Snowshoe, W. Va., 877-441-4386
Miles from DC: 221
Number of slopes and lifts: 60 slopes, 15 lifts
Vertical drop: 1,500 feet
Terrain parks: 6
Weekend lift ticket: $84 for adults, $74 for ages 13 to 17, $70 for ages 6 to 12
The scene: Snowshoe is the closest you’ll get in the Mid-Atlantic to the type of ski resort found out west. A mountaintop village includes lodging, restaurants, a coffeehouse, a comedy club, and shops—all within walking distance of the main slopes.
Best beginner trail: Yew Pine—wide, gentle, and long.
Best intermediate run: Skip Jack. Next to Spruce Glades Park, it can be reached via the busy Ballhooter high-speed quad lift or the slower, less crowded Grabhammer lift.
Best expert slope: Cupp Run. Designed by Olympian Jean-Claude Killy, it seems to go on forever.
Coolest fun off the slopes: Spend a night at the Sunrise Backcountry Hut, accessible only by snowshoe, cross-country skis, snowmobile, or Sno-Cat in the secluded forest on Cheat Mountain.
Best restaurant: Auntie Pasta’s, with delicious Italian food.
Insider tip: When the slopes get busy on the main mountain, take the shuttle to the Silver Creek area to avoid lift lines.
This article appears in the December 2012 issue of The Washingtonian.
