Alice Wang

Review of Whitetail Mountain Ski Resort

Having grown up and lived in DC area pretty much m...

Having grown up and lived in DC area pretty much my entire life, I've been to Whitetail several times since I started to ski. Being only a 1.5 hour drive, it is one of the closest ski slopes to DC. For a day trip, many people go to either Whitetail or Liberty Ski Resort in Fairfield, PA, which is comparable in distance and time to Whitetail. These two ski resorts are owned by the same company.

If you're a more experienced skier, I think Whitetail has more variety and has more challenging/steeper slopes than Liberty. Whitetail also has a better terrain park/half-pipe. One area where Liberty has the advantage in is night skiing. Whitetail has no black diamonds open during the night. While most of the best East Coast ski resorts are located in Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire, Whitetail is a good option for those just starting out skiing/snowboarding and it's a nice option for anyone who only wants to go for one day.

Whitetail is fairly crowded on weekends, especially holiday weekends. The lift lines are insanely ridiculous. I've waited half an hour to get on a quad lift this past Presidents Day weekend. If you can, try to go during the weekday for lower prices and shorter lines. I've gone on weeknights and there are practically no lines and not too many folks on the slopes. It's great because you don't have to worry about bumping into anyone or having to suddenly move out of someone's way if they fall or change course.

Prices: 4 hour flex - $53 (weekday), $64 (weekend). 8 hour flex - $58 (weekday), $69 (weekend). Extended (until 10pm) - $65 (weekday), $73 (weekend). Ski rental is $45 either weekday or weekend. Snowboard rental is $50. If you get the all mountain package deal (includes lift ticket, rental, and optional lesson), it's $105. I believe Liberty is more or less the same price, maybe $1-3 cheaper on the above options.

Another thing to point out: Whitetail is a dry resort and does not serve alcohol. Liberty, on the other hand, has a lounge where you can order alcoholic beverages. Many families prefer Whitetail for this reason.