Seven Oaks

Like a Phoenix from the ashes, the Seven Oaks ski area has grown on the remains of a former winter venue that was left to decay. The Bryan's, who have previous experience in the industry, began to create what is now a year-round Iowa outdoor destination in 1996. Casual skiing, riding, and snow tubing await guests that travel here.

Motorists will find the venue off of US Route 30, between Boone and Ogden, Iowa. That places it north of Des Moines for Interstate travelers using I-35. Guests flying into the region will use the Des Moines International Airport to get here.

Casual Fun Awaits

The Seven Oaks ski area impressed Rick Bryan with its terrain and shape. A base elevation of nearly 800 feet sits below the summit height of 975 feet. That creates a vertical drop of 275 feet that proves ideal for beginners and casuals to work as they make their way down the trails here. A large run-out at the bottom of the trail system adds to the design and provides space for the "School Yard," snow tubing chutes, and base facilities.

The Seven Oaks ski area maintains a base lodge that provides guests with drinks, food, and other basics. A separate building provides visitors with rental equipment. As a small family-owned venue, there are no overnight accommodations on-site. Several lodging options can be found in the surrounding area, however.

The terrain at the Seven Oaks ski area is not advanced, so it is a place for casual family-oriented fun and learning to ski or ride. Those wanting a minimal amount of instruction can take a mini-lesson that lasts just 30 minutes, but longer private lessons are available for those wanting more instructions. "Take a Class, Earn a Pass" is a program that offers guests a night's only pass once the program is complete.

Experts Need Not Apply

The Seven Oaks ski area has snowmaking equipment to supplement the annual average snowfall amounts of 40 inches. That allows them to maintain a winter season of about 100 days, give or take. Snowmaking capabilities cover the entire venue, leaving no acres to the mercy of Mother Nature alone.

Parts of the Seven Oaks ski area provide winter fun outside of the traditional alpine experience. The snow tubing super chutes are a popular attraction, which means visitors should purchase tickets in advance to secure snow tubes. Another popular part of the winter activities here is freestyling in two terrain parks, "The Railyard" and "Willett's Way." Skiers and riders can use the smaller natural and enhanced features there to land tricks.

The Seven Oaks ski area covers approximately 35 acres of skiable terrain. Those acres have lighting in addition to snowmaking equipment. That allows the venue to provide access after dusk, with tickets available for late-day skiers and riders to buy. Roughly 50 percent of the terrain is rated blue for skiers and riders with some experience, while 25-percent of the runs rate at green for beginners. The rest of Seven Oaks is taken up by tubing and the "School Yard" beginner area, with no black diamond or double diamond terrain.