You don’t have far to go for adventures in the snow.
Morgantown winters haven’t been what they used to be, it’s true. But the Appalachian Mountains are right there—one to three hours’ drive gets us to the best winter playgrounds of the mid-Atlantic. So enjoy your moderate winter at home, and plan a few weekends away for some serious snowy fun. Here’s what you can do where.
Skiing: Downhill
1 hour
Wisp Resort
Snowmaking on 90% of Wisp’s trails means a season of powder at the nearest ski resort to Morgantown. You’ll find 33 ski and snowboarding slopes, 11 miles of trails, a terrain park, and night skiing, all served by 13 lifts including quads and triples—plus rentals and ski school.
1 hours 30 minutes
Seven Springs Mountain Resort
Seven Springs maintains 33 trails, most open to night skiing. Love freestyling? It also has a whopping seven terrain parks. Ten lifts, including six-packs, quads, triples, and more, make for short waits. The lodge offers equipment rental and repair and lessons.
2 hours
Canaan Valley Resort State Park
Lots of natural snow on the 46 trails at this state park is boosted with snowmaking on 75% of trails. The slopes, terrain park, and night skiing are served by a quad lift, two triples, and a surface lift. Ski retail and repair, rentals, and a snowsports school.
Timberline Mountain
Timberline makes snow on all of its 22 slopes and trails and boasts a run of two miles, the longest in West Virginia. Skiers enjoy two terrain parks, night skiing on select nights, and a high-speed six-pack and quad chair lift. You can rent or buy equipment, and the ski school includes adaptive lessons for people with special needs.
2 hours 45 minutes
Snowshoe Mountain Resort
With the highest elevation and the most trails, Snowshoe is the biggest winter resort in West Virginia. Three distinct mountain areas offer 60 trails and glades, four terrain parks, 14 lifts, and night skiing, as well as equipment retail, rental, and repair and a ski school.
Skiing: Cross Country
1 hour 45 minutes
Blackwater Falls State Park
Ten miles of trails, much of it groomed for cross country skiing, with a center that offers equipment rentals and lessons.
2 hours
Canaan Valley Resort State Park
Over 20 miles of marked and ungroomed trails with no trail fees, and ski rental is available.
White Grass Ski Touring Center
This place is dedicated to cross country skiing, with 15-plus miles of groomed trails plus gear rentals and always-available lessons for all levels.
2 hours 45 minutes
Elk River Touring Center
Six miles of cross country trails at the base of Snowshoe Mountain, some groomed, and an additional 15 miles of trails nearby. Equipment rentals, lessons, and guided tours.
Sledding and Snow Tubing
1 hour
Wisp Resort
Wisp’s Mountain Park has 12 tubing chutes, each 750 feet long, served by two Magic Carpet conveyors and snowmaking. Advance reservations required.
1 hour 30 minutes
Seven Springs Mountain Resort
Eleven snow tubing lanes and a Magic Carpet ride between runs.
1 hour 45 minutes
Blackwater Falls State Park
Reserve your spot in advance at Blackwater Falls Sled Run, where the Magic Carpet conveyor takes you to the top of the longest sled run in the Eastern U.S.: a full quarter-mile.
2 hours
Canaan Valley Resort State Park
Get ready for this multilane, 1,200-foot tube park, one of the longest in the mid-Atlantic. Two dedicated Magic Carpet conveyors whisk you back to the top.
2 hours 45 minutes
Snow Riders
With 900-foot runs, a Magic Carpet conveyor, disco light show night tubing, and snowmaking, the fun goes on and on at Snow Riders’ 12 snow tubing lanes.
Snowshoe Mountain Resort
Eight lanes of snow tubing at Silver Creek, a tow rope to the top, and Galactic night tubing.
The Destinations
Blackwater Falls State Park
Davis, West Virginia
Cross country skiing, sledding, snowshoeing; dining and lodging. Sled run projected to open December 21. blackwaterfallssp.com
Canaan Valley Resort State Park
Canaan Valley, West Virginia
Peak elevation 4,280 feet. Downhill skiing and snowboarding, snow tubing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating; dining and lodging. Projected to open December 20. canaanresort.com
Elk River Touring Center
Slaty Fork, West Virginia
Cross country skiing, snowshoeing; dining and lodging. Check socials for opening date.
“Elk River Touring Center” on FB
Seven Springs Mountain Resort
Champion, Pennsylvania
Peak elevation 2,994 feet. Downhill skiing and snowboarding, snow tubing; dining and lodging. Projected to open December 20. 7springs.com
Snow Riders
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Tubing; dining. Check socials for opening date. @snowriderswv on FB
Snowshoe Mountain Resort
Snowshoe, West Virginia
Peak elevation 4,848 feet. Downhill skiing and snowboarding, snow tubing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, horse-drawn sleigh rides; dining and lodging. Projected to open November 27. snowshoemtn.com
Timberline Mountain
Canaan Valley, West Virginia
Peak elevation 4,268 feet. Downhill skiing and snowboarding; dining and lodging. Projected to open November 29. timberlinemountain.com
White Grass Ski Touring Center
Canaan Valley, West Virginia
Peak elevation 4,463 feet. Cross country skiing, snowshoeing; dining. Projected to open November 29. whitegrass.com
Wisp Resort
McHenry, Maryland
Peak elevation 3,115 feet. Downhill skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, cross country skiing; dining and lodging. Projected to open December 20. wispresort.com
Winter Celebrations
Make the most of winter at these winter events, all within two hours’ drive.
November 7–January 5, 2025
Festival of Lights, Wheeling
Take the six-mile drive through the park at Oglebay to marvel at more than 100 lighted displays—an unforgettable family experience. oglebay.com
November 15–December 23
North Pole Express, Romney
Sing carols, drink hot chocolate, listen to stories, and make Christmas crafts on the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad excursion train. Stop by a live nativity stable and even meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus. potomaceagle.com
November 16–January 5, 2025
Phipps Holiday Magic, Pittsburgh
The Phipps Conservatory creates a forest fantasy with its Winter Flower Show and Light Garden. phipps.conservatory.org
November 29–December 29
Celebration of Lights, Fairmont
Drive through Morris Park to see nearly 550 lighted displays. Stop by on November 23 for Market in the Park, an open-air holiday market with vendors and food trucks. celebrationoflightswv.com
December 13
Feast of the Seven Fishes, Fairmont
You’ll find authentic Italian cuisine, market-style shopping, and live music at this festival celebrating an Old World tradition. mainstreetfairmont.org
February 21–22, 2025
Gardner Winter Music Festival, Morgantown
Play, listen, dance, and learn traditional Appalachian music—literally dozens of bands and performers take over South Middle School right here in town for this 46-year-old festival. gwmf.org
March 1, 2025
Fasnacht, Helvetia
A traditional Swiss pre-Lenten masquerade ball to scare away Old Man Winter. The outsize handmade costumes and huge bonfire alone are worth the drive to this mountain village. helvetiawv.com
More Snowy Fun
Sleigh rides
2 hours 45 minutes
Snowshoe Mountain Resort
Be transported to the past with a one-horse open sleigh ride tour of Snowshoe’s Silver Creek area, managed by Autumn Breeze Stables.
Snowshoeing
1 hour 45 minutes
Blackwater Falls State Park
Snowshoe rentals in the sled run area and miles of
trails and forested West Virginia mountains and
overlooks to explore.
2 hours
Canaan Valley Resort State Park
Snowshoe rentals at the cross country recreation center and 22 miles of ungroomed trails.
White Grass Ski Touring Center
Rent your snowshoes here and take a guided natural history walk led by a knowledgeable local to learn about the Canaan Valley.
2 hours 45 minutes
Elk River Touring Center
Snowshoe rentals—adults only—with 6 miles of trails near the center and access to another 15, plus woods galore.
SNO GO Ski Biking
2 hours
Canaan Valley Resort State Park
Rent a three-ski Sno-Go snow bike and get on the slopes in minutes — no experience required!
Snowmobiling
2 hours 45 minutes
Snowshoe Mountain Resort
Guided daytime backcountry and evening slope snowmobile tours are one of the special thrills at Snowshoe.
Gear Up!
Be warm, dry, hydrated, and protected from the sun—get your accessories right here in town.
Patagonia Fun Hog Beanie
Soft recycled wool blend. Plenty warm, plenty cool, $55. Pathfinder of WV, 235 High Street, pathfinderwv.com
Muk Luks Socks
Wool blend socks in lots of fetching colors and patterns, $15. Dunham’s Sports, 9550 Mall Road, dunhamssports.com
Yeti Rambler
Leakproof, insulated. Lots of other sizes and colors, too. 26 ounce, $40. Dunham’s Sports, 9550 Mall Road, dunhamssports.com
Burton Women’s Baker 2-In-1 Glove
Wear just the liner, just the insulated shell, or combine the two. Touchscreen control and a pouch to hold a disposable hand warmer, too! $65. Pathfinder of WV, 235 High Street, pathfinderwv.com
Surface SPF 50 Lip Balm
Mango, peppermint, pina colada, coconut berry, $4. Sportsman’s Warehouse, 5200 Gateway Drive, sportsmans.com
READ MORE STORIES FROM THE MORGANTOWN WINTER 2024 ISSUE