If you live in Pittsburgh and you ski or snowboard, chances are pretty good that you’ve probably been to 7 Springs. Other than Boyce Park, 7 Springs is the closest place the you can drive to in order the ski or snowboard (about an hour from Monroeville, and probably an hour and 20 mins from downtown).
Growing up skiing in Ohio, I was used to skiing hills that were about the size of Boyce Park (ok, maybe a bit bigger). So the first time my school took a trip to 7 Springs, I was in awe. I thought the place was giant, and I didn’t imagine that it could get much bigger or steeper.
And then I grew up. I’ve skied real mountains and I now realize that 7 Springs isn’t much more than a big hill with large crowds of people, long lift lines, and not very good snow.
Yet I still go back year after year. Despite the fact that I no longer see it as a great place to ski, it is still a pretty awesome resort for being in Western Pennsylvania and I still always have fun when I visit.
Best Parks on the East Coast
Although I’m too old these days to hit up the parks, if park riding is your thing, 7 Springs is the place to be. Their parks have recently been voted #1 on the east coast in several publications, and the new “The Streets” terrain park looks to help keep that tradition alive. In addition to the new terrain park, they are also increasing the size of their half pipe this year, so that it is now a regulation Olympic sized pipe, making them one of only two places on the east coast that has a 22 foot pipe.
Great Place to Learn How to Ski or Snowboard
Despite the fact that the place is really not that big compared to other larger east coast and west coast mountains, it is still a great place to take the family to learn to ski or snowboard. There are many options when it comes to lessons – from private one on one lessons, to group lessons, to tiny tot ski school, to several specialty classes (nastar racing, senior citizen skiing, tele skiing, etc.).
Lift lines can get ridiculously long at times. Your best bet to beat the lift lines is to ski on a weekday. If that is not an option, you should arrive early and try to ski before the noon time rush. Otherwise, you can opt to ski at night, as the crowds also die down once it starts to get dark. I’d also suggest that you avoid skiing around certain holidays, such as MLK weekend.
View of the hotel loooking down the slopes
Other Things to Do at Seven Springs
If skiing or boarding is not your thing, there are other options for having fun at 7 Springs. Snow tubing, sleigh rides, snow cat rides, and snowmobiling are all options.
If you prefer indoor activities, the lodge has several bars & restaurants, a swimming pool & hot tubs, a bowling alley, game room, and indoor roller skating rinks, as well as many little shops.
My Favorite Part of Seven Springs
Despite the fact that I love to ski, I’ve been to 7 Springs many many times, so the actual skiing gets old after about an hour. The part that I love the most about going to the Springs is The Foggy Goggle.
The Goggle is a bar that sits at the bottom of the main slope. When the weather is decent, there is an outdoor deck with seating, so that you can watch people ski down the hill, ride up the lift, and you even have a great view of the new terrain park.
The inside of the Goggle is huge and contains 4 different bars, a fireplace, dance floor, and many tables with typical bar food being served.
My favorite part of the Goggle though is Emo’s Bloody Mary Bar. The bloody mary bar serves various types of vodka on ice, in a nice spicy rimmed glass. You are then presented with a full bar of fixings to personalize your own drink. The bar includes horseradish, olives, lemons, limes, celery, Worcestershire, celery salt, montreal seasoning, hot sauce, and much more. A couple bloody marys from Emo’s are a meal in themselves. (Look for my review of the best bloody mary’s in Pittsburgh in an upcoming article.)
So, if you are new to Pittsburgh or you’ve lived in Pittsburgh your whole life and want to learn to ski or snowboard, head down the turnpike to 7 Springs Mountain Resort.
Other Places within Driving Distance from Pittsburgh to Ski
- Boston Mills / Brandywine (OH)
- Peek n Peak (NY)
- Holiday Valley (NY)
- Snowshoe Mountain (WV)
- Wisp Resort (MD)
What are your thoughts or memories from 7 Springs? Leave them below.
Mike Martin
Mike Martin is the creator of the Stuck in Pittsburgh blog. In his spare time he enjoys creating websites, playing baseball, and drinking beer.
I am from Denver and this post totally intrigued me I would have never thought you could go skiing in Pittsburgh. Call it ignorance I know that they get a lot of snow there but had no idea that you were that close to do some skiing. I haven’t been to Pittsburgh but if you can get a Bloody Mary of that quality at the Foggy Goggle then maybe i will try to make it back east a little more.
This looks like a great place to go for the weekend and I can take the whole family. I ski but my wife and kids don’t and that would be great because they can go tubing and skating and I can hit the slopes.
I grew up skiing in 7 Springs and it is still one of my all time favorite. There are so many loving memories related to that place.
My father taught me skiing at the 7 Springs and every year we went back there to enjoy ourselves. I perfected my skiing there and though it is not the best place to ski, I still love it. The Foggy Goggle is an added attraction that draws me to 7 Springs.
With all these recommendations I am going to be headed up there sometime this week. My girlfriend and I have been really wanting to get out on the slopes and if we can get a good meal afterward then that sounds like the perfect trip.