Skiing & Snowboarding at Wintergreen Resort, Virginia
2026-27 Winter Guide
Slopes, lift tickets, snowmaking, lessons, rentals, tubing and the practical things worth knowing before a Wintergreen Resort ski trip.
Stay on the Mountain at The Haven
The Haven is a top-floor two-bedroom condo inside Wintergreen Resort, with two king bedrooms, two full baths, a fully equipped kitchen and a gas fireplace for the end of a cold ski day.
We are not ski-in/ski-out, and we would rather tell you that plainly. On winter weekends and holidays, however, Wintergreen Resort's free mountain shuttle serves private rentals and stops near condo parking areas, connecting guests with the ski base, dining and The Plunge tubing park. Always check the current shuttle schedule during your stay.
That makes The Haven a comfortable basecamp for a ski weekend without pretending you need to sleep beside a lift to enjoy the mountain.
Wintergreen Resort at a glance
A Real Ski Mountain in Virginia's Blue Ridge
Wintergreen's current terrain mix is listed as 23% beginner, 45% intermediate and 32% advanced. The result is a mountain that works especially well for mixed-ability groups: first-timers can learn near the main village while stronger skiers can head for steeper terrain in the Highlands.
Know the Mountain Before You Go
Learning Area & Dobie
Wintergreen's main learning terrain sits close to Skyline Pavilion and the Mountain Village. The current trail map shows green terrain on Upper and Lower Dobie, Upper and Lower Diamond Hill, and the learning area, giving newer skiers room to progress without immediately committing to harder terrain.
Big Acorn & Blue Cruising
Big Acorn, Tyro, Sunrise, Tequila and Eagles Swoop form much of Wintergreen's blue-square cruising terrain. This side of the mountain is a natural next step for skiers who are comfortable leaving the beginner pod and want longer laps.
The Highlands
The Highlands pod contains Wintergreen's steepest terrain, including black- and double-black-diamond runs such as Cliffhanger, Wild Turkey, Outer Limits and Devils Elbow. Check the day's trail report before heading over, because opening terrain depends on conditions and snowmaking.
The thing that matters most in Virginia skiing
Snowmaking Matters More Than the Snow in Your Backyard
Wintergreen Resort has snowmaking coverage across 100% of its ski terrain. Its SNOWPOWER system includes roughly 40,000 feet of pipeline, more than 400 snowguns and dozens of weather stations.
For the 2026-27 season, Wintergreen is continuing a multi-year modernization program. After upgrading Upper Dobie and Central Mountain, the resort is adding 14 TechnoAlpin TT10 fan guns on Eagles Swoop, expanding automation and upgrading electrical and snowmaking infrastructure.
Translation: do not judge Wintergreen ski conditions by whether there is natural snow on the ground in Richmond, Charlottesville or even the valley below. Cold snowmaking windows can transform the ski surface quickly. Check the actual mountain report and webcams instead.
2026-27
Lift Tickets & Ski Hours
Wintergreen sells lift access in eight-hour sessions, extended open-to-close sessions and night sessions. The resort uses reloadable RFID cards, so returning guests can reload online and head directly to the lifts.
9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Holiday schedules differ, including extended hours over Christmas and New Year's. Ticket prices also vary by date and session, so the official ticket page is the better source than a static price chart here.
Wintergreen says lift tickets should be purchased online in advance. Day-of ticket sales are not guaranteed. If you already have a Wintergreen RFID card, reload it online and bypass the ticket window.
Never Skied Before? Wintergreen Is Built for That Too.
Skiing and snowboarding are much more fun when somebody teaches you how to stop first. Wintergreen offers private lessons, group lessons and children's programs, with several options for complete beginners.
Group Lessons
Group ski lessons are available for ages 8 and older. Weekend and holiday ski lessons can have limited advance booking, while additional lessons may be sold on site. Lift tickets and rentals are separate.
Private Lessons
Private instruction is available for skiers and snowboarders who want more individual attention. Wintergreen says its Snowsports Office opens in November for 2026-27 lesson reservations.
Kids Programs
Wintergreen offers half- and full-day children's programs in addition to family and private instruction. Age requirements and availability vary by program, so reserve early for peak weekends.
Ski & Snowboard Rentals
Wintergreen rents Rossignol ski and snowboard equipment from Skyline Pavilion. The process has two parts: complete a guest profile for each person renting, then purchase equipment for a scheduled pickup time.
For 2026-27, standard rental packages include skis, boots and poles for skiers or a board and boots for snowboarders. Helmets are available separately. Multi-day renters can pay by the day and keep equipment overnight, which can save a trip back through the rental process each morning.
Practical tip: if several people in your group need rentals, build extra time into your first morning. The best first run of the trip is the one you are not rushing to reach.
Night Skiing at Wintergreen Resort
Wintergreen's Thursday-through-Saturday regular schedule runs until 9:00 p.m. during the 2026-27 season, and night-session tickets are available from 4:00 p.m. to close. Night skiing is one of the easiest ways to stretch a weekend, especially if you arrive Friday afternoon.
The trail map identifies lighted terrain across parts of Central Mountain and the Big Acorn area. Which trails are actually open at night depends on daily operations, so check the mountain report rather than assuming every open daytime run remains available after dark.
The Plunge: Snow Tubing Without the Ski Boots
The Plunge is Wintergreen Resort's snow tubing hill, promoted by the resort as Virginia's largest. Riders descend a hill taller than a ten-story building and longer than three football fields, with speeds that can approach 30 mph.
- Recommended for ages 6 and older
- Minimum height: 42 inches
- 2026-27 sessions are 75 minutes
- Tickets are sold online only
- Sessions often sell out, with additional inventory sometimes released the Monday before a weekend if conditions allow
Getting Around Wintergreen Resort in Ski Season
Winter weekends can be busy around the Mountain Village. Wintergreen's shuttle is therefore worth knowing about before you arrive.
Free Winter Shuttle
The resort says its winter weekend and holiday shuttle is free and available to resort guests, private-rental guests and property owners. Stops connect condo areas with Skyline Pavilion, Mountain Inn, dining and other mountain destinations.
Tubing Shuttle
A separate tubing shuttle operates between the resort base area and Discovery Ridge/The Plunge during tubing hours on weekends and holiday periods.
Parking
Some close-in lots are restricted to members or resort lodging guests on weekends and holidays. When public lots fill, satellite parking and shuttle service may be used. Follow posted signs rather than relying on an old parking map.
Private Rental Guests: One Important Distinction
Booking The Haven places you inside Wintergreen Resort, but it does not make you a Wintergreen Resort Lodging Guest. Any benefit specifically limited to Resort Lodging Guests or Wintergreen Club Members should not be assumed to apply. Public ski slopes, lift tickets, rentals, lessons, tubing, public dining and the winter shuttle are separate from those restricted privileges.
Après-Ski, Food & Warming Up
Once the boots come off, you have several public options on the mountain. The Edge sits at Skyline Pavilion and is an easy post-ski stop for casual food and drinks. Upper Crust Pizza and Terrace Café are in the Mountain Village, and The Market is useful for breakfast sandwiches, groceries, snacks, wine, beer and forgotten essentials.
Devils Grill is different: it is restricted to Wintergreen Club Members and Wintergreen Resort Lodging Guests, so private-rental guests at The Haven should not plan around dining there.
Before You Leave for the Slopes
See open terrain, lift status, snowmaking, conditions and the day's operating hours.
Wintergreen's live cams are far more useful than guessing from valley weather.
Do not assume peak-day lift or tubing tickets will be available after you arrive.
Wind and temperature on the upper mountain may feel very different from the valley below.
Ski. Ride. Warm up. Repeat.
Make The Haven Your Wintergreen Resort Basecamp
Come back from the slopes to two king bedrooms, a full kitchen, gas fireplace and the quiet of a top-floor condo on the mountain.
Check Winter Availability