| Vertical drop: | 1,500 feet |
| Base elevation: | 3,348 feet |
| Peak elevation: | 4,848 feet |
| Skiable acres: | 270 |
| Longest run: | 1.5 miles |
| Trails: | 60 |
Snowshoe Mountain Resort is located in the middle of West Virginia. Despite its southern location, Snowshoe receives an eye-raising average annual snowfall of 180 inches. To that, Snowshoe adds plenty of manmade snow. Snowshoe is a year-round destination resort, offering numerous lodging options, from economical to upscale. Snowshoe is also one of the few “inverted” ski resorts in the U.S.: the base facilities are located on the top of the mountain. In the summer, Snowshoe offers a range of recreational opportunities including mountain biking.
Snowshoe offers some of the best skiing south of New England and even a suprising amount of nightlife for its secluded location in the mountains of West Virginia. That seclusion makes Snowshoe somewhat difficult to get to - it is approximately a 5-6 hour drive from Washington, D.C. Those willing to make the trek are rewarded with beautiful scenery, great snow conditions, and 60 trails spread over a 1,500-foot vertical.
Snowshoe has 60 trails, and they’re usually all open by early January, with a handful opening before Thanksgiving. The trails are spread across three distinct areas: the main Snowshoe area, with 41 trails and an 800-foot vertical drop; the Silver Creek area, with 17 trails and a 660-foot vertical; and the Western Territory, with 2 trails and a 1,500-foot vertical. The Western Territory features Cupp Run and Shay’s Revenge, two 1.5-mile expert slopes serviced by their own high-speed lift. The Western Territory is just across the street from the main Snowshoe area. Silver Creek is down the road (and reached by a free shuttle), featuring tamer trails and usually less crowds. Silver Creek is home to the Ruckus Ridge tubing park, a snowboard park, and is the only part of Snowshoe lit for night skiing.
On weekends, the main Snowshoe area can become very crowded (with the base of the Ballhooter Express chairlift becoming a painful choking point), but the Western Territory and Silver Creek areas are usually less crowded. If you can swing a trip to Snowshoe mid-week, you’ll find significantly discounted prices and might have the slopes to yourself.
As a full-blown destination resort, Snowshoe doesn’t lack amenities. There are over a dozen dining establishments, including one nightclub. Snowshoe rents out over 1,400 condominium and lodge rooms, covering a variety of price points from economy to luxurious. There are also many winter activities that do not involve skis and snowboards, such as snowmobiling and snowshoeing.
Photo provided by Snowshoe Mountain Resort.
| Resort Name: | Snowshoe Mountain Resort |
| Vertical Drop: | 1,500 feet |
| Base Altitude: | 3,348 feet |
| Peak Altitude: | 4,848 feet |
| Trails: | 60 Trails:
|
| Skiable Acres: | 270 |
| Longest Run: | 1.5 miles |
| Lifts: | 14 (Including 3 high-speed quads, 2 handle tows, 2 Magic Carpets) |
| Night Skiing: | 75% of Silver Creek area (12 slopes) is lit for night skiing. |
| Terrain Park: | Snowshoe has multiple terrain parks at both the main Snowshoe area as well as the Silver Creek area. Parks at Silver Creek are lit for night riding. |
| Tubing Park: | An 8-lane tube park is located at the Silver Creek area. |
| Address: | 10 Snowshoe Drive Snowshoe, WV 26209 |
| Phone: | (877) 441-4386 |
| Social Media: |   |
| Webcams: | View resort webcams |
| Web Site: | http://www.snowshoemtn.com/ |
| Directions: | Via Google Maps |
| Humidity: | 37% | Visibility: | 10.00 |
| Wind Speed: | 10 mph
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Sunrise: | 7:30 a.m. |
| Barometer: | 30.02 in | Sunset: | 5:01 p.m. |
| Dewpoint: | 22 °F |
Weather supplied by the National Weather Service. Errors or reporting delays may be possible.
December 4, 2025 - Sustained cold temperatures have allowed Mid-Atlantic ski areas to ramp up snowmaking and begin opening for the 2025–26 winter season, with several resorts launching operations in the first week of December. Additional terrain and activities are expected to come online soon as snowmaking continues across the region. Above, an aerial view provided to DCSki by a skiing pilot shows snowmaking underway at Maryland’s Wisp Resort on December 1.
December 2, 2025 - Resorts across the Mid-Atlantic have spent the offseason upgrading snowmaking systems, expanding terrain, improving lifts, and refreshing guest facilities in preparation for the 2025–26 winter season. These enhancements aim to deliver more reliable early-season openings, improved snow quality, and a better overall experience for skiers, riders, and families. DCSki provides a summary of key enhancements across the region in this feature story.
November 11, 2025 - An early-season cold snap brought the first real signs of winter to the Mid-Atlantic, covering higher elevations with natural snow and giving ski areas across West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania the chance to fire up their snowmaking systems. The drop in temperatures allowed resorts to run tests, train crews, and begin early preparations for the 2025 winter season. Some areas also saw natural snow, marking the region’s first widespread taste of winter weather. Above, natural snow falls at Hidden Valley Resort. Photo by Heidi Lewis.
December 16, 2024 - The majority of ski resorts in the Mid-Atlantic region are now open for the 2024-2025 winter season, with a variety of trails available for early-season skiing and snowboarding. Additional resorts are set to open in the coming days, supported by snowmaking efforts and natural snowfall. Above, Pennsylvania’s Roundtop Mountain began its 60th season on December 14, 2024. Photo provided by Haley Mowery / Roundtop Mountain.
December 1, 2024 - An arctic air mass has brought ideal snowmaking conditions to the Mid-Atlantic, enabling resorts across the region to prepare for their winter season openings, with many planning to open in early December. Resorts like Seven Springs, Wisp, Snowshoe, and Timberline Mountain are leading the charge, while others are building their bases for upcoming announcements. Photo by Heidi Lews / Hidden Valley Resort.
November 29, 2023 - The recent stretch of cold temperatures has enabled robust snowmaking across the Mid-Atlantic region, and as a result, a handful of ski resorts across Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia plan to open in the coming days. In North Carolina, two ski areas have already opened for the season. In this story, we provide a look at official opening day plans shared by resorts as of November 29, 2023.
November 26, 2023 - The sound of snowguns began ringing out across the Mid-Atlantic region in recent days, as post-Thanksgiving temperatures dipped below freezing. With the nighttime mercury dropping into the 20s in the coming days, the symphony of snowguns should continue as local resorts prepare for their season openings. DCSki provides a gallery of snowmaking photos from across the region and explains how the technology works. Above, snowguns begin to blanket the slopes of Seven Springs Mountain Resort on November 25, 2023.
October 8, 2023 - Epic and Ikon Passes are both set to rise in price October 11 and 12, 2023, respectively.
February 18, 2023 - After receiving a new hip, DCSki Columnist Matthew Graham was worried about how it would affect his ability to ski. He answered this question in a January, 2023 trip to West Virginia’s Snowshoe Mountain Resort. Matthew describes his experience in this Firsthand Report.
November 27, 2022 - Below average temperatures in November have enabled a variety of ski areas across the entire Mid-Atlantic region to open for the season, giving skiers one extra thing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.
