Snowshoe

Snowshoe Mountain
10 Snowshoe Drive
Snowshoe, WV 26209
(877) 441-4FUN
http://www.snowshoemtn.com
Directions


Trail Map (click to enlarge):

 
What's new this season:
- New pricing. The more you ski, the less you pay.
- New winch cat groomer which will help to groom the steeps like Shay's Revenge                 - New Terrain Park
- Three new restaurants and a Columbia signature store

Joe's Resort Review:

Looking for a lot of snow and a resort that is usually doing better during some of the rough stretches? Want a New England experience without driving that far? Then you need to look south. That's not a typo, I said south. Snowshoe Mountain is located in east central West Virginia, but is primed to have some of the best conditions. The reason is it's elevation which reaches above 4,800 feet, making it the highest resort in the region. It also helps to boost the average annual snowfall to 180 inches.  This elevation helps it to be one first resorts to open and one of the last to close, and I would say a season would be lost without a trip or to this resort.

This resort is best suited for those who want to drive to the resort, leave their car and not having to get in that car again until it's time to go home from a nice few days of skiing. This break from the car is much needed as this resort's downfall is getting there. There are several options from central Pennsylvania, but each takes you on very small and windy roads and can make the most experienced weary before your arrival. But upon your destination that weariness will be vanish quickly. This is another upside down mountain and I suggest staying in the village. You have shops, restaurants and nightclubs all within walking distance. And you will have time to use them as the main slope area is closed at 4pm.

Not only is this the highest ski resort in the region, it easily has the highest slope count. There are 60 slopes spread through four separate faces. The Northern Tract is known for its gentle slopes. The Snowshoe basin is where most of the slopes are located with a good variety of terrain, including the large Mountaineer Terrain Park. Silver Creek has some nice intermediate runs and includes all of the 12 trails that are open to night skiing. And of course, my favorite is the Western Territory which contains mile and a half long black to double black diamond slopes fed by a high speed quad. If it is up to you, make sure you get there as soon as the rope drops. During the afternoon, the slope can get a bit crowded with people who perhaps shouldn't be there in the first place. This makes for an interesting time skiing slalom around some bodies.

So I mentioned that most of the slopes close at 4pm which leaves you with two choices. You can take the shuttle bus to the Silver Creek for night skiing or tubing, but if you are like me, you've done enough skiing to kick back for an evening of dining and entertainment. If you are there with the family, make sure you stop at the Big Top for some indoor fun including spinning in a gyroscope or bungee jumping. If you like night life, you can head to the Depot or you can head to the indoor/outdoor pool and hot tubs at the Split Rocks Pool area. Of course, a must is to make the dash to the water slide, or I should say ice slide.

Joe's Favorite Slope:
Cupp Run is not only my favorite slope at Snowshoe, but may be my favorite slope in the entire eastern half of the nation. Just make sure to hit it in the morning.