Snowshoe Mountain- Family Skiing in West Virginia

Looking for the perfect beginner ski run in the Mid-Atlantic area? Check out Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort. Located in central West Virginia, it has the amenities and style of a larger western resort without traveling far. Here’s everything you need to know about Snowshoe Mountain and why it’s the ideal ski resort for families. 

Hopping into my skiing time machine, I remember my first ski lesson well. Unfortunately, my first experience wasn’t a pleasant one. Instead of enjoying cruising down the slopes, it was more of a “white-knuckle skiing” nightmare. Honestly, the day almost deterred me from ever snapping a pair of skis on again.

The following ski season, I mustered up the courage again to head out to the beginner slopes, this time at Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort. I knew it has a well-loved and highly rated beginner ski program. Thankfully, my second experience was completely different. I learned proper technique and, thanks to its ideal beginner slopes, I became confident and didn’t have to ski with the fear of God in me!

My “real” first experience at Snowshoe Mountain made me and my family love skiing and enjoy the thrill of speeding down a slope. This season, I had the pleasure of revisiting my favorite ski resort and it was just as fun as the first time. Here’s a deep dive into Snowshoe’s terrain-based learning program, dining, lodging, and amenities. 

Where Is Snowshoe Mountain?

Easy enough to remember, Snowshoe Mountain Resort is located in Snowshoe, West Virginia. This is a good, central location for several East Coast cities. Here is the drive time from a few hubs:

Washington, DC – 4 ½ hours

Pittsburgh, PA – 3 hours 40 minutes

Charleston, WV – 3 hours

If you’re looking for a quaint city to stop at before or after your visit, check out Elkins, WV. It is 50 miles from the resort and good place to stay the night before you check into the resort.

We stayed in Elkins the night before we checked in to Snowshoe as there was an impending snowstorm we wanted to head ahead of. The Tygart Hotel was my pick for the night as it’s in the heart of downtown, has a cool historical vibe, and is safe and comfy. It also offers free parking, breakfast, and wifi – my favorite savings trinity! 

Speaking of snowstorms, Snowshoe, WV, gets its fair share of them- averaging 150 inches of natural snowfall per year. Make sure you have a good set of tires and four-wheel drive vehicle if possible. I’m very pleased that my SUV has both as it makes for a better, safer driving experience. Trust me, it can get really snowy and icy on the way up and down the mountain (we actually encountered it both ways on this trip), and having that extra layer of confidence never hurts.

Snowshoe Mountain Ski and Snowboard School

I know I’ve written briefly about it above, but it really is worth mentioning again that the resort’s lessons are big highlights for beginner skiers. The resort offers private and group lessons for kiddos aged four through adulthood. I took a refresher course on my recent trip and it was a fun way to hone in on some skills I needed to improve. 

Meant to be a group lesson, I was the only adult in class that day so my experience turned into a private one. My instructor was all about the science behind skiing and I dove right into it. Give me all of the science and technique and I’m a happy lady. 

I began on a nearly level snow field and fine-tuned my ability to slowly slide sideways on both skis to help with overall ski control. I also worked on slowing myself down without having to do the “pizza” ski style (if you know, you know!) as it doesn’t tire out your legs as much. 

Next, I worked my way down the Skidder Slope, aka, the perfect beginner slope in my mind. I practiced turning, carving, and stopping straight down to a ski lift that brought me back to the top of the beginner slope again. We worked on my skills for about an hour and then I was on my own to ski however, and wherever, I wanted. 

If you want to test-drive skiing without the fear of steeper slopes, this is the place to do it. You’ll need to either rent skis or bring your own as well as purchase a lift pass to participate in the classes. For younger kiddos at the newbie level, ski school lasts six hours per day and includes a full lunch and snacks. 

The ski and snowboard rentals at Snowshoe Resort were the most comfortable I’ve ever used. There are four rental locations on the mountain and it is suggested that you pick up your rentals the night before if you’re able; there tends to be a long line in the morning for first tracks. 

Lodging at Snowshoe Resort

There are several of lodging options at Snowshoe which are ideal for couples as well as both small and large families. During my visit, I stayed right in the heart of The Village area at Seneca.

I stayed in a two-bedroom condo which had a gorgeous view of the Monongahela National Forest. With a full kitchen, fireplace, and access to an outdoor hot tub, it offered a ski-in, ski-out option for the beginner slope and ski school. 

To save some serious cash on lift tickets, there’s special pricing for folks who book their lodging through the official website, so make sure to check it out. If you can book a midweek stay, you’ll save even more. If you’re all in for skiing and want to purchase a season pass, it will cover lift tickets for Snowshoe Basin, Western Territory, and Silvercreek. Additionally, if you love to ski at night, Silvercreek is THE place to do it. 

If you don’t want the extra space of a mountainside condo or house, there’s a smaller hotel at the bottom of the mountain, The Inn at Snowshoe, that’s affordable as well. If you choose to stay on the mountain, the ski and snowboard runs are either walkable or there are plenty of shuttle buses to get you where you need to be. 

Snowshoe Mountain Dining

You’ll find the bulk of the restaurants in The Village, an area at the heart of the resort that looks and feels like the Western ski villages, but with an intimate setting. If you don’t feel like cooking meals in the condo or house (we did that on the first night of our stay and it was a pleasure), takeaway meals are available as well. 

There’s a small grocery store on the mountain for food and provisions. If you’re not fond of bringing your own food from home, you’ll find everything from Starbucks to pizza and pub food. We test-drove a little bit of everything during our visit and I have zero complaints. If I had to pick a favorite sit-down restaurant at The Village, I’d go with Sunset Cantina, its in-Village Mexican restaurant, thanks to the location and tasty menu. 

As for upscale dining, 10 Prime is the place to go. A true steakhouse at heart, I found plenty of delicious dishes on the menu as a gal who doesn’t eat meat. It was fun to dress up after a day on the mountain and enjoy great food and atmosphere. If you’re not staying adjacent to 10 Prime and park at the pay lot, remember to ask for a validation ticket to receive complimentary parking. 

Amenities at Snowshoe

You’d really have to be ambitious to take in all of the amenities Snowshoe Resort has to offer, especially if you’re only staying for a few nights, but there are some things that make my short list. First, make sure you check out Split Rock Pools in The Village with its indoor and outdoor heated pools, and outdoor hot tub (yep, I walked out and back to it in my swimsuit when it was 10 degrees and it was fun!) and sauna. 

Additionally, if your resort building has its own outdoor hot tub, you’ll find it less crowded which I enjoyed. I adored the chilly air on my face while the rest of me was under the hot water – it’s an experience I’ll never forget.

Second, if you love tubing, Coca-Cola Tubing Park is fun and thrilling. Offering eight lanes and six stories of speed, it runs both day and night. There are also snowmobile rentals, XC (cross-country) skiing and snowshoeing, and RZR dining tours to check out while you’re there. 

As for things to do that are made for the kiddos, The Bear’s Den is an indoor gaming haven. Located at Siver Creek, it’s filled with everything from axe throwing to traditional video games. If you want to save a few bucks, book your lodging through Snowshoe and you’ll receive complimentary gaming cards to try the activities. 

Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort is a place I’d happily take my family back to. It’s filled with so much more than skiing and snowboarding that kiddos will never tire or become bored. As for the dining options, they won’t tire of them as well. If you’ve never skied before and want to learn the safe and progressive way, this is the spot. 

Disclosure: The author was hosted at Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort in order to provide an unbiased account of her experience for Trekaroo. All opinions are her own.