Shavers Lake
the beach at the bottom of the lift
Shavers Lake is Snowshoe's summer lake at the bottom of the Ballhooter lift: a sand beach with lifeguards, a 200-foot dock, kayaks and paddleboards, inflatables, and the Boathouse deck over the water. Ride the lift down from the Village, spend the afternoon, ride it back up for dinner. Here is how to get down there, what it costs our guests, what is waiting, the age rules, two short videos, and the packing list we send.
Getting there
Take the lift. Ballhooter loads in the Village, runs down through the trees, and drops you a hundred yards from the sand. It is a scenic ride in its own right, and riding it back up for dinner is the best part of the day. You can also drive around toward Silver Creek and take the back road to the lake lot, which is handy with coolers or a stroller.
What it costs our guests
The Ballhooter lift ride, the watercraft, the inflatables, and Split Rock Pools are bundled into the resort's Summer Fun Pass, which is included only for guests who book lodging through the resort. Staying with us, you buy the day pass at the Mountain Adventure Center or online, or pay at the lake for just the pieces you want. When we last checked, walking onto the beach itself was free. Most of our families buy the pass for a lake day and skip it on Bike Park days.
Prices and hours are the resort's and change each season. Confirm before you count on them.
Our lake days
Watch first
Two short videos from our channel. Nothing loads until you press play, so the page stays fast on mountain signal. The first is our own shortcut past the lift ticket; the second is the view from our Summit decks, more or less.
The free way down, no lift ticket needed
A short, little-known drive that gets you to the lake without paying for the Ballhooter ride. Our money-saving route, straight from the car.
Bird's-eye view of Shavers Lake
The whole lake from above: the beach, the dock, the Boathouse, and the trees the hammocks hang in.
At the lake
The beach
Sand, lounge chairs, and umbrellas along the shore. Lifeguards on duty during operating hours.
The 200-foot dock
Runs out into a roped swimming area with a shallow end for small kids and deeper water off the end.
Kayaks, canoes, paddleboards
Rent by the hour at the Lake Outpost. Calm water, no motors, and the whole lake is a twenty-minute paddle end to end.
The inflatables
A floating obstacle course for kids and teenagers. Life jackets required, age rules below.
Playground and lawn games
A big playground, slacklines, horseshoes, and shuffleboard up the hill from the sand.
The Boathouse
Cold beer, grilled food, and ice cream on the deck over the water. The best lunch spot on the mountain in July.
Fairy Diddle Disc Golf
A wooded course that starts at the lake. Discs are sold at the Outpost.
Hammocks in the spruce
A shaded grove with picnic tables and hammocks for the hour after lunch.
The rules
so nobody is surprised at the dock
The lifeguards enforce these, and they are fair. Children 12 and under must have an adult with them in the beach and swimming areas at all times.
Kayaks, canoes, paddleboards
The inflatables
Lake day packing list
Twelve things, from our own lake days. Your checked items stay on this device.
0/12
Forgot something? Text us. We answer within the hour.
Questions
Cost, swimming, and dates. Anything else, ; we answer within the hour. Lunch on the deck is on the dining guide under the Boathouse.
Walking onto the beach was free when we last checked. The Ballhooter lift ride down, the kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards, and the inflatables are paid, either per item at the lake or bundled into the resort's Summer Fun Pass.
The pass is included only for guests who book lodging through the resort, so our guests buy the day pass or pay for the pieces they want.
Yes. There is a sand beach, a roped swimming area off the 200-foot dock with a shallow end for small kids, and lifeguards on duty during operating hours.
Children 12 and under need an adult with them in the beach and swimming areas.
The lake runs on the summer schedule, roughly Memorial Day weekend to mid-October, on the days the Bike Park lifts turn.
Hours and the rental desk are the resort's and change through the season, so check the lake page before you count on it, or use our what-is-open-on-my-dates picker.
How we do a lake day
Down on the first lift with a small cooler and the kids' life jackets. Paddleboards before the wind picks up, the inflatables after. Lunch on the Boathouse deck. Back up on Ballhooter by four, ice cream at the Village Scoop on the walk home, hot tub before dinner. Bring bug spray and water shoes, and leave the good towels at the house.
Keep exploring
Where to stay
The three Summit condos are a five-minute walk from Ballhooter, which is the ride down to the beach.
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