Trip Report
Whitetail Resort is located in Central Pennsylvania and is a legit hidden gem for skiers and snowboarders in the mid-Atlantic region. This ski resort gets seriously underestimated by many. I was travelling from one resort to another, and Whitetail was on the way to my next destination. I almost didn’t go because I was on the road for two weeks straight, but I’m so glad I did—it’s way better than I expected. Honestly, some ski resorts I’ve been to in New York, Vermont, or the Poconos aren’t as good as this place. It is located 90 minutes from Washington, D.C., which makes Whitetail a great day, night, or weekend getaway for any winter enthusiast.
I got to Whitetail around 2:00 p.m. on Friday of President’s Weekend, and the conditions were great. The ski resort was not crowded at all, even though when I pulled up to the resort, all the parking lots were full. The trails were packed groomers, and the snow was a little soft, but not icy. There were a few slick spots, but nothing bad. It was a beautiful bluebird day when I went—mid-30s temps, no wind, perfect for ripping runs and relaxing.
- Related: Ski School Supervisor Gary Nett Has Dedicated 56 Years of His Life to Liberty Mountain Resort, PA
My first impression of the Whitetail was how much bigger it was than I expected. The resort is close to two other Epic Resorts, Roundtop Mountain and Liberty Mountain. Both of those are smaller, and I just assumed that because they were geographically close to one another, they would be similar in size and terrain. The resorts are not. Whitetail is much bigger than the other two resorts in terms of runs and vertical.
The base area of Whitetail is set up nicely concerning its lift system. Skiers and snowboarders can walk right from the lodge and hit three lifts that service most of the mountain. At first, I thought having all three lifts so close together would cause a huge traffic jam, but it did not. The Whitetail Express Quad is on the right side when coming out of the lodge, and it serves three intermediate trails and an expert slope that were super fun to hit. The high-speed lift made it easy to make lap after lap effortlessly. If you are someone looking to knock out a lot of vertical in one day, that’s the lift you want to ride.
The EZ Rider Quad lift accessed some beginner and intermediate runs and was the busiest lift that day. The main run under the lift was great for making some long turns, while not worrying about it getting too steep. It was perfect for beginners and intermediate skiers and snowboarders, but it is great for expert skiers who want to get out on the slopes and enjoy a nice, relaxing run.
The Expert’s Choice Quad was on the far right of the mountain as you drove up to it. That is where Whitetails’ more difficult trails are located. That day, two trails were open on that side of the mountain: Bold Decision and Exhibition. I was very surprised that Exhibition was filled with moguls from top to bottom. I would have never guessed that Whitetail would have a run like that. Bold Decision wasn’t bumped up, but still gave a nice run that was steeper than what I would have thought of for a Central Pennsylvania ski resort. I thought that the Expert’s Choice Quad was a high-speed detachable. I was told that it is not; Whitetail runs the lift at a faster speed than a normal detachable, and it moves skiers and snowboarders up the mountain very quickly.
The layout of Whitetail was smart. Most lifts converge at the base, so you rarely have to skate or traverse much to get back around. The far side (with the double-diamonds) requires a quick high-speed lift ride up, then one trail/chute to access, but it’s not a big hassle. The Vertical drop at Whitetail is close to 1,000 feet (officially 935 feet), which is impressive for this part of Pennsylvania. The ski resort has a great variety of trails with solid double-black-diamonds with steep, mogul-filled top-to-bottom lines (which were crazy for the region), excellent intermediate trails for carving nice turns, and options for beginners as well. The views from the summit are awesome. When looking out at the top of the Whitetail Express Quad, you could see out towards Gettysburg and beyond. Some locals even told me that you could see Baltimore on clear days.
The people that I met that day were incredibly friendly: the staff, locals, and other skiers and snowboarders. I had great conversations on every chairlift ride with at least someone. They were all eager to tell me everything about Whitetail and how it was a great mountain that doesn’t get the press it deserves. Several people stopped to talk to me and took the time to show me around the mountain.
On my first run down the mountain, I realized that Whitetail has an adaptive program in partnership with Two Top Mountain Adaptive Sports Foundation, based in Pennsylvania. The organization works with veterans and others with special needs, and I saw ski-doos and ski bikes in action, going down the mountain, working with veterans, which was awesome.
The program originated in 2007 by Bill Dietrich and Stacey Schmader in 1992. Deietrich is an avid and certified Level 3 alpine skier/instructor at Whitetail and was skiing with a one-legged veteran at the time. The ski school director at Whitetail challenged him to create an adapted sports program for people with disabilities. From the beginning, it partnered closely with Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities—VAs have sent participants multiple times a week, including groups from DC VA and Soldier Recovery Units. The focus has always been heavily on disabled veterans (currently about 85% of clients), with word-of-mouth, VA referrals, and a lesson inquiry form on its website. The foundation is a chapter of Move United (since 2008) and has received awards like the 2012 Spirit of Hope Award from the US Army.
Two Top Mountain Adaptive Sports Foundation offers winter sports at Whitetail Resort. Activities include skiing, snowboarding, using adaptive equipment like monoskis (sit-down skis), ski bikes, four-tracking (with outriggers), and more. Lessons run daily during the season by reservation. The foundation also offers summer activities like water rafting, water skiing, regular trail cycling, and occasional camps (e.g., multi-day events combining activities). The foundation emphasizes building skills, independence, healing, and fun outdoors—participants can return as often as they want (some come multiple times a week), and many veterans have progressed from learning to becoming certified instructors who now work with the program.
What is great about the program is that it’s free for eligible participants (disabled veterans or active military with disabilities), with support for at least one family member to join (sometimes more, depending on budget). During multi-day camps, they cover lodging (e.g., at Holiday Inn Express in Greencastle), meals, etc., often via VA grants. Last year, they served 158 veterans, 50 children, and 27 other adults with disabilities, delivering hundreds of lessons.
Whitetail Resort has been a strong partner from the start for the foundation—providing the location and support for infrastructure. The ski resort helped the foundation build a yurt in 2012 for program use, and has received permission for a second yurt (currently in progress for more participant space, separating it from staff/volunteers). The resort supports fundraisers like the annual “Ski 100,000 Vertical Feet in One Day” team event. The program also receives support from Vail Resorts’ Epic Promise Foundation, which helps enable the services Two Top offers.
Eligible veterans and active military with disabilities can sign up via the website’s lesson inquiry form, through VA referrals, or word-of-mouth. Check their site for events, camps, and details on sports equipment. They’re open to expanding (e.g., potential mountain biking or hiking in the future). This program stands out in the region—it’s daily and veteran-focused, unlike smaller or weekend-only programs at nearby spots like Liberty. It’s inspiring how it helps participants regain confidence,independence, and joy through sports. “We want the veterans to get better at whatever sport they and we want to help them heal.” Stacey Schmader, Executive Director at Two Top, told SnowBrains in an interview. “Those things are really important to us…so that they can get back out there and be happy.”
This was an unexpected trip, and a great day on the mountain for me—no work, just pure fun skiing, ripping runs, and enjoying being out on the snow. I wasn’t even planning to write about it before I went, but now I can’t stop raving about Whitetail Resort. If you’re debating whether to hit the slopes or stay home, just go—you won’t regret it. Whitetail exceeded expectations big time. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for solid skiing close to D.C., Baltimore, or Central PA. I had an amazing time and would go back in a heartbeat.
Mountain Stats
- Highest Elevation: 1,800 feet (549 meters)
- Base Elevation: 865 feet (264 meters)
- Skiable Terrain: 120 acres
- Lifts: 9
- Snowmaking Coverage: 100%
- Terrain Parks: 2
- Trails: 23
- Beginner Terrain: 26%
- Intermediate Terrain: 48%
- Advanced Terrain: 26%
Photos
Thank you, very little. Now the hoards will descend upon Whitetail after reading your glowing write up.