When asked about the best skiing within four hours of D.C., many Washingtonians were quick to reply, and many of those replies echoed the same answer: Snowshoe in West Virginia.
The popular ski resort, known simply as Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort, is famous for its full-scale ski-trip experience, complete with a charming mountaintop town, exciting nightlife, lots of non-skiing/snowboarding activities, and, of course, fantastic slopes.
What makes Snowshoe the best skiing around the District?
Aside from the plenty of Washingtonians who were quick to advocate for Snowshoe’s superior quality compared to other ski resorts in the Mid-Atlantic region, there are plenty of reasons that make this ski resort stand out compared to others.
- Excellent snow conditions
- According to one testimony, Snowshow tends to be one of the colder resorts in the region, which helps it to maintain the quality of its runs to ensure a more consistent experience on the slopes.
- One of the largest ski resorts in the Mid-Atlantic / Southeast region
- Snowshoe offers about 244-270 acres of pristine, regularly groomed skiable terrain and a total of around 60 trails to choose from.
- Hospitable to a wide variety of skill levels
- Ideal for groups, whether it be friends or family, Snowshoe has trails that are fit for beginners all the way up to advanced snowsport athletes.
- True ski trip feel
- Unlike some of the smaller resorts closer to the District, here visitors can expect a much larger scale experience more comparable to what you might find at ski resorts out west. A true mountain-town feel, complete with cozy lodging, plenty of non-ski activities like snowtubing, and plenty of places for an après-ski session.
How much does a weekend at Snowshow cost?
As they usually do at places like these, the prices can change dramatically throughout the season and could jump up or down greatly in cost from one day to another, all depending on the demand at the time.
Here are some approximate prices for select pass/ticket options:
- Day lift ticket (weekday) – Adult ~ US$100
- Day lift ticket (weekend) – Adult ~ US$169
- Two-day lift ticket (adult) ~ US$200
- Season Pass (full/unlimited) – Adult ~ US$649
- Midweek & Creek Season Pass (adult) ~ US$399
- Flex-3 pass (3 days, flexible) ~ US$249 (last season; limited availability)
- IKON pass* (unlimited access to 60+ ski destinations worldwide)
* – If you are hoping to get an Ikon Pass, you have only until December 11th to purchase one!
Lodging costs may depend on where you plan to stay and how many you are traveling with, but one can expect to pay between $250 and $500 a night, depending on the time of the season.