DCSki Newsroom

Camelback Resort is adding three trails for the 2026-2027 winter season, marking its first terrain expansion in 30 years, while also introducing new mountainside food and beverage options. Nearby Blue Mountain Resort is installing 315 LED trail lights and upgrading portions of its snowmaking infrastructure.

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.

Fall brings a different kind of activity to Mid-Atlantic ski resorts, with Oktoberfests, foliage chairlift rides, mountain biking, live music, arts festivals, and even a celebration devoted to Bigfoot. DCSki rounds up some of the events worth checking out this fall as the mountains begin their gradual transition toward winter.

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.

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.

After an extended stretch of cold temperatures earlier this month, ski resorts across the Mid-Atlantic were able to make snow aggressively, building strong early-season base depths and opening expanding terrain. DCSki provides a comprehensive snapshot of current conditions across the region as resorts head into the end of December. Photo: Opening Day at Big Boulder, shot by Ella Muir.

Sustained cold temperatures have allowed Mid-Atlantic ski areas to ramp up snowmaking and begin opening for the 2025–26 winter season, with several resorts launching operations in the first week of December. Additional terrain and activities are expected to come online soon as snowmaking continues across the region. Above, an aerial view provided to DCSki by a skiing pilot shows snowmaking underway at Maryland’s Wisp Resort on December 1.

Resorts across the Mid-Atlantic have spent the offseason upgrading snowmaking systems, expanding terrain, improving lifts, and refreshing guest facilities in preparation for the 2025–26 winter season. These enhancements aim to deliver more reliable early-season openings, improved snow quality, and a better overall experience for skiers, riders, and families. DCSki provides a summary of key enhancements across the region in this feature story.

An early-season cold snap brought the first real signs of winter to the Mid-Atlantic, covering higher elevations with natural snow and giving ski areas across West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania the chance to fire up their snowmaking systems. The drop in temperatures allowed resorts to run tests, train crews, and begin early preparations for the 2025 winter season. Some areas also saw natural snow, marking the region’s first widespread taste of winter weather. Above, natural snow falls at Hidden Valley Resort. Photo by Heidi Lewis.

The majority of ski resorts in the Mid-Atlantic region are now open for the 2024-2025 winter season, with a variety of trails available for early-season skiing and snowboarding. Additional resorts are set to open in the coming days, supported by snowmaking efforts and natural snowfall. Above, Pennsylvania’s Roundtop Mountain began its 60th season on December 14, 2024. Photo provided by Haley Mowery / Roundtop Mountain.