Our team has been visiting Snowshoe, WV since the late 1980s. We’ve seen many changes over the years. Here is our Snowshoe, WV Trip Planning Guide for the 2022 – 2023 season based on our years of experience traveling to and from. We’ll focus our planning tips on a winter ski trip for a family of four.
NOV 2024 UPDATE – If you are on Facebook, we recommend joining or private Snowshoe FB Group. You’ll find TONS of information from over 21,300 active members. CLICK HERE to join.
You know your family’s needs and desires better than anyone. Rely on that knowledge as you go through the entire planning process. Don’t forget to set your budget. You should take into account holiday dates, travel to and from, lodging, lift tickets, meals and any other entertainment activities you believe your family will enjoy.
Selecting Your Dates
Snowshoe Mountain Resort is notoriously crowded and expensive during the holiday periods. We realize many families can only go away during a holiday. For the best possible experience, we strongly recommend avoiding Snowshoe during Christmas week, We’ve found that in certain years, the resort is operating at full capacity. That means, crowded slopes, long lift lines and one hour or more waits to get a seat in some of the restaurants. To us, that’s not a vacation. You came here to have fun, not stand in lines. An added bonus to this misery, you’ll pay top dollar for lodging and lift tickets.
Now that we’ve steered you away from Christmas week, let’s talk about taking a few days off, and maybe even pull the kids out of school a day or two. If you can, book your ski trip for a non-holiday period anytime between a Sunday and Friday. You will find the best pricing and limited crowds. If you could do this around the middle of March, the late-season rates are even a better bargain. Once you have whittled down your dates, it’s time to start looking for lodging.
Find A Place to Stay
There are so many options to choose from that this can be a bit daunting. Let’s look at low and medium budget range rentals. If you want to save the most money on lodging, the cheapest option would be to stay in a hotel within a 30-minute drive. We do not recommend this option as winter weather conditions can wreak havoc on your travel to the resort on the rural mountain roads. Let’s be honest, would you stay thirty minutes away from the beach and drive to and from each day? Of course not, so why do it in Snowshoe, WV?
In the past, when we owned in Snowshoe Mountain Lodge we recommended ML due to its proximity to the slopes and affordable pricing. Mountain Lodge has undergone a massive exterior renovation project over the past few years. We continue to recommend it as a family friendly lodging option. CLICK HERE to find a condo for rent. Along with Mountain Lodge, there are many other places within walking distance of the slopes. Our friends at Mountaintop Condos can help with all your lodging needs.
Now that you have locked down your lodging, let’s focus on lift tickets.
Buying Lift Tickets
For a family of four, this may be the most expensive part of your ski trip. Holiday rates run $109 plus tax per person per day. Skiing for 2 days will cost nearly $950. That’s just crazy. Luckily, Snowshoe offers a few deals. Check on the Early Season Pass. This pass is usually around $129 plus tax and was good from opening day until December 25.
Now that the Ridiculous Pass has been retired, there are 2 options to choose from. One is the Silver Creek only pass which is good for Silver Creek only. Next up is the Snowshoe Unlimited Pass. It is good for both Snowshoe and Silver Creek areas. Depending on your ski habits, the Ikon Pass might be your best option. It includes unlimited skiing at Snowshoe and 11 other resorts in the United States and Canada. You also have up to 5 days each at 28 other destinations over the world. This is the pass we opt for since we go on one western ski trip each year. Early season sales allow you to purchase the Ikon Base Pass for under $1,000.
Ski Gear Rentals
If you already have your own equipment, skip over this section and head to the next tip. If you need to rent equipment, there are a few local vendors to choose from. When our kids were younger, we always rented from the Ski Barn at the base of the Mountain. The staff was always polite and professional. The equipment was modern and fitted properly for our children’s skill level and size. Ski Barn owns a sister shop named SnowCreek Mountain sports which is closer to the top of the mountain.
Route 66 Rentals has a small ski shop across from the Snowshoe Inn but we have never used them. 
Snowshoe has 2 rental locations in Snowshoe Village. Expedition Station has a rental shop on the ground floor and is very convenient to the slopes. The Mountain Adventure Center (MAC) is steps from the Ballhooter ski lift and offers regular and performance skis for those with advanced skills. In order to cut down on your wait times, we suggest booking your rentals in advance using one of their online portals. The Ski Barn offers 10% off their advertised rate to those who book in advance.
Activities For Non Skiers
It’s very common for a family to have one or more members that do not ski. Don’t worry – Snowshoe did not forget about these folks. There are plenty of fun things to do for those who have no interest in bombing down a mountain trail on a waxed board or two. Snow tubing is tons of fun and is offered at the Coca-Cola Snow Tubing area next to Silver Creek. For those seeking a real adventure, how about jumping into a Polaris RZR and taking a guided tour through the backwood trails of Snowshoe Mountain?
Perhaps you are the type that just likes to relax and take it easy while on vacation. The Split Rock Pools area is perfect for that afternoon swim or evening dip in the hot tub. If you’d rather stay high and dry, how about a sleigh ride on a horse-drawn carriage? Last but not least, our favorite is the ever-popular snowmobile guided tours. Sure, the machines have governors on them so you can’t go 100 miles per hour but they are still a blast. We loved peeking at them from the window of our former 1 BR unit 322 Mountain Lodge.
Are You Hungry
There are over 20 different places to eat in and around Snowshoe. For those on a low budget, eat in as many meals as possible. We recommend grocery shopping at home as the selection is limited near Snowshoe and the nearest grocery store is in Marlinton, WV. If you are looking for some quality fine dining, we suggest the Appalachia Kitchen with its farm to table menu of fresh local foods. We tend to frequent Foxfire and The Junction in the village. They are nice places to eat, centrally located in Snowshoe Village. They both offer a variety of menu options geared towards a rural Pocahontas County theme. If you are feeling a bit lazy, the Rte 66 Sub Shop delivers to the top of the mountain with a $10 minimum order. That’s one to keep in mind on a brutally cold and windy night.
Travel Planning
Snowshoe Mountain Resort is located at the top of Snowshoe Drive along the Cheat Mountains. We urge all visitors to closely monitor the weather conditions on their respective travel dates. The WV Department of Transportation does a wonderful job of maintaining the roads. The state offers a public website, wv511.org. The website provides travelers with real-time road and traffic conditions throughout the state of West Virginia. Please keep in mind that Snowshoe’s rural location is subject to extreme weather conditions. High winds and drifting, heavy snow is common during the winter months. Guests should adequately prepare their vehicles in the event of severe weather. The following items are essential to have should one encounter a snowstorm. Extra gloves, blankets, coats, food, and water are a must-have during any trip to the mountains. We encourage visitors to keep their gas tanks and washer fluid reservoirs at full level. It is wise to bring along a small shovel.
Please do not underestimate the power of Mother Nature. The snow is certainly a beautiful sight in the winter but it can also be hazardous to drive in. Let’s not ruin all the hard work you have done planning this trip by ending up stuck in a ditch or heaven forbid, something worse. We love Snowshoe and want everyone to have a great experience and come back time and time again.
THINK SNOW and we’ll see you all on the slopes.