Mountain report
live from the summit, 4,848 feet
This is the live summit forecast for Snowshoe, WV, pulled from the National Weather Service point at 4,848 feet rather than the valley, so it matches what you feel walking out the door. The lifts run Thanksgiving week to late March and late May to mid-October, and the picker below tells you what is open on your exact dates. Then: snow history, how the roads really are, what to pack, and how long the drive takes.
Right now at the summit
Last checked 2:36 PM Eastern, September 24, 2026
Sunny
This Afternoon · wind 6 mph
Sunny, with a high near 54. East wind around 6 mph.
Tonight · 37° · wind 8 mph
Patchy frost after 5am. Mostly clear, with a low around 37. Northeast wind around 8 mph.
The next seven days
0"
snow forecast in the next 7 days
16%
highest chance of precipitation, Wed
The lifts are not spinning for skiing right now. The resort's report still lists what is running, and the webcams show the Village live.
Forecast
High and low, chance of precipitation, and forecast snowfall for each day. Snow totals are the Weather Service's best estimate for the summit point.
Today
54° 37°
Sunny
Fri
61° 41°
Patchy Frost then Sunny
Sat
60° 42°
Sunny
Sun
57° 45°
Mostly Sunny
Mon
58° 45°
Mostly Sunny
Tue
65° 48°
Sunny
Wed
67° 54°
Mostly Sunny
Source: National Weather Service forecast for Snowshoe Mountain summit, WV. Refreshes every 15 minutes.
Your dates
The resort runs two seasons with two closures between them, and the answer to "will the lifts be on" depends entirely on the week. Pick your dates and we will tell you which season you land in and what runs.
Season windows are the resort's usual pattern. Exact opening and closing days shift with the weather, so confirm the edges with the official report.
Pick your dates and we will tell you which season you land in, what runs, what does not, and the summit forecast if you are coming this week.
What is open today
about may 21 through the second week of october
The Bike Park, Shavers Lake, scenic lift rides, golf, the festivals, and the coolest summer air in the Mid-Atlantic.
Lifts are scheduled to run this season.
Ski season
Thanksgiving week to late March
Spring closure
Early April to about May 21
Summer seasonnow
About May 21 to mid-October
Fall closure
Mid-October to Thanksgiving week
Open
Closed
Opening and closing days move with the weather and the resort's calendar. For today's lift status and hours, use the official report or call the resort at 1-877-441-4386. For events, see our event calendar.
The long view
Enough to run a real ski season every year, on natural snow topped up by snowmaking. Some winters double others, which is why we tell guests to book the home, then watch the storm. Fall color is the other question we get, so it is here too.
Snowfall by season, inches at the summit
Thirteen seasons. The line is the 113-inch average, on about 33 snow days a year.
Last season: 165"
Average snowfall by month
January is the big one. March still delivers.
Fall color at 4,848 feet
Aim for the second and third weeks of October.
Our own Octobers, not a forecast. The valleys run a week or two behind the summit.
Snowfall figures: OnTheSnow, Snowshoe Mountain snow history, checked September 2026. The resort's own report has today's base depth and the running season total.
Roads and tires
We get asked this every winter week. Here is the honest version from a family that has driven up in every month of the year since 2020. Where to park once you arrive is on the maps page, and the whole first trip is on first-timers.
AWD or 4WD in winter
Recommended from December through March. The resort plows well, but the last climb is steep and it snows at the summit when it rains at the base. Front-wheel drive with good tires gets up most days. Rear-wheel drive sports cars are the ones that struggle.
Chains are rarely needed
West Virginia does not require them and the resort road is plowed and treated. In six seasons of hosting we have never had a guest need chains. Keep a set in the trunk if it makes you feel better, but you will almost certainly not put them on.
Tires matter more than drive wheels
All-season tires with real tread beat bald all-wheel drive every time. Check yours before a February trip.
The summit is its own weather
The valley can be raining at 40 degrees while the top is snowing at 28. Plan on the summit forecast above, not your phone's default city.
Drive up in daylight when you can
The last hour is two-lane mountain road with no lights, deer, and patchy cell service. Aim to reach Slatyfork before dark on a winter arrival day.
Check-in is not fixed to the clock
If a storm slows you down, text us. The door code works when you get here, and we would rather you arrive late than push through ice.
What to pack
Every home has linens, towels, a full kitchen, a coffee setup, and a mud room or gear space; five of the seven have a grill. Bring the rest.
Ski season
Thanksgiving to late March
Spring closure
Early April to late May
Summer season
Late May to mid-Octobernow
Fall closure
Mid-October to Thanksgiving
Drive times
Times are to the Village in normal conditions. Add an hour in snow, and plan the last stop for gas and groceries in Elkins, Marlinton, or at Par Mar in Slatyfork (the stops in order are on groceries and gas). Airports, the last hour of the drive, and parking at each home are on the getting-here page, and there is a route guide for each city: DC, Baltimore, Northern Virginia, Pittsburgh, Richmond, Roanoke, Virginia Beach, Charlotte, Columbus, and Charleston.
| From | Drive |
|---|---|
| Charlottesville, VA | about 3 hours |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 4 to 4.5 hours |
| Washington, DC | 4 to 4.5 hours |
| Baltimore, MD | 4.5 to 5.5 hours |
| Roanoke, VA | 3 to 3.5 hours |
| Northern Virginia (Fairfax) | 3.5 to 4.5 hours |
| Richmond, VA | 4 to 4.5 hours |
| Norfolk and Virginia Beach, VA | 5.5 to 6.5 hours |
| Charlotte, NC | 5.5 to 6 hours |
| Columbus, OH | 5 to 6 hours |
| Charleston, WV | 3 to 3.5 hours |
Questions
Anything else, . We answer within the hour and will tell you what it looks like out the window.
Last checked 2:36 PM Eastern, September 24, 2026, National Weather Service summit forecast
No. West Virginia does not require them and the resort road is plowed and treated. In six seasons of hosting we have never had a guest need chains.
AWD or 4WD is recommended from December through March, and all-season tires with real tread beat bald all-wheel drive every time. Keep a set of chains in the trunk if it makes you feel better, but you will almost certainly not put them on.
Thanksgiving week to late March for skiing and riding, and late May to mid-October for the Bike Park and summer activities.
Between them the resort closes twice, early April to late May and mid-October to Thanksgiving week. Exact opening and closing days shift with the weather, so pick your dates in the checker on this page and confirm the edges with the official report.
About 113 inches a season on average at the summit, over roughly 33 snow days, topped up by snowmaking.
Some winters double others, which is why we tell guests to book the home, then watch the storm. The season-by-season chart on this page has thirteen years of totals.
Yes. The valley can be raining at 40 degrees while the top is snowing at 28.
The forecast on this page is the National Weather Service point for the summit at 4,848 feet, so plan on it rather than your phone's default city.
Yes. Our homes stay open through both closures at lower rates, and the mountain is as quiet as it gets.
Most Village restaurants and shops close along with the lifts. The trails and rivers are open, and the fireplace is the main event.
The lift-served Bike Park and most of the outdoor summer activities (zipline, disc golf, RZR tours) run roughly Memorial Day through mid-October, and the ski season doesn't start until winter, so April/May and most of October/November fall in a real gap for those. What does stay open: The Rink at Mountain Lodge (indoor ice skating, year-round), the Adventure Playground (indoor, year-round), Raven Golf Club (opens mid-April, runs into early-mid October), and most restaurants and shops in the Village.
You can walk to most of Snowshoe Village, restaurants, shops, the rink, the pool, or take the free resort shuttle, which loops to every neighborhood, including the Summit, the Timbers, and Soaring Eagle. But quite a bit of what makes this area special is a drive away: the state parks (Watoga, Beartown, Droop Mountain), Cass Scenic Railroad, the Highland Scenic Highway, and any of the breweries or restaurants outside the Village all require a car. If you're not renting one, the shuttle and what's walkable cover the resort itself; plan a car, a rental, or a rideshare for anything off the mountain.
A few genuinely good indoor options right on the mountain: the Adventure Playground and The Rink at Mountain Lodge (both year-round), the Mountain Lodge Arcade & Movie Room, and The Spa at Snowshoe. Off the mountain, Cass Scenic Railroad's town/museum, the Beverly Heritage Center, and the Pocahontas County Historical Museum are all indoor stops.
Keep exploring
Where to stay
Two of our homes are true ski-in/ski-out, and the rest are a short walk to a lift or the Village. Watch the forecast, then book the storm.
SKI IN/OUT - TOP 10%Sleeps 10 · Ski-in / ski-out · hot tub
3 bed · 2 bath · 1,400 sq ft
South Mountain
4.96
126 reviews
SKI-IN/OUT TO NIGHT SKIINGSleeps 6 · Ski-in / ski-out · hot tub & pool
2 bed · 2 bath · 918 sq ft
Silver Creek
4.92
111 reviews
GUEST FAVORITE - TOP 10%Sleeps 12 · Walk to the slopes · private hot tub · pet friendly
4 bed · 3 bath · 1,861 sq ft
South Mountain
4.93
129 reviews