What You Need to Know About Snowshoe Ski Resort

Hitting the Slopes at Snowshoe Ski Resort

Perched 4,848 feet above sea level in Snowshoe, West Virginia, Snowshoe Ski Resort has 61 trails, 12 lifts, 5 terrain parks, 36 lodges, state-of-the-art snowmaking machines, shops, restaurants, a spa, pool, and even a grocery store. Basically, Snowshoe is its own little utopia. There are three main areas: The Mountain, The Village, and Silver Creek.

The Mountain has 43 trails, 7 lifts, and 2 terrain parks. Most of the cabin-style lodging is located here. The lifts on The Mountain are open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This area includes the Basin, which has most of the trails and lifts, and Western Territory, which only has 1 lift and 4 trails that are single and double black diamond.

The Village has more hotel-style lodging, various restaurants, and shops. The spa, pool, gear rentals, and snowmobile tours are also located here. Also found near The Village, Wildcat Grocery is a cool little grocery store that carries tons of necessities that you might’ve forgotten at home, such as canned goods, eggs, lunch meats, beer, cold medicine, and even fresh fruits and vegetables.

Silver Creek has 5 lifts, 18 trails, 3 terrain parks, and is open during the day and through the night. The lifts at Silver Creek are open Monday through Thursday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Access to Silver Creek is included with each day pass.

Snowshoe has plenty to explore so let’s get into it.

The Mountain

Ski & Snowboard Lessons

If you’re new to skiing and snowboarding, lessons are a great place to start. Snowshoe offers several lessons: pre-ski school (ages 2-4), kids world group lesson (ages 4-12), intro to snow junior group lesson (ages 8-12), group ski & snowboard lesson (ages 13+), private lesson, all-mountain ski & snowboard clinic, adaptive winter sports, mommy-and-me group lessons, ski & snowboard camps, and season-long programs. As you can see, there are a lot of lesson options and you can decide on which one best suits your needs. Snowshoe’s Lesson Guide is a helpful resource if you’re taking lessons for the first time.

Lodging

Snowshoe Ski Resort has 36 different lodging types available, ranging from hotel rooms and condos to full townhomes with several bedrooms. There are so many options for lodging, and it really just depends on what is a priority for you. Some townhomes are right on or just a short walk to the slopes with 4+ bedrooms and a full kitchen (this is what my family and I rent), so if being close to the slopes is important and if you’ll be cooking most of your meals, then this is the option for you. If you want a smaller space in The Village, they have hotel rooms and condos with a fitness center and in close proximity to restaurants.

The Village

Split Rock Pools

The pool is probably my favorite activity — apart from skiing of course! If you book lodging through the Snowshoe Ski Resort website, then the pool is included with your stay. If you don’t, then it’s $15 per person. There is a heated indoor pool with a small slide; this pool leads to a heated outdoor pool with a larger slide. Two hot tubs and a dry sauna are also outside. After a full day of skiing with sore muscles, soaking in a hot tub with icicles and snow-covered rocks surrounding you is something you need to experience yourself.

Shops

There are plenty of shops in The Village for buying souvenirs, snow gear, and snacks. Signatures & Sweets has Snowshoe merchandise, from sweatshirts and tees to stickers and mugs. 4848 is named after the above-sea-level height of Snowshoe Ski Resort. This shop has all the snow gear you’d need, and even bathing suits for the pool!

Restaurants

Even if you don’t bring food to cook at your cabin, you can find good eats around The Village. Cheat Mountain Pizza is a good option for something quick and comforting. They have a few specialty meat pies like Barbeque Pork and Choker, but you can also create your own pizza. Another good restaurant is The Junction Restaurant & Saloon. They have everything from pancakes and avocado toast to burgers and salmon. If you need a caffeine fix, there is also a Starbucks in The Village.

Snowmobile Tours

If you want a break from skiing, a snowmobile tour is a fun activity. There are three tour options: evening, daytime backcountry adventure, and daytime backcountry family. The evening tour is for any experience level, begins after sunset, and allows children to ride as passengers with an adult. The daytime backcountry adventure tour is ideal for more experienced riders, happens during the day, and doesn’t allow passengers since it’s a more fast-paced ride through the wilderness. The daytime backcountry family tour is great for any experience level, and children can ride as passengers with an adult. This tour is perfect for groups that want to see the beauty of Snowshoe during the day.

Spa at Snowshoe Ski Resort

The Spa at Snowshoe is the perfect place for guests who really want to relax and splurge on themselves. They offer tons of services from body scrubs and hot stone massages to manicures and pedicures to hair cuts and dyes. You have to be at least 16 years old to receive any spa services, but the salon services are available to guests of all ages. The Spa has monthly specials as well, so be sure to plan ahead.

Silver Creek

Coco-Cola Tube Park

Fun for the whole family, the tube park has a 6-story, 8-lane tubing hill and a party deck with seating, heaters, and fire pits. Snow tubing on the big hill is available for anyone over the age of 4; children under that age have a separate, smaller area to play in. Tickets are valid for 2 hours, and buying ahead is recommended. Snowshoe has also recently added Galactic Tubing, which is an LED light show that illuminates the tubing hill while riders glide once the sun goes down.

Terrain Parks

Silver Creek is home to 3 of 5 terrain parks at Snowshoe Ski Resort: Robertson’s Run, Timberjack Park, and Mountaineer Park. Robertson’s Run is good for beginner freestyle skiers and snowboarders. It features rails, boxes, and a few jump lines. There’s room to slide around the fixtures, so the whole family can join. Mountaineer Park is another great choice for beginners. It used to be just for experts, but Snowshoe has turned it into a banked, slalom-like course that’s great for any experience level. Timberjack Park is perfect for skiers and snowboarders who want try more technical and difficult stunts. As always, be aware of other riders and be SMART.

Safety on the slopes is extremely important. Always wear a helmet and watch out for others on the slopes. When trails merge, make sure other skiers and snowboarders aren’t on their way down. Also make sure to dress in layers, bring snacks, and have fun.