The New River Gorge Bridge is almost 1,900 feet above sea level. And our area is just the plateau BEFORE getting into the real mountains of West Virginia. What does all this elevation mean for winter? Colder conditions with lots more snow than you will find for hundreds of miles in either a westerly or southern direction. For winter adventures, southern West Virginia is the place to be.

What's Close

Winterplace Ski Resort is located just south of Beckley in the Flat Top area, making it a  wonderfully convenient spot for a ski vacation. With tremendous snow-making capabilities, this mountain makes it easy to enjoy skiing all winter.

And as Winterplace is just a short drive from cities such as Roanoke and Charlotte, it's a great destination for ski groups and those who want an easy weekend getaway.

Family Appeal

In addition to having almost 30 trails that can accommodate all levels of skiers and snowboarders, Winterplace offers one of the longest ski days in WV. Night skiing is available, meaning you can take full advantage of your time at the resort.  Bonus: trails are less crowded in the evenings.

Winterplace also has a terrain park for the more adventurous and experienced crowd. This area contains rails, boxes and jumps, so you can show off your X Games-style maneuvers.

Winterplace also boasts a tubing park, an additional activity that will keep the kids (and adults) entertained. This area is fun for all ages of folks who are over 44 inches tall. There's nothing like a sledding experience with a tow back to the top.

Other Opportunities

There are other alpine skiing areas just a couple hours north and east of the Gorge area. These areas are truly in the mountains and get tremendously more snowfall than the rest of the state. Under normal road conditions you can access the Snowshoe/Silver Creek area or the Canaan Valley and Timberline ski resorts in just under 3 hours from Fayetteville.

Besides alpine skiing, the Gorge area has a plethora of hiking and biking trails that, under the right conditions, can be used for cross country skiing. Many of these trails are relatively flat or have a balanced amount of inclines/declines so you don't have to be in incredible shape to get out and enjoy them.

So are ready to ski the Gorge?