Everything You Need To Know About Skiing at Wisp Resort in Maryland

Published: January 15, 2024

Planning a trip to Wisp Resort in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland? Whether you’re a first-time skier, an experienced snowboarder, or somewhere in between, this guide has everything you need to make the most of your mountain getaway. From trail maps and difficulty levels to where to stay, where to grab a bite, and how to book lessons, you’ll find all the tips and insider advice you need in one place. Consider this your ultimate guide to skiing and snowboarding at Wisp Resort.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SLOPES

Wisp Resort lists 33 trails and 15 chairlifts on their website, but that number includes the conveyor belts on the bunny slope and terrain park. In reality, there are 7 true chairlifts.

The mountain is divided into three main sections: The Front Slopes, East Ridge, and North Camp. Trails are color-coded by difficulty:

Green: Beginner
Blue: Intermediate
Black Diamond: Most Difficult

One of the most important things to understand is that not all trails of the same color are created equal. Even within a single color, there’s a wide range of difficulty.

For example, if it’s your first time skiing at Wisp, you might notice there are 9 green trails. While all of these are technically “beginner,” some are much steeper or more challenging than others. Wisp Trail, for instance, is a green trail but is the hardest green slope on the mountain — not the best choice for your very first run.

Let’s break down the slopes from easiest to most challenging, so you know what to expect and can plan your day with confidence.

GREEN BEGINNER SLOPES

From easiest to hardest:

1. Sunset Blvd: The classic bunny slope with a conveyor belt and no chairlift. This is the perfect place to start on your very first day skiing

2. Happy Camper: An easy, flat trail at the top of the mountain that acts as a catwalk to other slopes. The top parking lot opens directly onto Happy Camper.

3. Backbone Pass: A long, wide, gentle slope that’s perfect for beginners looking for a relaxed ride.

4. Big Dipper: Similar to Backbone Pass, this wide, long trail has only a slight incline and is ideal for beginners.

5. Ridge Run: A gentle slope that mainly serves as a connector between Chair 7 and Chair 6. Great for warming up or cruising between lifts.

6. Logger’s Way: Slightly steeper than Ridge Run but still beginner-friendly.

7. Possum: A fairly easy, long, narrow trail with some slopes at the end. This trail can get crowded, and fallen skiers sometimes make it feel like a game of Frogger (or Crossy Roads). Despite that, it’s the easiest of the two green trails that lead to the lodge and offers a nice long ride for beginners.

8. Little Dipper: One of the steeper green trails, perfect for advanced beginners who want to pick up some speed. Usually less crowded and a lot of fun.

9. Wisp Trail: The hardest green trail, recommended for advanced beginners only. This is one of only 2 green trails that take you down to the lodge and is usually pretty crowded. It is steep for beginners in both the middle of the trail and at the end. Wisp Trail can also be icy if there isn’t natural snow. When the conditions are good and it isn’t overly crowded, Wisp Trail is a lot of fun for those who are ready for a steeper green.

BLUE INTERMEDIATE SLOPES

From easiest to hardest:

1. Bear Paw: The easiest blue trail– a short, wide, and gentle blue that starts at Mid-Station and empties into Wisp Trail (green) just before the steep section.

2. Slider: Narrow and short with a slight slope. Acts as a connector from Backbone Pass to Chair 6.

3. Long View: A fairly easy intermediate trail that connects two greens. Starts at the beginning of Wisp Trail and opens onto the middle of Possum.

4. Road Runner:

Another fairly easy blue. Starts at Mid-Station and empties into the steepest part of Wisp Trail.

5. Randal’s Run: I don’t know if this should be considered an actual trail. It is the located underneath the chairlift and is only open with natural snow. It is wide and has a decent slope.

6. Muskrat: A wide intermediate trail. Has a decent slope, but lots of room for turns. Feeds into either Down Under or Boulder, both of which are steeper and more challenging than Muskrat.

7. Grouse Way: A narrow, moderate blue. Starts steeper at the top but flattens out in the middle. Connects to either black diamonds or more difficult blues.

8. Down Under: The trail of two extremes–pretty steep towards the beginning and the end, then incredibly flat in the middle. The middle is so flat that you have to pick up speed before you get to the flat part so that you aren’t cross country skiing through the tunnel. The tunnel opens up onto the bottom of a black diamond. (Eye Opener). Even though it empties out onto the very bottom of the black diamond, it is still very steep going down to the chair lift. *Note, this run ends at a chair lift that only services black diamond slopes. If you don’t want to ski black diamonds, you can get off of Chair 5 at the top and ski over to Chair 4 which will take you back to beginner and intermediate slopes.

9. Ace’s Run: Ace’s Run is a lot of fun if it isn’t icy. The trail ends at the chair lift line. It is steep in parts and easy to pick up speed going down to the chair lift. If the lift line is long, it backs up onto the bottom of Ace’s Run, which means sometimes you have to make a quick stop at the bottom to avoid the line.

10. Boulder: This is a tricky “Frogger” trail because it starts out wide and steep at the top, and becomes incredibly narrow from the middle to the bottom as it levels out. Because the top is steep, you pick up a good speed going into the most narrow part of the trail. This narrow part is where you will be playing Frogger with all of the fallen skiers. This trail is usually icy, adding another degree of difficulty. If it isn’t crowded and there is fresh snow, Boulder is a lot of fun for advanced intermediate skiers.

11. Whipsaw: One of the steepest blue trails and best suited for advanced intermediate skiers.

12. Fox Way: I have been skiing for over a decade at Wisp and have only seen Fox Way open a handful of times. Chances are, it won’t be open. It is a natural snowfall trail that is not groomed. This slope is narrow and empties out onto Wisp Trail (green).

13. Deer Run: This extremely narrow trail is only open with natural snow fall and goes into the middle of a black diamond (Squirrel Cage) with an incline where the trails merge. A lot of people use this incline as a “jump.” Only ski Deer Run if you are comfortable going down a black diamond.

Black Diamond Slopes

From easiest to hardest:

1. Odin’s Chute: The easiest black diamond. The top is pretty steep, but then quickly evens out. It is a very wide, short trail that empties out onto Down Under (blue).

2. Over The Edge: Similar to Odin’s Chute, the top is pretty steep, but the slope evens out in the middle and the second half of the trail could be considered a blue.

3. Highline Pass A connector slope between Main Street (black) and Eye Opener (black). Highline Pass itself should be considered a blue, but the fact that it starts and ends on more difficult black diamonds makes it a black.

4. Eye Opener: A narrow and steep trail, usually icy.

5. Bobcat Bowl: A short, fairly steep, trail that is only open with natural snowfall. It empties out onto Down Under. (blue)

6. Squirrel Cage: A wide, steep trail. More crowded than Eye Opener. It can have moguls at times. Squirrel Cage is sometimes closed for race events.

7. Main Street: A wide, steep trail. Main Street is steeper than Squirrel Cage. Can be icy and has moguls at times.

8. The Face: One of the most difficult black diamond slopes, it is steep and not always groomed. For expert skiers only.

9. Devils Drop: The most challenging trail at Wisp. Never groomed, only open with natural snow, very steep, and strictly for expert skiers

Lodging at Wisp Resort

If you want to stay right on the slopes, The Lodge at Wisp is your best bet. This hotel overlooks the mountain and offers convenient amenities including a pool, gym, and two on-site restaurants. The biggest perk? You can walk straight out onto the slopes — no driving or long trek required. Check availability and view rooms here.

If you prefer a vacation rental, Wisp also has plenty of slope side homes and condos. Check out my full guide to Ski-In/Ski-Out Vacation Rentals at Wisp Resort.

Prefer to stay off the resort? The Deep Creek Lake area has plenty of vacation rentals and other hotels within a short drive. Search nearby accommodations here.

Food at Wisp Resort

Wisp Resort has several dining options, ranging from quick bites to full-service restaurants. Here’s a breakdown of where to eat while on the mountain:

1. The Main Lodge (Alpine Eatery)

Most skiers and snowboarders head to the Main Lodge to eat. Also called Alpine Eatery on Wisp’s website, this is a food-court-style option with a large dining room that can accommodate many guests. You’ll find classic ski-lodge fare here: burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, fries, soups, chili, soft pretzels, and some yogurt and salad options. Open for lunch and dinner, it’s the most convenient choice if you want a quick bite before getting back on the slopes.

2. DC’s Bar & Grill

Located right next to the Main Lodge and accessible from inside, DC’s Bar & Grill is a full-service restaurant with a bar. The food options are more upscale than the Main Lodge, but meals take longer because of table service. If you aren’t in a rush to return to skiing or snowboarding, this is a great option for lunch or dinner. View their menu here!

3. Wispers Bar & Grill

Located within the Main Lodge, Wispers Bar & Grill is a full service restaurant and bar, known for their delicious pizza. Because it is a full service restaurant, your meal will take longer than if you eat in the food court style Main Lodge. The food is better than the Lodge food and you can grab a drink from the bar while you eat. Open for lunch and dinner. Click here for the Wispers Bar & Grill menu.

4. Pumphouse Cafe

This is a small cafe located in the parking lot at the top of the mountain. It is a fast-casual dining option and is open only during lunch hours. Food options include sandwiches, fries and grab-and-go snacks. A great place to eat if you want to avoid the crowded Main Lodge.

5. Sundown Cafe

For a unique lunch experience, Sundown Cafe is located inside a yurt, close to the bunny slope. It is similar to Pumphouse Cafe, offering a limited fast-casual menu and grab-and-go snacks.

6. Mountain Park Cafe

The Mountain Park Cafe is located in the building where you purchase snow tubing and mountain coaster tickets. It is a limited fast-casual menu, also featuring grab-and-go snacks.

If you are looking for restaurants outside of Wisp Resort, check out my post The Best Restaurants in Deep Creek, Maryland.

Ski Lessons & Ski School

If you’re new to skiing or snowboarding, the Wisp ski school is one of the best ways to get started. Wisp Resort offers a variety of ski lessons for adults and kids, including private lessons, group lessons, half-day programs, and full-day ski school. Lesson packages can also include rentals, which makes things simple for beginners.

All three of my kids learned to ski through Wisp’s ski school, and the instructors were patient, encouraging, and made the experience fun. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to improve your technique, there’s a program that fits your needs.

Since lessons often sell out—especially on weekends and holidays—it’s a good idea to reserve early.

Click here for pricing and to book your lessons.

Lift Tickets

Lift tickets at Wisp Resort can and do sell out—especially on busy weekends and holidays—so it’s smart to purchase in advance. One of the best deals Wisp offers is the Mission: Affordable Four Pack. This package includes four lift tickets that can be used on any date during the season, no matter how busy the resort is.

Not only are these passes offered at a discount, but they also give you the flexibility to wait for the perfect ski conditions before picking your day. If you know you’ll be skiing at Wisp this season, the Four Pack is the safest (and most budget-friendly) choice.

Click here to purchase lift tickets.

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Final Thoughts

Skiing at Wisp Resort has become one of my family’s favorite winter traditions. We’ve been hitting these slopes for years, and it’s hands-down one of the best ways we spend time together in the colder months.

If you’re planning a winter trip to Deep Creek, you might also enjoy my posts on The Top Festive Things To Do in Deep Creek in Winter, The Top Mistakes To Avoid at Deep Creek in Winter, and What to Pack for Deep Creek Lake in Winter. These guides will help you make the most of your visit.

And before you go, don’t forget to check out my Ski Trip Essentials to make sure you’re fully prepared for a fun and stress-free day on the slopes!

❄️ More Deep Creek Lake Winter Travel Guides

Planning your ski trip to Deep Creek? Don’t miss these posts:

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