to ski alone, let someone know where you’re going before hitting the trail. Especially in remote state parks, cell phone service can be spotty.
This story was originally published January 27, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
