Mountain Review: Snowshoe
MOUNTAIN SCORE
CATEGORY BREAKDOWN
See our criteria4
Snow:
4
Resiliency:
3
Size:
4
Terrain Diversity:
5
Challenge:
6
Lifts:
3
Crowd Flow:
6
Facilities:
5
Navigation:
4
Mountain Aesthetic:
GOOD TO KNOW
1-Day Ticket: $80-$135
Pass Affiliation: Ikon Pass
On-site Lodging: Yes
Après-ski: Limited
Nearest Cities: Pittsburgh (4 hrs), Richmond (4 hrs), Washington (4.5 hrs), Columbus (5.5 hrs)
Recommended Ability Level:
+ Pros
Regional snow quality
Impressive vertical drop for Mid-Atlantic
Close proximity to multiple major cities
– Cons
Confusing resort layout
Often very crowded
No cell service
MOUNTAIN STATS
Lifts: 14
Trails: 56
Beginner: 33%
Intermediate: 27%
Advanced/Expert: 40%
Mountain Review
Located on a remote mountain top deep in West Virginia’s Allegheny Mountains, Snowshoe plays a significant role in providing a true resort experience to the otherwise unaccommodated Southeast and Mid-Atlantic region. This “upside-down” mountain and its 257 acres of terrain checks many of the same resort appeal boxes of its more impressive Alterra siblings, and while not necessarily worth the long drive from other regions, the terrain offering is largely uncontested anywhere else in the Southern Appalachians.
Unlike most other resorts in the Southern Appalachians, Snowshoe offers what’s arguably a true resort experience.
Size and Terrain Layout
Snowshoe's upside down layout is unique for the Mid-Atlantic, let alone anywhere in the United States. Rather than riding a lift to get to their first run, guests will be able to ski or ride as soon as they buckle in. A large village crowns the summit at the frequently referenced 4,848 feet of elevation and offers breathtaking end-of-day sunset views from many of the restaurants and accommodations.
Snowshoe’s skiable terrain is divided into three distinct areas. The Basin side serves as the largest zone where skiers will descend from the village right to the banks of Shavers Lake, the resort's backdrop and snowmaking water supply. This area offers beginner to advanced terrain as well as two terrain parks. New visitors accustomed to smaller resorts in the region may find Snowshoe Basin’s wide footprint and variety of difficulty to be more interesting to explore in comparison to more vertical layouts typical to the Mid-Atlantic. However, while the Basin wins in width and variety, it comes up short at only 800 feet of vertical elevation and the runs may feel quick for competent skiers.
In contrast, the Western Territory area, which sits on the back side of the Basin across an access road, offers double the vertical drop at 1,500 feet and hosts two long challenging runs, including the Cupp Run, designed by Olympian Jean-Claude Killy. Not a single other Eastern ski resort south of New York can offer a drop as large as that of the Western Territory. The sustained difficulty of these trails is so notable that many frequent Snowshoe visitors credit it for keeping them coming back.
The Silver Creek area, acquired by Snowshoe in 1992, is located two miles down the road from the main village and can be a good option to escape the crowds on more popular weekends, especially for families with children learning to ride. More notably, most of Silver Creek's terrain is lit up for night skiing and the evening will bring an influx in visitors looking to get some post-après turns or lap the two Mountaineer terrain parks.
Snowshoe’s Silver Creek area features an extensive night skiing set up which covers most of its terrain.
Beginner Terrain
True beginners at Snowshoe benefit from the upside-down format due to the village adjacent learn-to-ride area, offering the mountaintop scenery that beginners likely won’t experience at most resorts. On paper, green terrain makes up the highest portion of the resort and green trail options are available from every Basin area lift. That being said, beginners that are ready to explore the mountain will discover that a lot of the green terrain is narrow and high traffic, with many areas being nearly impossible to practice linking wide turns. Log Slide and Powder Monkey in the Basin and Cubb Run (not to be confused with Cupp Run) at Silver Creek should give beginners ample room to practice, while trails like Hootenanny and Flume, which provide access and egress from the Soaring Eagle Express, respectively, are best avoided on weekends.
Intermediate Terrain
Both the Basin and Silver Creek have options for intermediate skiers. However, none especially stand out, as many blue trails ski nearly the same face and often terminate quickly into green terrain. Skiers looking to rip down long blue cruisers will find themselves disappointed and back in green terrain after surprisingly few turns. Ballhooter stands out as the exception to this trend, but the typically long line for the eponymous lift can make this run hard to lap. While the labeled blue trails leave quite a bit to be desired, intermediate skiers comfortable with Ballhooter should be comfortable on the black trails off Soaring Eagle Express, which receive regular grooming, depending on conditions.
TRAIL MAP
Advanced Terrain
Are the steeps where Snowshoe shines? Well, certainly not in a Jackson Hole kind of way—but for only a four-and-a-half-hour Friday night drive from the nation's capital, you might just find yourself slapping powder off legit steep moguls the next morning. Blacks, double blacks, and glades combine to make up 36% of Snowshoe's acreage and offer more variety and points of interest than the flavorless blues. Moguls typically can be found on Knot Bumper, Choker, and Lower Shay’s Revenge, and a few trails are even flanked by manicured glades when there is enough natural snow. Advanced skiers will enjoy the significantly-less-crowded Western Territory, with longer runs and manageable-to-nonexistent lift lines even on the busiest weekends. True expert skiers shouldn’t expect to be thoroughly entertained, but Snowshoe is reasonably serviceable for getting in a sweat and knocking off the rust before more notable trips.
Terrain Parks
Snowshoe's four “Mountaineer” terrain parks are generally good quality, with all of the essentials you would expect from larger corporate resorts. The Powder Ridge lift services the Basin area terrain parks and rarely has a line for its longer-than-ideal ride to the top. Less experienced skiers and riders seem to frequent these two freestyle areas, and the lack of terrain park etiquette can become dangerous when the mountain gets crowded. Silver Creek’s two terrain parks tend to be a bit safer in this regard during the day, and they offer the added benefit of staying open under the lights for after-dinner park laps.
Snowshoe features a comprehensive snowmaking operation that rivals the best ski resorts in the East.
Snow
Thanks to its favorable elevation and storm-prone location, Snowshoe gets quite reliable snowfall for the Mid-Atlantic region. Snowshoe records an annual snowfall average of nearly 110 inches, which is well above every other ski resort in the state and on par with many ski resorts a lot further north. In addition, the snow at Snowshoe tends to be lighter and fluffier than at resorts in the Northeast, as storm systems lose moisture while moving inland toward its location.
Natural snowfall is heavily supplemented by Snowshoe’s 100% snowmaking coverage. This system includes loads of tower mounted fan guns that run semi-automatically as soon as temperatures and humidity allows. Alterra’s 2017 acquisition of the resort brought a massive snowmaking upgrade and, per acre, the resort is now competitive—if not superior—to the legendary Northeast snowmakers such as Sunday River and Killington.
Resiliency
While its natural snowfall and artificial snowmaking is quite impressive for the Mid-Atlantic, Snowshoe can’t escape all the issues of its Southeast location. The resort is prone to the typical East Coast freeze-thaw cycles, and under the worst circumstances, the resort can even see a mid-season rain and washout. The Basin and Western Territory face East and West respectively, typically saving snow from the sun, but multi-day warm spells are not uncommon. Western Territory can suffer from wind exposure, and combined with a bad temperature cycle, this terrain can become extremely icy—and may see closures due to the dangers of its sustained pitches in these conditions.
RECOMMENDED SKIS FOR SNOWSHOE
NOTE: We may receive a small affiliate commission if you click on the below links. All products listed below are unisex.
Recommended all-mountain ski
Recommended carving ski
Recommended glade ski
Recommended expert/touring ski
Navigation and Lift Logistics
Due to its upside-down nature and sprawling lodging options, Snowshoe poses some considerable navigation issues. Guests will need to be aware of when and where to end their day in order for their last ride up to put them back at their lodging or parking lot. The resort does run consistent free shuttles between major village areas, but a wrong turn could easily add an hour of transit with end of day lift and shuttle lines.
Speaking of lift lines, Ballhooter is best avoided at nearly all times, as it will regularly build up to waits well over a half hour. This takes some intention and planning to avoid as the resort naturally drains many trails into this area. Alternatively, skiers can opt to hang left above Ballhooter lift and instead take Grabhammer, where a short unmapped magic carpet takes riders from its top station back to the village. The trail layout does leave some severe chokepoints, most notably the Hootenanny and Flume intersection, where many skiers will stop in the already narrow trails to wait for the rest of their crew.
To add to some of these problems, cell service is bad-to-nonexistent due to the National Radio Quiet Zone that heavily restricts the use of wireless for the nearby Green Bank Observatory telescope. Groups will likely have trouble sticking together or meeting up, especially with varying ability levels. Walkie talkies, which are permitted, are commonly used amongst repeat visitors. Visitors should also download road maps when traveling to Snowshoe, where cell service is unobtainable for the last hour or more of the drive but GPS will continue to work.
But getting around Snowshoe isn’t all bad. Trails and lifts are well marked, and maps exist at the top of all lifts, which helps guests form a baseline understanding of the resort over time.
Snowshoe’s Ballhooter lift perennially features lift lines which can result in waits exceeding 30 minutes.
Lifts
Snowshoe’s lift system is fairly ordinary, although it’s not terrible either. The resort boasts three high-speed-quads, with one each at Ballhooter, Soaring Eagle, and Western Territory. The rest of the network consists of fixed-grip triples and quads. Recent upgrades include the Powder Monkey lift getting a loading carpet and tighter spaced four-pack chairs, which significantly increased uphill capacity compared to the previous spaced-out three-person chairs. The Ballhooter and/or Grabhammer lifts are in dire need of capacity upgrades to reduce waits to return to the village.
Crowds
With the best terrain in the extended region comes some of the biggest crowds. Don’t be surprised to meet skiers from DC, Baltimore, Richmond, Pittsburgh, Columbus, and the Carolinas all looking to get their fix with a less-than-six-hour drive. However, Snowshoe’s crowds skew heavily toward beginners, and while the normally crowded areas get out of hand on peak vacation weekends, the resort can still be manageable for those willing to spend most of their day on Western Territory; lines for this advanced-and-expert-only area rarely exceed five minutes, even during the busiest days. Peak weekends can be miserable for beginners, as the most crowded areas tend to be confined to the easier, unfortunately narrow terrain.
On-Mountain Facilities
The Snowshoe base village offers a variety of sit down dining options including pizza, Southwest Cuisine, and American grill options. Prices are relatively reasonable, especially with an Ikon Pass discount that is accepted at most locations. Outside the main base, The Boathouse at the bottom of Ballhooter lift, Arbuckle’s Cabin at the bottom of Western Territory, and Flume Shack on Upper Flume each offer a small menu of hot lunch items and a full bar for a quick stop in. What Snowshoe seriously lacks is a traditional cafeteria lodge, leaving day trippers no great option for booting up or a quick snack and warm up.
RECOMMENDED SNOWBOARDS FOR SNOWSHOE
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Recommended intermediate board
Recommended advanced board
Recommended expert board
Recommended touring board
Mountain Aesthetic
Snowshoe offers one of the more picturesque full resort experiences in the East, if not the country. While the mountains themselves aren’t astounding, the mountain top village notoriously offers unbeatable views of classic Appalachian sunsets. The village itself is extremely well curated with cohesive architecture and a cozy feel, making it a top choice for casual vacationers. However, those accustomed to true ski towns will notice its commercialized nature and lack of real character.
Pass Partnerships
The full Ikon Pass and Ikon Base Pass offer unlimited access to Snowshoe with no blackout dates. Snowshoe plays an underrated role for Alterra by justifying Ikon Pass purchases for a whole region of the country that would otherwise have no options within driving distance. Snowshoe is also available on the Ikon Session Pass, a flexible day-ticket-like product that offers two-to-four days of access to the majority of mountains on the more typical Ikon season pass products.
Getting There
Getting to Snowshoe requires a bit of planning due to its remote location in the Allegheny Mountains. For those driving, nearby cities within a reasonable distance include Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, PA, and Richmond, VA, all of which are around four hours away by car. Closer options include Charleston, WV, about two and a half hours away, and Roanoke, VA, which is roughly two hours from Snowshoe. This makes the resort an appealing weekend getaway for many in the Mid-Atlantic region.
For visitors flying in, the nearest airports include Greenbrier Valley Airport (LWB), located about 1.5 hours from Snowshoe, though its limited commercial flights mainly connect to Charlotte, NC. Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) offers regional flights connecting to larger East Coast cities and is approximately two hours away. Charleston Yeager Airport (CRW) is another viable option, located about 2.5 hours away. For those flying from further out, Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), around four hours away, may provide the best range of flight options.
The primary access road to Snowshoe is WV-66, a winding two-lane road that cuts through scenic hills and forested terrain. The final stretch involves a significant elevation change as you approach the top-down resort. Winter conditions here can be challenging, with snow and ice common, especially as you near the summit. The resort does a good job maintaining the road, but it’s advisable to use snow tires or a vehicle with 4WD/AWD when snowstorms are likely.
Snowshoe is one of the more picturesque ski resorts in the East Coast, offering impressive views of the surrounding Appalachians.
Parking
In recent years, Snowshoe has implemented daily fees for most of its previously-free parking. Day trippers can still find a limited amount of free parking in the C and D lots that are within walking distance of Soaring Eagle lift. Free parking is also available via shuttle from the Inn at Snowshoe and Silvercreek.
Lodging
Snowshoe offers a wide range of lodging options, including hotel-style rooms, spacious condos, and numerous privately owned rental homes nearby. Staying on the mountain will give visitors the best all-around experience, but the convenience can be quite pricey. The resort’s layout renders a significant amount of lodging ski-in/ski-out, since lodging sprawls beyond the main village to pods at the top of each lift. For cheaper options for larger groups, nearby Airbnbs and vacation home rentals are worth exploring, especially those looking for that remote West Virginia feel. It’s also worth noting that many of the mountain condos are also privately owned and rented separately from the resort's offerings.
Après-Ski
What do you get when you combine a load of mountain lodging, vacationers ready to cut loose, and a resort ready to capitalize on drink sales? A shockingly modest après scene. For better or for worse, the bar scene in Snowshoe is limited to small restaurant bars and there are no good options later into the night. Coming off the slopes, Tuque’s Bar and Grill and Hoot’s Bar and Grill both hit the mark for a couple happy hour beers, especially when they host live music.
Guests generally come to Snowshoe to ski, not to party, and the resort’s après scene is surprisingly limited.
Verdict
Snowshoe’s layout is a bit of a mess and the resort can get incredibly crowded, but there’s nothing else like it in the Mid-Atlantic region. The resort is no substitute for the best mountains of the Northeast, but for snow quality, challenge, and vertical descent within driving distance of nearly every Mid-Atlantic and Southeast metropolitan area, there’s no other hill that can match.
Pricing
Snowshoe’s lift tickets and lodging prices are fairly reasonable at face value, and Ikon Pass holders willing to venture off the beaten path can easily pull off a visit for quite cheap. Day tickets bought in advance can range from $49 to $129, and guests can buy a Flex 3 Pass, which offers three days of Snowshoe access that can be used at any time, for $199. Snowshoe also offers the Midweek & Creek pass, priced at $399, which gives skiers access to the whole mountain during the week and limits access to Silver Creek terrain during Fridays, weekends, and holidays.
