While the DMV is not known for its mountains that attract tons of skiers, it still offers a variety of options that are just a short drive away. After considering the pros and cons of each resort, this list shares the best spots for skiing in the DMV.
Liberty: Liberty is the closest skiing option to DC but arguably the worst as a resort. While small, Liberty is perfect for all skill levels, with trails ranging from a flat bunny slope to steep, moguly double blacks. Sadly, Liberty shares DC’s climate of underwhelming winters, so you’ll almost always be skiing on man-made snow. Your usual Liberty weekend is 60 degrees, sunny, and muddy. If you get lucky and natural snow falls just before you go, it’s the most convenient place to ski.
Whitetail: Whitetail is the second closest to DC and suffers from most of the same issues that Liberty does. It’s often cooler than Liberty and its higher elevation means it gets a little more natural snow, but it’s not enough to count for much. It beats Liberty with its larger footprint and high-speed lifts. On the other hand, the food there is bland, even by ski resort standards, so you’re going to want to spend as much time as you can on the mountain instead of relaxing at the base.
Wisp: Wisp is three hours from DC, taking the title as both the best and worst ski resort in Maryland. It has consistently good natural snow, but it is somewhat small and very popular, so powder days quickly turn into ice days. The resort lacks express lifts, which, mixed with the popularity, means that lift lines are very long. It has little to no expert terrain but has great beginner trails, making it a learning how to ski hotspot. While it is a decent resort, one other ski resort dominates the ranking.
Snowshoe: Snowshoe is the furthest from DC on this list, but definitely the best. It has a large skiable footprint, with several different hub areas and many high speed lifts. It has some of the best and longest expert terrain on the east coast, with western territory boasting black runs more than a mile long. It doesn’t have great beginner terrain, so if you’re willing to dish out the cash to stay here, get some experience first. On the slopes, you do have to watch out for the locals (they love to drink and ski fast). Snowshoe also gets a fair amount of natural snow, a nice break from the icy mountains near DC.
All in all, other ski resorts cannot compete with Snowshoe, but if you don’t have the time for the drive, go to Whitetail.
