Planning a Snowshoe trip.

Winter

Snowfall averages more than 150 inches, helped by elevation and lake-effect patterns, plus snowmaking when the temperature allows. Opening day, Silver Creek's night-skiing start, and closing day are announced each year. The snow report and the season calendar on snowshoemtn.com are the current ones.

In clear weather the drive is about 3 hours 45 minutes from Northern Virginia, and about 4 to 4.5 hours from Pittsburgh or Richmond, though a storm changes that. Use Getting to Snowshoe in a winter storm if the forecast is ugly.

All ten homes are ski-in/ski-out, which matters most on storm days when you would rather not move the car. We offer complimentary early check-in when possible for direct book customers, but on peak days, check-in is after 5:00 pm, except Seneca 113 after 4:00 pm. Check-out is 11:00 am at the Mountain Lodge homes and 10:00 am everywhere else.

Summer

The summit is 4,848 feet, and average highs run from 61 in May to 71 in July, then back toward 64 in September. The bike park, the lake, golf, and scenic lift rides are the core of a summer week. See the summer guide for the rest.

Events

Winter weekends fill around races. SARA, the Cupp Run Challenge, and USASA boardercross and skiercross all show up, and the dates move every year. If a race weekend or a holiday week is the reason for the trip, book the home when you book the event.

SARA is the Southern Alpine Racing Association, a US Ski & Snowboard league for junior and masters racers across the Southeast. At Snowshoe the races are gate racing, slalom, and giant slalom, and almost all of them are on Widowmaker. That black trail is at the Soaring Eagle end of the Basin, the same side of the mountain as Loggers Run. If you are coming for a SARA race, Loggers Run is the best choice. Book Loggers Run 4 and you can get back between runs. The luxury, if you want to call it that, is a heated toilet seat.

A big crew of race parents usually needs Black Bear 32 and 33 as one stay: 14 bedrooms, sleeps 36 plus 2 small children. A smaller race weekend fits Seneca or a Mountain Lodge condo.

Booking direct

The same homes are on Airbnb and VRBO, and booking on this site saves up to 20 percent versus those sites for the same home and the same dates. A 40% deposit is due at booking, and the remaining 60% is due 61 days out. Cancel at least 60 days ahead for a refund minus a $250 fee. Inside 60 days there is no refund.