| 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: | 78% | Visibility: | 10.00 |
| Wind Speed: | 0 mph | Sunrise: | 6:18 a.m. |
| Barometer: | 30.06 in | Sunset: | 8:29 p.m. |
| Dewpoint: | 59 °F |
Weather supplied by the National Weather Service. Errors or reporting delays may be possible.
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.
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.
February 26, 2026 - Indy Pass has added 16 new partner resorts for the 2026/27 season and lowered the price of its no-blackout Indy+ Pass to $399. Renewals for existing passholders opened February 25, with passes historically selling out quickly before moving to waitlist and public sales.
December 18, 2025 - 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.
December 4, 2025 - 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.
December 2, 2025 - 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.
November 11, 2025 - 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.
August 28, 2025 - Positioned as an alternative to the mega passes, the Indy Pass — good at small and mid-sized independent resorts — is now back on sale, but only for a limited time. The Indy Pass now provides two lift tickets each at 271 resorts across 4 continents, including numerous areas in the Mid-Atlantic region.
December 16, 2024 - 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.
December 1, 2024 - An arctic air mass has brought ideal snowmaking conditions to the Mid-Atlantic, enabling resorts across the region to prepare for their winter season openings, with many planning to open in early December. Resorts like Seven Springs, Wisp, Snowshoe, and Timberline Mountain are leading the charge, while others are building their bases for upcoming announcements. Photo by Heidi Lews / Hidden Valley Resort.
