A sustained stretch of cold weather across the Mid-Atlantic has allowed mountain operations teams to fire up snowmaking systems and launch the 2025-26 ski season with meaningful early-December openings. Resorts in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina have now begun spinning lifts or announced imminent plans to do so. Below is a resort-by-resort update based on recent statements from area resorts.
Because early-season conditions can be variable and plans can change, DCSki recommends verifying operating conditions directly with a resort before planning a visit.
Wisp Resort — Opening Friday, December 5
Wisp Resort will begin its 70th winter season on December 5 with skiing and snowboarding from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and snow tubing from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The mountain’s snowmaking team has been running around the clock, though trail counts will be finalized closer to opening as grooming continues.
Opening-day perks include complimentary breakfast treats for early riders while supplies last, plus 30% off lift tickets until further notice. Mission Affordable 4-Pack holders may ski free on December 5 without redeeming a ticket, and an in-person 4-Pack purchase special will be available at Guest Services.
Beech Mountain Resort — Opening Friday, December 5
Beech Mountain opens December 5 with lift operations from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. throughout opening weekend. Season pass pickup begins at 7:30 a.m., and Beech Mountain Sports opens at 8 a.m. with early-season retail offerings. The Beech Mountain Brewing Company Taproom and Grill also reopens with refreshed finishes and an updated interior layout.
Sugar Mountain Resort — Open for the Season
Sugar Mountain is already open for skiing and riding with five slopes served by two lifts, supported by ongoing snowmaking as temperatures allow. Night skiing begins tomorrow, enabled in part by 20 new LED slope lights installed on Lower Flying Mile. Ice skating is also open for the season, with sessions beginning at 10 a.m. and running every two hours.
Bear Creek Mountain Resort — Limited Opening for Passholders December 6
Bear Creek will open December 6 exclusively for season passholders and hotel guests, with public day-ticket access beginning Monday, December 8. Weekend events include snowmobile drag races on Friday and on-mountain activities on Saturday and Sunday. Snowmaking continues, and tubing operations will be announced once conditions allow.
Blue Mountain Resort — Opening Friday, December 5
Blue Mountain will open with 13 trails and 40 acres, the most early-season terrain in Pennsylvania. Five lifts will operate, and a terrain park will debut on Central Park. Snowmaking teams recently ran 275 snow guns during the first extended cold snap, helping the resort accelerate terrain expansion. Additional runs are expected to open over the weekend, and snow tubing is scheduled for December 11.
Camelback Resort — Open as of December 3
Camelback opened December 3 with Nile Mile and Sunbowl available, along with a terrain park setup on Sunbowl North. Snowmaking teams have been running around the clock, allowing the resort to build out additional early-season coverage. The upgraded Stevenson Lift and Sunbowl Lift are operating from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Snow tubing is expected to open next week.
Jack Frost — Opening Friday, December 5
Jack Frost will open December 5 with One Park, Snowflake, and Powder Puff. Opening-day festivities include a banner break, DJ, coffee, donuts, and giveaways while supplies last. Rentals, lessons, dining, and retail will all be available, with lift operations starting at 9 a.m.
Seven Springs Mountain Resort — Opening Saturday, December 6
Seven Springs opens December 6 with limited early-season terrain. The resort enters the season following major infrastructure work, including 1,600 feet of new 20-inch snowmaking main, multiple lift-system upgrades, slope lighting improvements, and hotel accessibility enhancements. Seven Springs has also launched new sensory-friendly resources for neurodiverse guests. Opening-day activities include a first-chair banner break, giveaways, and plaza events.
Shawnee Mountain — Opening Friday, December 12
Shawnee Mountain will open December 12, marking the start of its 50th anniversary season. Opening-day lift tickets will be $19.75 in recognition of the year the resort first opened. A dedicated anniversary celebration is planned for January 10.
Massanutten Resort — Opening Weekend December 6-7
Massanutten will open December 6-7 with a passholder First Tracks session Saturday morning, followed by public skiing from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday operations run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A Rail Jam is scheduled for Sunday afternoon. Resort officials note that early-season snowmaking has been productive heading into the weekend.
Wintergreen Resort — Opening Friday, December 5
Wintergreen will open December 5 after more than 80 hours of snowmaking. Opening-day terrain includes Upper and Lower Dobie and Upper and Lower Cross Trail, with Eagles Swoop expected to join over the weekend. Friday serves as a Preview Day for passholders and Mission Affordable 4-Pack owners, with special pricing offers available in person. Snow tubing will not operate this weekend.
Snowshoe Mountain — Opening Friday, December 5
Snowshoe will open December 5 with just over 40 acres of terrain in the central Basin area and a newly built Progression terrain park. Additional trails may open as snowmaking continues through the week. Kids 12 and under ski free until December 12, and travelers have until Thursday to finalize Flex 3 Pass purchases. Snowmaking teams report favorable conditions heading into opening weekend.
Timberline Mountain — Opening Thursday, December 4
Timberline opens December 4 with early-season terrain to be finalized as snowmaking and grooming continue. The resort has produced substantial snow on its most popular runs and plans to expand terrain following Opening Day. A special Bonus Days promotion will run December 4-11, offering reduced lift tickets, discounted rentals, and passholder benefits including free guest tickets for Perfect and Gold passholders.
Winterplace Ski Resort — Opening Saturday, December 6
Winterplace will begin the season on December 6 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., offering skiing, riding, and early-season features in the Heaven Holler Terrain Park. Snowmaking has been underway since early November, and additional terrain is expected to open by December 13.
Cold temperatures have delivered a strong start to December, allowing resorts across the Mid-Atlantic to open earlier and with more terrain than is typical in warm-leaning seasons. Snowmaking is expected to continue across the region as additional terrain, tubing parks, and lesson programs come online.
DCSki will continue monitoring early-season conditions and provide updates as more terrain opens throughout the region.
M. Scott Smith is the founder and Editor of DCSki. Scott loves outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, kayaking, skiing, and mountain biking. He is an avid photographer and writer.
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