Six Ski Resorts for Beginners in the Mid Atlantic

If you are visiting or living in the Mid Atlantic area and you are thinking of learning how to ski. There is some great news! You don't need to go to New England, Colorado or Utah to learn to ski. You can learn to ski close to home. Great ski areas for beginners can be found in Virginia, West Virgina and Pennsylvania. Bryce, Winterplace, Timberline, Ski Roundtop, Liberty Resort and Whitetail are fun places to learn how to ski.

Bryce Resort

Bryce Resort located in Bayse, Virginia is a great hill for beginner skiers. Bryce is easily accessible from the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC as well as Winchester, Harrisonburg, and Richmond.

Bryce offers 8 ski slopes. Bryce Resort consists mostly of beginner and intermediate terrain. The Resort has an unimposing 500 foot vertical drop. Bryce resort offers ski lessons with highly qualified instructors.

Lift tickets rates range from $25 to $60. They also have rates for the carpet lift beginner area ranging from $15 to $30. Equipment rentals range from $15 to $30. Lift ticket rates and rental rates depend on when you are skiing. Holidays and weekends will be the higher rate. Prices are from their website.

Bryce offers various ski lessons. They have first time skier packages ranging from $64 to $73 depending on day. These include a beginner lesson, rentals, and access to the beginner areas. These packages can be upgraded after 3 hours of skiing to include all trails for an additional fee. If you are getting the feel for skiing they do offer group lessons for $26. If you prefer private lessons they are available for $60 for one hour or $115 for two hours.

Bryce is perfect for beginners. Bryce is rarely crowded. The staff is excellent and the slopes are perfect for learning to ski. Their website was the source for rates and more information can be attained there.

Winterplace

Winterplace is located in southern West Virginia just off interstate 77 in Ghent. Ghent is easily accessible to skiers coming from North Carolina, Kentucky, and Virginia. Over 40% of the mountain is beginner terrain and another 40% is intermediate. Winterplace higher elevation helps it open earlier and stay open later than most ski areas in the region. The mountain offers a vertical drop of over 600 feet.

Winterplace offers learn to ski packages which is $46.95 during the week or $72.95 during weekends or holidays. The packages include a 90 minute group lesson, lift ticket, and equipment rental. If you already can ski they offer lift, rentals, and lesson packages for $85.95 on weekdays and $99.95 on the weekends. They also offer group lessons ranging from $19.95 to $26 depending when you purchase them. Semi-Private lessons are available for $27 and $54 for a private lesson. Regular lift tickets range from $31 to $60. Rentals range from $25.50 to $31.

Winterplace is perfect for beginners due to its easy accessibility, the large amount of beginner terrain, and affordable learn to ski packages. Winterplace's website was used for rate information and can be accessed here.

Timberline

Timberline ski resort in Davis, West Virginia will give the beginner skier winter memories to last a lifetime. The resort has a top elevation of 4,268 feet. A vertical drop of 1,000 feet. Plenty of natural snow and cold temps to allow a ski season which can open in November and run into April.

Beginners will be please to know the Timberline offers a two mile long beginner trail which goes from the top of the mountain to the base. In addition Timberline offers 14 more beginner trails.

Lift tickets range from $61 to $31. Rentals range from $19 to $32. They offer a ski package for beginners including lifts, rentals and lessons from $45 to $52. These lessons are only available Sunday through Friday and not on Holidays. Group lessons are available for $30. Private lessons range from $70 to $125 depending on length of time.

Timberline is perfect for beginners who want a bigger mountain experience. Timberline offers skiers affordable ski packages and lessons to get skiers started in the great sport of skiing. Rate information gathered from Timberline's website which can be accessed here.

LibertyMountain Resort, Whitetail Resort and Ski Roundtop

Liberty Mountain located near Fairfield, Pennsylvania, Whitetail Resort located in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania and Ski Roundtop located near Dillsburg, Pennsylvania offer beginner skiers in the Mid Atlantic nearby skiing. Liberty Mountain is an easy drive from suburban Baltimore and Washington, DC and the resort is even closer to Frederick, Maryland and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Whitetail Resort is close to Hagerstown, Maryland and is another easy drive from suburban Washington, DC or Baltimore. Ski Roundtop is convenient to York and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Ski Roundtop is not a bad drive from Baltimore, Annapolis, or Philadelphia.

They mountains are offering a $39 learn to ski package deal before Christmas. After Christmas the packages range between $56 and $80. This includes lesson, rentals and beginner lift access. The ski areas offer lots of beginner areas and vertical drops ranging from 500 to 900 feet. Lift rates run between $38 and $61 dollars. Ski rentals are $35. Group lessons are #36 and private lessons are $70.

Liberty Mountain, Whitetail, and Ski Roundtop offer skiing close to home. The resorts offer competitively priced learn to ski packages, private lessons, and group lessons. Rates are from Ski Roundtops website and can be accessed here.