Whitetail Resort in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania

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


Getting to Whitetail Resort

Show directions via Google Maps...


Weather near Whitetail

9:53 am on September 1 / Hagerstown, Washington County Regional Airport
Fair
77° F
Fair
Humidity:82% Visibility:10.00
Wind Speed:7 mph wind_S Sunrise:6:39 a.m.
Barometer:30.05 in Sunset:7:45 p.m.
Dewpoint:71 °F
Way too warm for snowmaking. No snowmaking
Today
rainy
High: 89°
Chance of Showers
A chance of showers before 1pm, then a slight chance of showers after 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. West wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tonight
cloudy
Low: 72°
Slight Chance of T-storms
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. West wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday
partlysunny
High: 89°
Slight Chance of Showers then Partly Sunny
A slight chance of showers between 9am and 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday Night
thunderstorm
Low: 72°
Severe Thunderstorms
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

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


News about Whitetail

How Much Will It Cost to Ski the Mid-Atlantic This Winter?
Article thumbnail September 1, 2026 - How much will it cost to get on the slopes this winter? The question has become surprisingly difficult to answer as date-specific ticket prices, advance-purchase discounts, passes, rentals, lessons, food, and travel send each skier’s total in a different direction. DCSki examines the prices Mid-Atlantic skiers are likely to encounter during the 2026-2027 season and offers some practical ways to keep the bill under control.
Where Can You Still Ski for Less? The Mid-Atlantic’s Best Values
Article thumbnail August 29, 2026 - Skiing has become expensive, but bargains have not disappeared. DCSki looks across the Mid-Atlantic for the season passes, night tickets, family programs, lodging packages, and other offers that can still put skiers on the snow without draining the winter budget.
Epic, Ikon, Indy, or Local? Finding the Best 2026-2027 Ski Pass for Mid-Atlantic Skiers
Article thumbnail August 29, 2026 - Buying a ski pass used to mean choosing a home mountain. And that was pretty much it. Today, Mid-Atlantic skiers must sort through national products, regional passes, reciprocal agreements, limited-day packages, blackout dates, and prices that change several times before winter. It can be overwhelming! DCSki tries to break through the confusion by examining the leading options for 2026-2027 and the skiers each one serves best.
The Pacific Is Heating Up: What a Powerful El Niño Could Mean for the Mid-Atlantic Ski Season
Article thumbnail August 27, 2026 - One of the strongest El Niño events in the modern record is developing ahead of the 2026-2027 ski season, increasing the odds of an active, moisture-rich storm track across the East. DCSki looks at the latest forecasts, lessons from past El Niño winters, and the factors that could determine whether that moisture arrives at Mid-Atlantic ski areas as snow or rain.
Skiing Before the Smartphone: Snow Phones, Paper Maps, and Meeting at the Lodge Clock.
Article thumbnail August 24, 2026 - Before webcams, navigation apps, digital lift passes, and group texts, Mid-Atlantic skiers relied on snow phones, paper trail maps, printed directions, and carefully chosen meeting places. This retrospective recalls the uncertainty and occasional adventure of skiing before the smartphone while considering how modern technology has made trips safer, easier, and better documented.
What’s New for 2026: Mid-Atlantic Ski Areas
Article thumbnail August 19, 2026 - Mid-Atlantic ski resorts are preparing for the 2026-2027 winter season with new lifts, expanded snowmaking systems, improved skier facilities, and major lodging projects. DCSki takes a closer look at the enhancements and upgrades underway across the region at resorts such as Seven Springs, Wisp, Wintergreen, Snowshoe, and Massanutten.
The Mountains That Didn’t Make It: How Mid-Atlantic Skiing Grew, Contracted, and Survived
Article thumbnail July 23, 2026 - Once scattered across the Mid-Atlantic, hundreds of community ski hills, residential resorts, and ambitious mountain developments introduced generations to snowsports. Drawing on DCSk’s Lost Ski Areas archive and readers’ memories, this feature story traces their rise and decline, the forces that reshaped the regional ski industry, and the advantages that helped today’s resorts endure.
When Winter Failed to Arrive: The Brutal 1997-1998 Ski Season (And What it May Portend For This Year)
Article thumbnail July 18, 2026 - The powerful 1997-1998 El Niño brought warmth, rain, abbreviated operations, and lasting financial consequences to Mid-Atlantic ski areas. DCSki looks back at that difficult season, explores the financial risks of betting a year-round business on a few winter months, and considers whether the developing 2026-2027 El Niño might deliver rain, snow, or something in between.
When the Slopes Go Quiet: Summer at a Mid-Atlantic Ski Area
Article thumbnail July 17, 2026 - Once the snow melts and the lifts stop spinning, many Mid-Atlantic ski areas become remarkably quiet. DCSki takes a behind-the-scenes look at the lift maintenance, snowmaking repairs, trail work, construction projects, and advance planning that prepare the mountain for another all-too-brief winter season.
Epic Passes for 2026/27 Season Now on Sale; New Discounts Introduced for Younger Skiers
Article thumbnail March 12, 2026 - Vail Resorts has launched sales of its 2026/27 Epic Pass lineup, adding a new 20% discount on Epic and Epic Local Passes for skiers and riders ages 13–30. Early buyers will again receive up to 10 Epic Friend Tickets and eligible lift-ticket guests from this past season may receive additional savings toward next year’s pass.

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