Special Snowshoe Information:

1. Ballhooter Lift on the Basin side of the mountain will be running during the GNCC race events to transport spectators back to the top of the mountain. Access to the ski lift is part of the spectator admission price. Western Territory lift access is not included in the spectator admission price.
2. The Raven Golf Club features a Gary Player designed course nestled within the Appalachian Mountains, making it as scenic as it is challenging. Tee times are available 7 days a week.

Set in the upscale ski village of Snowshoe Mountain, West Virginia’s largest ski resort, this race has been labeled the toughest, most spectacular, and most unique of the whole GNCC tour. The terrain is not only several steps above the typical GNCC course, it’s also plusher than many luxury resorts. The array of lodging, retail, and dining provide plenty of entertainment off the race track. The resort also hosts an amazing golf course, endless adventure activities, and some of the best mountain bike trails in the country.

The famed Blackwater 100, which was the original GNCC race, took place in the same part of the state as Snowshoe. To pay tribute to the Blackwater heritage, the Snowshoe race starts “in town” with riders lined up in groups of five. They start live-engine every 10 seconds, unlike the typical GNCC dead-engine start in a field. The start at the Snowshoe race is a truly spectacular scene.

In the tradition of the old Blackwater, which was known as “America's Toughest Race,” the Snowshoe GNCC is the ultimate test for any cross-country racer. Luckily, the course also features a few miles of open ski slopes which offer a much-needed rest.

Snowshoe is the perfect place for this type of event. Not only is it close to Blackwater, it’s high elevation and rugged history give a unique spin to the race. Snowshoe Mountain is the name of the resort, but it sits on Cheat Mountain which boasts the second highest point in the state of West Virginia, Thorny Flat, at 4,848 feet. From the early 1900s through the 1960s, the mountain was home to a large logging operation thanks in part to the valuable timber on the property. Once the land was logged out, Thomas “Doc” Brigham of North Carolina ski resort fame found the area to be a great place for a ski resort. Thus, Snowshoe Mountain was born. Today, the ski slopes are named in honor of this rich logging history.