While the east coast may not have a reputation for skiing, you can still find plenty of opportunities for skiing in North Carolina.
This guide lists the top ski resorts in North Carolina, including ones for beginners (and with ski schools).
If you’re looking to go skiing or snowboarding in North Carolina, hopefully, this will help you plan your winter trip!
Did we miss any amazing places for NC skiing and snowboarding? Let us know in the comments. Thanks!
Best Places for Skiing in North Carolina
1. Appalachian Ski Mountain
Address: 940 Ski Mountain Rd, Blowing Rock, NC 28605
Website
The story of Appalachian Ski Mountain starts in 1968, when Grady Moretz and four other partners purchased the area at a public auction and throughout time, it was transformed into a place full of snow, slopes, and fun.
This is now one of the best ski areas around NC High Country. Skiing some slopes here can be challenging for amateurs, but the resort offers guidance and coaching by trained and professional instructors so that newcomers can easily pass the beginner slopes and move to experience the whole mountain.
The place to learn to ski or snowboard here is at the French-Swiss Ski College.
It’s the Southeast’s oldest and most well-known ski school. Group and private classes are conducted in a welcoming setting and by knowledgeable instructors meant for new starters and advanced skiers and snowboarders.
The entire ski experience includes 2 Quad Chairlifts, 1 Double Chairlift, 1 Conveyor Lift, 1 Handle Pull Lift, 10 slopes including 2 Terrain Parks, and more.
The season begins on the Friday before Thanksgiving through the first Sunday in April (check their website for more specific dates).
Additionally, the area includes a 46,000-square-foot Bavarian-style base lodge, a restaurant, ski shop, gift shop, nursery for children, video game room, meeting rooms, and a 200-foot observation deck.
The rental pass for skiers and snowboarders is received from the Ticket Booth.
There are also slopeside lodgings available for rental both in winter and summer. They are vacation homes with 180-degree views and are a one or two-minute walk from the slopes, allowing you to enjoy the perfect mountain getaway.
Adult ticket prices for skiing range from $34-$84 and ice skating from $21-$29. You can also check out flex tickets, group rates, and season memberships.
2. Sugar Mountain Resort
Address: 1009 Sugar Mountain Dr, Sugar Mountain, NC 28604
Website
Boasting the largest ski area and the vertical drop (1,200 feet) in the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains, Sugar Mountain Resort is regarded as one of the best ski resorts in North Carolina.
The range of activities at Sugar Mountain is huge: tubing, ice skating, snowshoeing, snowboarding, and skiing. It receives an average of 78 inches of natural snow each winter and this variety of activities makes the area a perfect winter getaway for families.
The opening of the resort usually takes place around Thanksgiving and it stays open until mid or end of March.
For skiing and snowshoeing, you can choose to enjoy a full day, half-day, twilight, or even night sessions. Overall, there are 125 acres of ski terrain on 21 slopes, as well as 8 lifts for rapid transport.
Tubing and ice skating are great here too! Glide down 700 feet of tubing lanes or explore this winter wonderland through a 10,000 square foot refrigerated outdoor ice skating rink.
Snowshoe tours are also a favorite for visitors of Sugar Mountain. Those range from easy walks to more effort-requiring ones.
You can also devote some time to hiking and scenic drives here as the views of the white powder combined with the outlooks of the Blue Ridge Mountains is definitely something worth your attention!
Also, note that you shouldn’t limit yourself and stay just for the day! An abundance of vacation rentals is available for those who want to stay longer.
You are free to choose from mountaintop condos, secluded log cabins, etc. If you want to distract yourself from snow-related activities and get cozy somewhere, keep in mind that there are rentals and more than 25 restaurants and shops located on-site too.
Consider visiting the resort from the end of November until New Year’s Eve to catch some of the most interesting events and festivals taking place here.
Prices for adults for a full day are $54 on weekdays and $88 on weekends and holidays.
3. Beech Mountain Resort
Address: 1007 Beech Mountain Pkwy, Beech Mountain, NC 28604
Website
With a peak elevation of 5,506 feet, Beech Mountain Resort is the highest ski area in the eastern part of the US. On 95 skiable acres served by 8 lifts, it has 17 trails, including a huge terrain park, making it one of the best places for skiing in NC.
One of the best things that can be seen here is the 5506’ Skybar, serving food and beverages right on the top of the mountain. Also, check out the Beer Mountain Brewery Co, if you’re passionate about drinking beer (with a view, naturally!).
The tubing park, located at the base of the slopes, close to the Resort Village, has some very long tubing runs and is an amazing type of recreation for families visiting. The fee on weekdays is $34 and on weekends/holidays $42.
This particular resort is a great option in case you’re traveling with toddlers and kids in general. The reason is that the resort’s ski school offers beginner and advanced lessons for both young and old.
Very recently, the resort improved its snowmaking capacity, added a new town plaza with pathways, several fire pits, as well as ice skating beyond the lodge. So, even if you’ve been here once, you might want to head back this winter to see what’s new!
Prices depend on whether you’re visiting on a weekend or weekday and how long of a session you choose, but adult tickets range between $40-$96.
You’ll find a plethora of accommodation options including 4 Seasons at Beech, White Wolf Lodge, Beech Alpen Inn, Top of the Beech Inn, etc. These are very convenient for groups of more than 15 people.
4. Hatley Pointe
Address: 578 Valley View Cir, Mars Hill, NC 28754
Website
Opening for the 2024 spring/summer season under a new name and new ownership, the Hatley Pointe (formerly Wolf Ridge Ski Lodge) is a boutique mountain resort built for “those who seek to embrace the spirit of adventure.” It’s located 30 minutes north of Asheville in a small town called Mars Hill.
Both beginners and experts will find slopes corresponding to their skiing level, with four beginner runs, nine intermediate runs, and 2 expert-level runs. You can also expand your type of adventure here to include skiing, snowboarding, tubing, mountain biking, caving, and hiking.
Spanning over 54 acres of skiable terrain, 100 percent snow-making capability, 15 lighted runs, one double, one quad, and two surface lifts are what you’ll find at this NC ski resort, with big updates planned for the next five years.
5. Cataloochee Ski Area
Address: 1080 Ski Lodge Rd, Maggie Valley, NC 28751
Website
Located 40 miles from Asheville, in Maggie Valley, Cataloochee Ski Area is often referred to as the best ski resort in North Carolina. It is definitely one of the best winter day trips from Asheville.
Elevations here reach up to 5,400 feet, with a vertical drop of 740 feet. The season is just like others in NC, from early November to late March.
Note that all of the trails have light support, making nighttime skiing worth trying.
The Cataloochee experience surely has something for everyone with 18 slopes and trails, including the Cat Cage Terrain Park, 3 aerial lifts and 2 moving carpet lifts, and over 4,000 sets of snowsports equipment.
Tube World is the place to check out if snow tubing is more your thing (especially great for children!). Ride down on groomed slopes and get back to the top of the hill on the moving carpet lift, then tube down again.
You can save some cash if you decide to visit on weekdays. For adults, the price range is between $42 and $83 for lift tickets.
Cataloochee prides itself on having a PSIA-AASI Member School, which provides all types of lessons: for those who are new to winter recreational activities and for well-trained veterans.
There are separate one-on-one lessons with trainers and group lessons, where participants with similar skillsets are trained together in a group setting. Children have their own program too, and it’s called Cat Trackers. It welcomes children aged from 4 to 12.
You can plan the North Carolina ski vacation of your dreams at Cataloochee as it provides a variety of very comfortable properties in the Maggie Valley / Waynesville area. There are rustic cabins, world-famous hotel chains, etc.
6. Ski Sapphire Valley
Address: 127 Sapphire Valley Rd, Sapphire, NC 28774
Website
Since its opening in 1964, Ski Sapphire Valley has been the place where family memories have been created for generations!
There is a 1,600 foot main run for skiing and snowboarding, with a vertical drop of 200 feet and a quad lift to get you to the top.
The tubing zone there is famous for the name- Frozen Falls Tube Park. It’s a 500 foot run with a 60 feet vertical drop. Tubing sessions are 1 hour and 45 minutes long. Make sure to arrive early to reserve your place. It’s a first-come, first-serve basis and costs $35.
Ski Sapphire Valley offers skiing and snowboarding lessons for all who are eager to develop their skills further. Lessons take place one hour after opening and run every hour and 15 minutes after that. Kids above age 4 are allowed to participate in group lessons.
Day ticket prices during the main season start at $65 for adults and $53 for children for ski passes only, not including equipment rental. Discounts apply for groups of 10 and more.
A huge plus of this resort is that it has some really good amenities and things to do beyond just skiing. One of the main things to do there is to enjoy the recreation center with restaurant facilities, indoor pool, hot tubs, saunas, fitness center, mini-golf, movie rentals, etc.
Additionally, the resort has an extra number of amazing vacation rentals if you’re looking for a weekend getaway from Charlotte, Asheville, or beyond. There is even a separate website covering them all with complete descriptions to help you find the most appropriate option for you.
Equipment like boots, poles, skis, boards, helmets can be found at the Rental Shop. Typically, Ski Sapphire’s opening date is the 2nd weekend of December.
Where is your favorite place to go skiing in North Carolina? Let us know your favorite ski resorts below. Thanks!
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Megan is a travel blogger and writer with a background in digital marketing. Originally from Richmond, VA, she has lived all around the world (including Germany, Finland, Norway, etc) but her heart always finds its way back to Virginia. This blog is to help encourage travelers to explore the great state of VA… and its wonderful neighbors! Megan has written for or been featured by National Geographic, Forbes, Lonely Planet, Fodor’s Travel, the New York Times, and more. She has visited 45 US states and 100+ countries… and wholeheartedly believes that Brunswick Stew is probably the greatest food to ever exist.