Maryland and its neighboring states are filled with beautiful ski resorts with slopes for all experience levels. This winter, take a weekend trip to one, or a few, of these resorts for a short getaway, which is a great outdoor and socially-safe experience during this pandemic-challenged time. Take a quick look at what each of these resorts, all within four hours of Annapolis, have to offer, beyond just the skiing the slopes.
Wisp Resort
296 Marsh Hill Road, McHenry, Maryland; 301-859-3159; Wispresort.com; Covering 172 acres in Garrett County, Wisp Ski Resort is Maryland’s only four-season resort. Though Wisp is known for their skiing, snow tubing, and other winter sports, they also offer golf, aerial activities, water adventures, and more. Wisp offers night skiing Tuesday through Saturday and offers 33 slopes totaling 11 miles of trails. Don’t forget to take a ride on their Mountain Coaster! Runs: 34 total; 35% beginner, 38% intermediate, 27% expert Lifts: 12 Vertical Drop: 700 feet Longest Run: 1.5 miles Features: Night skiing, 3 terrain parks, snow tubing, mountain coaster, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating Distance from Annapolis: 3 hours, 20 minutes
Photo Courtesy of Wisp Resort
Bear Creek Mountain Resort & Conference Center
101 Doe Mountain Lane, Macungie, Pennsylvania; 866-754-2822; Bcmountainresort.com; Bear Creek Mountain Resort has launched a new sanitation program, Ever Strong, to make this year’s skiing season as amazing and memorable as last season. You must purchase your ticket ahead of time to run the slopes this year. Runs: 23 total; 30% beginner, 40% intermediate, 30% advanced Lifts: 3 Vertical Drop: 510 feet Longest Run: 1 mile Features: Skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, 3 terrain parks, NASTAR racing Distance from Annapolis: 2 hours, 53 minutes
Blue Knob All Seasons Resort
1424 Overland Pass, Claysburg, Pennsylvania; 814-239-5111; Blubknob.com; Visit Blue Knob all year long for events on the mountain, golfing, biking, hiking, and dining. Grab your season passes now or visit their website to see their weekday specials, including military discounts on Wednesday, discount for college students on Thursdays, and more. Runs: 34 total; 20% beginner, 35% intermediate, 35% advanced, 10% expert Lifts: 5 Vertical Drop: 1,072 feet Longest Run: 2 miles Features: Night Skiing, 1 terrain park, snowboarding, snow tubing, NASTAR, cross country skiing, snowshoeing Distance from Annapolis: 3 hours, 17 minutes
Blue Mountain Resort
1660 Blue Mountain Drive, Palmerton, Pennsylvania; 610-826-7700; Skibluemt.com; Here you will find the highest drop in the state of Pennsylvania. Located alongside the Poconos Mountains, get ready to challenge your skiing skills and embrace a thrill down the 1,082-foot drop and enjoy a smooth ride across over 170 acres of skiable land. Runs: 16 total; 42% beginner, 13% intermediate, 45% expert Lifts: 39 Vertical Drop: 1,082 feet Longest Run: 1.2 miles Features: Snowboarding, snow tubing, adult and youth racing Distance from Annapolis: 3 hours, 14 minutes
Camelback Mountain Resort
301 Resort Drive, Tannersville, Pennsylvania; 570-629-1661; Camelbackresort.com; If skiing in the middle of the Poconos isnt a big enough reason to stop by Camelback Resort, then stop by for their indoor waterpark. The waterpark features Pennsylvania’s largest texlon roof and is ‘USA’s #1 indoor waterpark’. Runs: 37 total; 39% beginner, 26% intermediate, 26% advanced, 9% expert Lifts: 16 Vertical Drop: 800 feet Longest Run: 1 mile Features: Snowboarding, snow tubing, Appalachian Express Coaster, dual zip line, indoor waterpark Distance from Annapolis: 3 hours, 33 minutes
Hidden Valley Resort
1 Craighead Road, Hidden Valley, Pennsylvania; 814-443-8000; Hiddenvalleyresort.com; Gear up at the ski shop before you get the opportunity to learn from the snowsports school and then conquer over 110 acres of skiiable land at Hidden Valley Resort. Runs: 26 total; 27% beginner, 50% intermediate, 23% advanced Lifts: 9 Vertical Drop: 470 feet Longest Run: 1.5 miles Features: Night Skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, 2 terrain parks Distance from Annapolis: 3 hours, 26 minutes
Jack Frost Ski Resort
434 Jack Frost Mountain Road, White Haven, Pennsylvania; 570-443-8425; Jfbb.com; Visit neighboring mountains in Pennsylvania to really see how much skiing you can handle. This year, for safety reasons, the resort is going cashless at their hotels, restaurants, Ski & Ride school, and all other activities. Runs: 36 total; 40% beginner, 30% intermediate, 30% advanced Lifts: Jack Frost: 12, Big Boulder: 10 Vertical Drop: Jack Frost: 600 feet, Big Boulder: 475 Feet Longest Run: 1 mile Features: 7 Terrain parks, snowtubing Distance from Annapolis: 3 hours, 26 minutes
Laurel Mountain Ski Resort
374 Summit Ski Road, Bowell, Pennsylvania; 724-238-2801; Laurelmountainski.com; You think you can handle a challenge? Laurel Mountain Ski Resort has got the slope for you. Laurel Mountain is home of the famous double-diamond Lower Wildcat slope, the steepest slope in the state. This resort ranks in the top ten ski areas even though it is smaller in size. Runs: 20 total; 11 beginner, 6 intermediate, 2 advanced, 1 expert Lifts: 2 Vertical Drop: 761 Feet Longest Run: Over 1 mile Features: Snowboarding, lodging package access to Seven Springs and Hidden Valley resorts Distance from Annapolis: 3 hours, 32 minutes
Liberty Mountain Resort
78 Country Club Trail, Fairfield, Pennsylvania; 717-642-8282; Libertymountainresort.com; Located just a few miles south of Gettysburg, Liberty Mountain is the closest ski resort to the Annapolis area. The resort features 4 terrain areas varying in difficulty for freestyling, training your new skills, and cleaning the rust off from last season. Runs: 16 total; 35% beginner, 40% intermediate, 25% expert Lifts: 8 Vertical Drop: 620 feet Longest Run: 1 mile Features: Snowboarding, snow tubing, ice skating Distance from Annapolis: 1 hour, 42 minutes
Mystic Mountain Ski Area
1001 Lafayette Drive, Farmington, Pennsylvania; 866-344-6957; Nemacolin.com; As a part of Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Mystic Mountain contains 6 slopes for skiing, snowboarding and even dog sledding. Runs: 10 total; 3 beginner, 3 intermediate, 4 advanced Lifts: 3 Vertical Drop: 300 feet Longest Run: 0.5 miles Features: Night Skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, dogsledding Distance from Annapolis: 3 hours, 21 minutes
Roundtop Mountain Resort
925 Roundtop Road, Lewisberry, Pennsylvania; 717-432-9631; Skiroundtop.com; Just outside of Hershey, Roundtop Mountain Resort has plenty to do this winter, including paintball. The terrain parks include Fanny Hill, a terrain park for even the newest skier. Runs: 20 total; 20% beginner, 25% intermediate, 40% advanced, 15% expert Lifts: 9 Vertical Drop: 600 feet Longest Run: 0.4 miles Features: Snow tubing, snowboarding, 3 terrain parks, paintball, Roundtop Mountain Sports Distance from Annapolis: 1 hour, 53 minutes
Photo Courtesy of Seven Springs
Seven Springs Mountain Resort
777 Water Wheel Drive, Champion, Pennsylvania; 814-352-7777; 7springs.com; Roundtop Mountain Resort really does have it all. Don’t trust me? Visit their website to view the live cams showing the golf course, base of the mountain, chair lift, polar bear express, snow tubing and more. Runs: 33 total; 35% beginner, 40% intermediate, 25% advanced Lifts: 10 Vertical Drop: 750 feet Longest Run: 1.2 miles Features: Night Skiing, snowboarding, 7 terrain parks & pipes, NASTAR course Distance from Annapolis: 3 hours, 36 minutes
Shawnee Mountain Ski Area
401 Hollow Road, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania; 570-421-7231; Shawneemt.com; In the Pocono Mountains you will find Shawnee Mountain Ski Area, a mountain with 23 runs and, a fan favorite, the Pocono Plunge Snow Tubing Park which has 6 chutes and 2 carpets Runs: 23 total; 26% beginner, 48% intermediate, 26% advanced Lifts: 10 Vertical Drop: 700 feet Longest Run: 1.6 miles Features: Night Skiing, 2 terrain parks, snow tubing Distance from Annapolis: 3 hours, 29 minutes
Massanutten Resort
1822 Resort Drive, McGaheysville, Virginia; 540-289-5411; Massresort.com; Stay, play, and relax at Massanutten Resort in the Shenandoah Valley. Visit the spa or indoor waterpark in addition to learning how to ski and snowboard on their 6,000 acres of mountain. Not quite ready to get on the slopes yet? Visit their website for Massanutten Moments to get your ‘Daily dose of fresh mountain air’ created by the staff. Runs: 14 total; 31% beginner, 46% intermediate, 23% advanced Lifts: 8 Vertical Drop: 1,110 feet Longest Run: 0.8 miles Features: Night skiing, 2 terrain parks, snow tubing, ice skating, team sports & racing, indoor waterpark, spa, family adventure park Distance from Annapolis: 3 hours
Wintergreen Resort
Route 664, Wintergreen, Virginia ; 434-325-2200; Wintergreenresort.com; Show off your freestyle skills on the Terrain Park or start from scratch with snowboarding and skiing lessons. Wintergreen Resort is home to one of the world’s best snowmaking systems including 40,000 linear feet of pipeline, more than 400 snow guns and 45 weather stations. Be sure to bring your little ones to Ridgely’s fun park, a place where the kids can play in the snow and experience tubing down a gentle hill. Runs: 23 total; 23% beginner, 35% intermediate, 42% advanced Lifts: 5 Vertical Drop: 1,003 feet Longest Run: 1 mile Features: Night skiing, 2 terrain parks, NASTAR & racing, snow tubing, ice skating, Ridgely’s Fun Park Distance from Annapolis: 3 hours, 40 minutes
Whitetail Resort
13805 Blairs Valley Road, Mercersburg, Pennsylvania; 717-328-9400; Skiwhitetail.com; Choose Whitetail as your weekend getaway for golf, tubing, snowboarding, skiing and more. Check online for kid’s mountain camps, snow board school for all ages, and a special First Timer’s Guide. Runs: 23 total; 32% beginner, 45% intermediate, 23% advanced Lifts: 9 Vertical Drop: 935 feet Longest Run: 1 mile Features: Night Skiing, snowboarding, 2 terrain parks, snow tubing Distance from Annapolis: 1 hour, 50 minutes
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