Snow Day: Ohiopyle State Park now offers free snowshoe program daily
Fresh snowfall brings a crispness to the air that’s enticing for people who don’t want to sit inside during winter.
Suddenly, the ordinary can look extraordinary as there’s an opportunity to see surroundings in a new light with everything clean and fresh under a blanket of snow that shines like crystals.
Especially if you take the time to give the landscape a good look.
This winter, officials at Ohiopyle State Park are offering the public that opportunity by inviting visitors to make use of their free snowshoe loaner program, which is now available on a daily basis.
Besides providing a method to enjoy outdoor exercise, they are hoping it will help visitors find a new way to appreciate the park.
“It’s always beautiful here but it’s a whole different world when you look at it with snow,” said Barbara Drbal Wallace, environmental education specialist.
“Even places I go to all the time look different with a foot of snow. It’s another way of looking at this fabulous park we have.”
The snowshoe loaner program has been available since 2010 but was just offered once a month on a designated day. This winter, officials began making snowshoes available every day so the program becomes more accessible to the public.
“We thought it was a good idea,” said Wallace. “We have the equipment. We have the staff. We figured we’d just let people use them.”
As long as there is enough snow – Wallace said preferably 6 to 8 inches, the shoes can be picked up at the visitors center between 9 a.m. and noon. They must be returned by 2 p.m.
There is no charge. Anyone participating in the program is asked to sign a release and present a form of identification.
Anyone can walk into the visitors center and ask for the snowshoes but officials advise calling first.
“They would want to call and get a reservation because we have a limited amount of snowshoes,” said Wallace. “Especially on the weekends, we recommend calling.”
The park is making 12 pairs of snowshoes available on a regular basis but can provide more if people call in advance. The park can also handle groups who might want to take an outing at Ohiopyle.
“We have about 60 pairs of snowshoes so we can accommodate groups, such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and church groups,” said Wallace.
Visitors are loaned a pair of snowshoes that will accommodate their weight and height so officials taking reservations will ask the caller to provide information on participants. Wallace noted youths in fourth grade and younger would use kid-size shoes while those in fifth grade or older would use adult snowshoes.
Visitors can call at any time to secure snowshoes for a specific date.
“If they call and it’s full, it’s full so the further in advance they call, the better,” said Wallace.
But if a large amount of snow is expected, Wallace said park officials will add more snowshoes to the daily supply.
“We try to be as accommodating as we can,” she said.
Once visitors have the snowshoes, they are free to use them wherever they like as long as they stay within the boundaries of the park.
According to its website, Ohiopyle State Park, which is located in the southern reaches of the Laurel Ridge, “encompasses approximately 20,500 acres of rugged natural beauty and serves as the southern gateway to the Laurel Highlands. Passing through the heart of the park, the rushing waters of the Youghiogheny [yaw-ki-gay-nee] River Gorge are the centerpiece for Ohiopyle. The “Yough” [yawk] provides some of the best whitewater boating in the eastern United States, as well as spectacular scenery.”
Park officials suggest a section of the park called Sugar Loaf, which has trails that take snowshoers into the woods.
“Sugar Loaf is a good place because it usually has more snow and there are trails,” said Wallace, who noted Sugar Loaf also has a warming hut. “But the bike trail is fine. Anywhere is fine as long as there’s enough snow.”
Safety tips include being prepared for the weather.
Wallace said, “Always bring a pack with extra clothes, water, food and a map.”
The loaner program benefits people who want to try snowshoes before making an investment in equipment. Officials would like to see visitors purchase their own snowshoes after trying the park’s equipment.
But Wallace added, “If people can’t afford snowshoes, we want to give them the opportunity.”
If you are someone who stays away from Ohiopyle State Park during the winter, officials are hoping the snowshoe loaner program will help you learn to enjoy Ohiopyle year round.
“We want to get people outside in the wintertime,” said Wallace. “We want people to know we’re open 365 days a year.”
For more information and to make reservations, call 724-329-8591.