| Vertical drop: | 700 feet |
| Base elevation: | 2,415 feet |
| Peak elevation: | 3,115 feet |
| Skiable acres: | 137 |
| Longest run: | 1.5 miles |
| Trails: | 33 |
Wisp Resort is located in far-west Garrett County, Maryland, next to the scenic Deep Creek Lake. Wisp is the only ski resort in Maryland, but it’s not the closest resort to the Baltimore/D.C. region - skiers must travel approximately 2.75 hours from D.C. to the “panhandle” of Maryland. This makes Wisp a destination resort, and there are plenty of lodging options in the region, including a hotel right at the base area. Visitors are rewarded with snow conditions that are often better than other resorts in the region, thanks to Wisp’s western location in the “snow belt” of Maryland. Wisp offers plenty of unique trails and is a bona-fide four-season resort, offering activities such as golf during the summer. Wisp even has a Mountain Coaster, open year-round.
Wisp often has a lengthy winter season, thanks to the unique weather patterns in western Maryland that offer plenty of snow (an average of 100” each year) and good snowmaking conditions. Wisp’s airless snowmaking system helps the resort capture an early opening date, and with the large Deep Creek Lake adjacent to the resort, water is never in limited supply for snowmaking. Wisp has 33 trails, including the meandering 1.5-mile long Possum trail, a real treat for beginners.
On-mountain lodging is available, including a 168-unit slopeside hotel at the base area, complete with several restaurants. Hundreds of homes and condos are available for rent througout the Deep Creek Lake region.
Thanks to natural snow, there are also plenty of cross-country and snowshoeing opportunities in the Wisp area when there is natural snow cover.
Photo provided by Wisp Resort.
| Resort Name: | Wisp Resort |
| Vertical Drop: | 700 feet |
| Base Altitude: | 2,415 feet |
| Peak Altitude: | 3,115 feet |
| Trails: | 33 Trails:
|
| Skiable Acres: | 137 |
| Longest Run: | 1.5 miles |
| Lifts: | 13 (2 quads, 5 triples, 5 conveyor carpets, 1 surface tow) |
| Night Skiing: | Yes, on 90+% of terrain |
| Terrain Park: | Three terrain parks are available, including Central Park, Intermediate Park, and Beginner Park. |
| Tubing Park: | Twelve 750-foot long tube chutes services by two conveyor carpet lifts. |
| Address: | Wisp Resort 296 Marsh Hill Road McHenry, MD 21541 |
| Phone: | (800) 462-9477 |
| Social Media: | |
| Webcams: | View resort webcams |
| Web Site: | https://www.wispresort.com |
| Directions: | Via Google Maps |
| Humidity: | 100% | Visibility: | 10.00 |
| Wind Speed: | 9 mph
|
Sunrise: | 6:44 a.m. |
| Barometer: | 30.17 in | Sunset: | 7:50 p.m. |
| Dewpoint: | 70 °F |
Weather supplied by the National Weather Service. Errors or reporting delays may be possible.
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