A Guide to West Virginia Ski Resorts

The South is a great place to live for many reasons, but abundant snowfall isn’t one of them. When you enjoy winter sports, that’s a problem. You need blankets of snow on hillsides for alpine skiing. Luckily, an answer lies close at hand: the picturesque Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia. Situated a day’s trip from Virginia and other East Coast states, it promises a winter wonderland for adventure seekers and snow enthusiasts alike.  

As the frosty winter transforms the landscape, the state becomes a playground for those searching for easy-to-access but thrilling ski slopes, cozy lodges, and breathtaking mountain scenery. Discover the best ski resorts in West Virginia, where outdoor excitement meets warm hospitality.

Snowshoe Mountain Resort

Our journey begins with Snowshoe Mountain Resort, a premier West Virginia destination for winter sports enthusiasts. Conveniently located in central West Virginia at the southern end of Cheat Mountain, one of the highest peaks in the state, it’s just a day’s drive from Virginia and other East Coast states. The elevation tops at 4,848 ft, giving it a unique microclimate that keeps it cooler than other surrounding areas. 

Combine Mother Nature’s 150 average inches per season of snow with artificial snowmaking technology, and Snowshoe is open earlier, longer, with a drier powder base than other regional resorts. That’s more opportunities for you to ski and snowboard.

On top of its longer season, Snowshoe boasts a sprawling expanse of ski terrain broken into three distinct areas. It’s the largest ski resort in West Virginia. Find gentle slopes for beginners and challenging black diamond runs for the expert skier. The facilities deliver over 61 trails, four terrain parks, and 12 routes open to night skiing. The variety of runs is part of its appeal. Easy beginner trails give way to more challenging ski terrain with drops, narrow turns, and twists. Lessons and equipment rentals are available.

What makes it a favorite resort for family fun is all the winter fun on tap when you need a break from skiing and snowboarding. Take a snowmobile tour through the pristine countryside, go snow tubing for speed, book a sleigh ride, or try another backcountry adventure.  

With state-of-the-art facilities, including a heated sauna and swimming pools, Snowshoe Mountain ensures that your ski getaway is as comfortable as it is exhilarating. Snowshoe has multiple lodging choices, from rustic cabins to luxury mountain homes. In the cobblestone-paved Village, you can choose from restaurants serving casual to fine dining or purchase souvenirs from boutique shops.

In sum, Snowshoe Mountain is a complete resort experience without flying out west.

Silver Creek Ski Area

Affiliated with Snowshoe Resort, the Silver Creek Ski Area expands the West Virginia mountains’ slope choices and ski time. Staying at the Resort? A Snowshoe Resort shuttle operates to and from these slopes, which often report shorter lift lines than the main ski area. The trail quality is still high, with six lifts, 18 combined trails ranging from green to black diamond routes, 12 night skiing trails, and two progressive terrain parks for freestyle practice. 

The ski area also features Uphill skiing if you’re ready for a more intense workout or backcountry experience. 

Kids will love the six-story snow tube park, glowing under LED lights at night. The family fun center includes The Bear’s Den arcade and an extreme activity center. Slope-side dining is available.

Canaan Valley Resort State Park

Canaan Valley Resort epitomizes alpine elegance for those seeking a more laid-back ski trip without compromising on adventure. Tucked in the heart of the Allegheny Mountains and a West Virginia State Park, this resort provides a year-round serene escape into the outdoors for all. 

In the winter, Canaan Valley’s 47 ski trails, surrounded by untouched wilderness, create an idyllic setting for a winter retreat. The valley receives an average of 117 inches of snow a year, with a peak elevation of 4,280 feet. The most vertical drop is 850 feet.

All the snowfall makes for excellent skiing. The resort runs three lifts and a magic carpet, grooms trails nightly, and has snowmaking on 75% of the resort trails. About 20% of trails have a beginner rating, while 44% are for advanced skiers or experts. That makes it an excellent resort for intermediate skiers looking to level up.

Uphill skiing is allowed on designated trails. The golf course is open in the winter season for cross-country and snowshoeing. At the resort’s Recreation Center, you can find a cross-country skiing center with rentals for this winter sport.

Another Canaan Valley Resort attraction is the 1,200-foot snow tubing park. Imagine the speed you can build on that run! Or, head to the outdoor ice skating rink with second-to-none views as you figure-eight and pirouette. 

Stay at one of the lodging options in the park or choose from venues outside the park. Canaan Valley Resort has on-site restaurants, a conference center, and more perks for your après ski experience. With all there is to do, it’s the ideal fort for the whole family.

Timberline Mountain

Timberline Mountain is another option in West Virginia’s skiing mountains, celebrated for its family-friendly ambiance. This smaller resort near Davis (close to Canaan Valley) is perfect for those introducing their little ones to the joys of skiing and snowboarding. With dedicated learning areas and expert instructors, Timberline ensures that everyone can make lasting memories on the slopes on their family ski vacation. You’ll have confident skiers in no time.

For experienced skiers, Timberline’s trails rise to your level with two double-black diamond drops and two single-black diamond runs on its 100 acres. The peak vertical drop is 1,000 ft. The resort has two lifts, a magic carpet, two terrain parks, and about 20 trails. The terrain mix helps it meet the needs of diverse ski levels. One is more of a beginner park, perfect for learning new skills or teaching little ones. Lower trails are lit for night skiing on select evenings.

The mountain has a 20-room hotel and a mountain shop selling convenience store items and souvenirs. 

Winterplace Ski Resort

Tucked away in southern West Virginia, Winterplace Ski Resort is a compact but fun option for winter sports enthusiasts. Known for its well-groomed trails and extensive snowmaking capabilities, Winterplace provides a reliable destination for skiing and snowboarding, even in milder winter conditions. Its convenient location in Ghent off I-77 and near I-64 makes it a popular choice for locals and visitors from neighboring states.

The summit at 3,600 ft, base elevation just under 3,000ft, and a vertical drop of 603 ft may be the lowest of the larger West Virginia ski resorts, but plenty of good runs are packed in for snowboarding and skiing. Winterplace has 90 skiable acres broken into 28 trails that are easily accessible thanks to nine lifts. Four of those trails are for expert skiers, while eight are intermediate trails. The remaining are green trails for beginner skiers. Its longest run spans 1.2 miles. It’s a good terrain mix for its size.

The resort also has a terrain park and a ski school for expert lessons. It has lighted trails for night skiing.

Another perk: the snow tubing park is hailed as the largest in West Virginia. Booking your time online is highly recommended. Combine a family ski experience with something everyone can do!

With 100% snowmaking capability, even if the weather doesn’t deliver an exciting winter season, the snowmakers can!

Winterplace Ski Resort has three on-venue restaurants, two at the Resort Center and one at the base of the intermediate and expert terrain trails. No lodging is on-site, but it can be found in the area surrounding the resort, in Ghent and Shady Spring.

Oglebay Resort

This West Virginia vacation destination in Wheeling adds to its suite of winter activities, with skiing as an option at the Nutting Winter Sports Complex. The ski area is a single, wide, gentle trail, with one lift operating on weekends, holidays, and school breaks. Ski and snowboard equipment rental is available, as is night skiing. Skiing lessons are bookable at Olgebay Resort.

Whitegrass Ski Touring Center

Is downhill skiing not your thing? Then Whitegrass Ski Touring Center might be your jam! This cross-country skiing facility runs in Canaan Valley, providing backdoor access to beautiful trails through the mountains. Cross-country skiing is perfect for a winter tour of the West Virginia outdoors. 

The touring center maintains 25-30 kilometers of groomed cross-country and snowshoe trails. It also links up to other backcountry trails, ungroomed but perfect for an adventure. Combined, that’s access to 100km of skiable terrain or snowshoeing possibilities. Make a cross-country adventure of your choosing!

Whitegrass has rentals, lessons, guided backcountry tours, and a natural foods cafe at its center. Dogs are allowed on specific cross-country trails.

For accommodation options, look around Canaan Valley. There’s lots of hotel options and cabin rentals catering to the ski season visitors.

Embrace Ski Season in West Virginia

Ready to hit the thrilling slopes of West Virginia’s ski resorts? Go directly to that resort for lift ticket pricing information, as it changes by the ski season. The websites usually give updates on current snow conditions and what trails are open.

Skiing here will surely meet your needs whenever you need a taste of true winter adventure. Forget heading out West to Colorado when quality snow-covered landscapes are a day trip away. So, gear up, hit the slopes, and let the West Virginia ski adventure begin!

Updated September 2024