Resort photo

Whitetail Resort
Mercersburg, Pennsylvania
Vertical drop:935 feet
Base elevation:865 feet
Peak elevation:1,800 feet
Skiable acres:117
Longest run:1 mile
Trails:23

Located in south-central Pennsylvania, Whitetail is a comfortable 90-minute jog down I-70 from D.C. and Baltimore. Skiers and boarders will find 23 trails, a 935-foot vertical, and a high-speed quad. Whitetail’s convenient location to D.C. also means skiers and boarders will often find crowds — on weekends and holidays, Whitetail’s slopes can become as crowded as the Washington Beltway during rush hour. On non-holiday weekdays, the crowds completely disappear and you’re likely to have the slopes to yourself.

Whitetail has a strong track record of continuous capital improvements. Over the past couple decades, it has added new trails, expanded its base lodge, added a snow tubing park, expanded lighting across the slopes, and made significant snowmaking improvements. Whitetail’s state-of-the-art snowmaking system can quickly take slopes from bare to skiable with just a few nights of snowmaking.

Whitetail is now part of the Vail Resorts family after a 2019 purchase. Previously, it was owned by Peak Resorts, and before that, Snow Time. Its new ownership means you can purchase a single Epic pass and ski at Whitetail, Liberty, Roundtop, Jack Frost, Big Boulder, and dozens of resorts across North America.

Skiers at Whitetail are pampered by a modern base lodge and amenities such as free ski check. Food is reasonable, with cafeteria-style food available in the Market Place. Other dining options include sit-down service at the Solstice, and brick oven pizzas at Mountain Hearth Pizzeria.

Whitetail developed a residential village that lines the Northern Lights beginner ski slope, but despite this lodging, Whitetail does not offer many year-round activities except for golf and is primarily a day resort in the winter. In 2019, Whitetail was granted its first liquor license.

Photo by M. Scott Smith.


Key Statistics

Resort Name: Whitetail Resort
Vertical Drop: 935 feet
Base Altitude: 865 feet
Peak Altitude: 1,800 feet
Trails: 23 Trails:
  • 7 beginner
  • 10 intermediate
  • 6 expert
Skiable Acres: 117
Longest Run: 1 mile
Lifts: 9 (1 high-speed quad, 3 quads, 2 doubles, 3 magic carpets)
Night Skiing: Night skiing on all trails
Terrain Park: Two terrain parks.
Tubing Park: Serviced by an enclosed magic carpet and its own lodge.
Address: 13805 Blairs Valley Road
Mercersburg, PA 17236
Phone: (717) 328-9400
Social Media: Facebook link Instagram link
Webcams: View resort webcams
Web Site: http://www.skiwhitetail.com/
Directions: Via Google Maps

Trail Map

Trail Map

Getting to Whitetail Resort

Show directions via Google Maps...


Weather near Whitetail

4:53 am on March 19 / Hagerstown, Washington County Regional Airport
Overcast
35° F
Overcast
Humidity:59% Visibility:10.00
Wind Speed:15 mph wind_W Sunrise:6:17 a.m.
Barometer:29.85 in Sunset:6:23 p.m.
Dewpoint:22 °F
Marginal snowmaking conditions right now. Snowmaking
Today
partlysunny
High: 45°
Partly Sunny
Partly sunny, with a high near 45. West wind 15 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tonight
cloudy
Low: 37°
Decreasing Clouds
Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 37. Southwest wind 13 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Wednesday
partlysunny
High: 48°
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance of Showers and Breezy
A slight chance of showers between 2pm and 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 48. Breezy, with a west wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 17 to 22 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday Night
cloudy
Low: 28°
Partly Cloudy and Blustery
Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. Blustery, with a northwest wind 18 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph.

Weather supplied by the National Weather Service. Errors or reporting delays may be possible.


News about Whitetail

The Skeptical Skier: Convincing a Friend to Try Skiing for the First Time
Article thumbnail January 15, 2024 - In this story, we take a look at six barriers of entry for new skiers and snowboarders. If you’re trying to convince a friend to try skiing for the first time, understanding — and being empathetic to — these reservations will go a long way towards easing their concerns.
Laurel Mountain, The Omni Homestead, and Whitetail Resort to Open Saturday, December 23, 2023
Article thumbnail December 21, 2023 - Pennsylvania’s Laurel Mountain and Whitetail Resorts will both begin their winter season at 9 a.m. on Saturday, December 23, 2023, just after Hidden Valley and Roundtop Mountain Resorts open for their season on Friday. Virginia’s Omni Homestead Resort will also open its ski slopes on Saturday.
Hidden Valley and Roundtop Mountain Resorts Set to Open Friday, December 22, 2023
Article thumbnail December 21, 2023 - The steady beat of Mid-Atlantic resort openings continues this week as Pennsylvania’s Hidden Valley and Roundtop Mountain Resorts plan to kick off their winter season on Friday, December 22, 2023.
Cue the Snowguns
Article thumbnail 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.
What’s New for 2023: Vail Resorts’ Pennsylvania Properties
Article thumbnail November 24, 2023 - DCSki profiles the latest enhancements at Vail Resorts’ eight Pennsylvania ski areas, including Laurel Mountain, Hidden Valley, Seven Springs, Liberty Mountain, Roundtop Mountain, Whitetail, and Jack Frost/Big Boulder Resorts.
Epic, Ikon Pass Prices Set to Increase
Article thumbnail October 8, 2023 - Epic and Ikon Passes are both set to rise in price October 11 and 12, 2023, respectively.
Mid-Atlantic Ski Season Begins
Article thumbnail 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.
An Ikonic, Epic Battle: For 2022, Season Pass Options Abound
Article thumbnail April 25, 2022 - It is once again Spring, which means it’s time to consider purchasing a season pass for the 2022-2023 winter season before prices begin to inch up. DCSki breaks down the choices and factors Mid-Atlantic skiers should consider as they explore available pass options.
User Highlight: Eric Mosel
Article thumbnail March 6, 2022 - Known as “Crush” on the DCSki Forums, Eric has been posting to DCSki for over 20 years — even as he’s changed locations from D.C. to Park City to North Lake Tahoe. Learn more about Eric in this interview.
Firsthand Report: Remembering How to Ski at Whitetail Resort
Article thumbnail February 2, 2022 - It had been a minute since DCSki’s Editor last skied. Over a million minutes, in fact. He corrected that error on February 2, 2022 with a midweek trip to Pennsylvania’s Whitetail Resort. He provides this Firsthand Report.

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