Snowshoe Mountain Resort
Overview
High on Cheat Mountain in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, Snowshoe Mountain Resort is one of the Mid-Atlantic region’s largest destination ski resorts. Its summit village sits at 4,848 feet, with lodging, restaurants, shops, and ski access clustered along the ridgeline. Most of the slopes descend away from the village, giving Snowshoe an unusual mountaintop layout.
Snowshoe combines an average of more than 150 inches of annual natural snowfall with extensive snowmaking. Its skiing is divided among three areas: the main Snowshoe Basin, the Western Territory, and Silver Creek. The Basin has the broadest mix of beginner, intermediate, and advanced trails, along with the Ballhooter and Soaring Eagle high-speed quad chairlifts. During busy weekends, popular lifts and trails in the Basin can attract substantial crowds.
Across the road from the Basin, the Western Territory offers Snowshoe’s biggest vertical drop: 1,500 feet. Its signature expert runs, Cupp Run and Shay’s Revenge, descend steeply through the forest and are served by the Western Express high-speed quad. Cupp Run was designed with input from Olympic skier Jean-Claude Killy, while Shay’s Revenge includes pitches approaching a 52-percent grade.
Silver Creek, reached by road or resort shuttle, offers a different pace and is Snowshoe’s center for night skiing. Twelve trails are illuminated, and the area also includes freestyle terrain and the eight-lane Coca-Cola Tube Park. Snowshoe maintains terrain parks in both the Basin and Silver Creek, with features for a range of abilities.
Snowshoe’s remote location makes it a longer drive from Washington and Baltimore than many Pennsylvania ski areas, but the resort has the amenities for an extended stay. Visitors can choose from a wide range of condominiums and other accommodations, with dining and activities around the mountaintop village. Snowshoe is part of the Alterra Mountain Company portfolio and participates in the Ikon Pass.
Photo provided by Snowshoe Mountain Resort.
Mountain & Resort Details
Mountain
- Vertical Drop
- 1,500 feetHighest vertical in the Mid-Atlantic
- Base Elevation
- 3,348 feet4th-highest base elevation in the region
- Peak Elevation
- 4,848 feet3rd-highest summit in the region
- Skiable Acres
- 2702nd-most skiable acres in the region
- Longest Run
- 1.5 miles
- Trails
- 56Most trails in the Mid-Atlantic
- Trail Mix
- 30% beginner 24% intermediate 31% expert
Skiing & Amenities
- Lifts
- 14 (14 lifts across the Basin, Silver Creek, and Western Territory, including 3 high-speed quads; Silver Creek also has a terrain-park rope tow.)2nd-most chairlifts in the region
- Night Skiing
- Yes; 12 trails at Silver Creek are lit for night skiing.
- Terrain Park
- Terrain parks in the Basin and Silver Creek, including Progression, Evolution, Timberjack, and Mountaineer parks.
- Tubing Park
- Eight-lane Coca-Cola Tube Park at Silver Creek.
Contact & Links
- Address
- 10 Snowshoe Drive
Snowshoe, WV 26209 - Phone
- (877) 441-4386
- Directions
- Get directions →
- Website
- Official resort website
Summer Activities
Snowshoe is a major summer mountain biking destination, with lift-served downhill riding at Snowshoe Bike Park and additional backcountry routes across Cheat Mountain. The resort has hosted international mountain bike competitions, and riders can choose from trails ranging from approachable routes to demanding downhill descents.
Beyond biking, Snowshoe offers scenic chairlift rides, hiking, off-road and e-bike tours, and guided horseback riding. Shavers Lake provides a beach area, swimming, kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards, while Split Rock Pools offers another place to swim.
Golfers can play the Raven Golf Club, an 18-hole course designed by Gary Player. The mountaintop village remains a base for dining, shopping, and summer events, with cooler temperatures than many lower-elevation communities in the region.
Trail Map
Getting There
Weather
Weather near Snowshoe
| Humidity: | 79% | Visibility: | 10.00 |
| Wind Speed: | mph | Sunrise: | 6:53 a.m. |
| Barometer: | 30.13 in | Sunset: | 5:14 p.m. |
| Dewpoint: | 35 °F |
Weather supplied by the National Weather Service. Errors or reporting delays may be possible.
Recent Snowshoe News
Whatever Happened to the Halfpipe?
Once a familiar sight at Mid-Atlantic ski resorts, halfpipes have largely disappeared. DCSki looks back at their heyday, the challenges of maintaining them, and a recent revival at Seven Springs.
Three Big Changes That Reshaped Mid-Atlantic Skiing
DCSki examines how megapasses, improved snowmaking, faster lifts, and year-round investments have changed Mid-Atlantic skiing since the turn of the century.
A History of High-Speed Chairlifts in the Mid-Atlantic
From Whitetail’s pioneering high-speed quad to today’s six-passenger lifts, explore the history of detachable chairlifts at Mid-Atlantic ski resorts.
You Had to Do What? Skiing's Little Annoyances That Technology Left Behind
DCSki looks back at the snow phones, paper tickets, film cameras, fixed-grip lifts, and other ski-day inconveniences that technology has largely left behind.
Mountain Matchup: Liberty vs. Whitetail
DCSki compares Liberty and Whitetail, weighing longer runs and faster laps against varied terrain, short steeps, and a different mountain personality.
New Study Examines the Future of Mid-Atlantic Snowmaking
A new study finds that Mid-Atlantic ski areas could face fewer reliable snowmaking windows as winter conditions change.
Snowshoe in the Forum
Recent DCSki discussions mentioning Snowshoe.
Status of Hotel At Hidden Valley
Resorts Dreams - What might have been
Consumer Demos
Some sad news: "The Colonel" has passed away
DCSki Mid-Atlantic Ski Challenge: Share Your Score
Mogul Sightings
Nearby Resorts
Other ski areas closest to Snowshoe.
The Homestead
Canaan Valley Resort
Timberline Mountain
