North Carolina ski resorts are the perfect place for southerners to experience the fun of snow skiing or snowboarding close to home. Resorts focused on skiing in Western North Carolina utilize snow making machines — so even if there isn’t any of the white stuff at home, there is bound to be skiing in North Carolina.
Ready to learn more? Here are 5+ great ski resorts in North Carolina that you and your crew are guaranteed to love.
BEECH MOUNTAIN SKI RESORT (BEECH MOUNTAIN)
Beech Mountain Ski Resort is the highest ski resort in the east, scraping the sky at 5,506 feet! Beech Mountain, NC is within a gas-tank’s drive from Atlanta, it offers affordable lift tickets and accommodations, and they dote on families. For skiers and snowboarders, Beech Mountain Resort has 95 skiable acres of terrain with 17 trails and a vertical drop of 830 feet.
If it’s your first time skiing, or you’ve got first-timers in your group, no worries! Beech Mountain offers both private and public lessons, so you can learn from the experts and build your confidence.
Beech Mountain Resort has constructed a state-of-the-art tubing park adjacent to the Resort Village at the base of the slopes. It’s a great location that provides for extra long tubing runs, and offers convenient access to Beech Mountain Brewing Co., and shopping and dining in the Resort Village.
Read More: Beech Mountain Ski Resort: A Great Family Snow Vacation Destination
BEECH MOUNTAIN ACCOMMODATIONS
APPALACHIAN SKI MOUNTAIN (BLOWING ROCK)
Season: November 22, 2024 – March 16, 2025
Appalachian Ski Mountain strikes me as the best place for first timers and those learning. The French Swiss Ski College is one of the best in the state and has taught over a million people how to ski. The mountain is very compact; it’s a short walk from the parking lot to the lodge, so it’s not too big a deal if you have to go back to your car (or if you want to bring a picnic).
Although all the slopes in NC ski areas have high powered snow guns, App Ski Mtn has some of the best snow-making capabilities of the resorts. As long as temperatures are low enough, they can blanket the mountain in short order. For beginners, they offer a magic carpet moving sidewalk to take you to the top of the bunny slope, so much easier than the old rope tows they had when I was a kid.
The slopes themselves are not as steep as other resorts, so it’s perfect for a beginner to get in a longer run without being intimidated. If you have someone who doesn’t want to ski, they have a nice ice skating rink that is cleaned by a Zamboni next to the lodge and voted one of the best ice rinks for families by Trekaroo. The lodge also offers free wi-fi.
Read More: Appalachian Ski Mountain NC: An Awesome Beginner Slope
WHERE TO STAY NEAR APPALACHIAN SKI MOUNTAIN
SUGAR MOUNTAIN SKI RESORT (SUGAR MOUNTAIN)
Sugar Mountain offers 125 skiable acres and 20 slopes, the most of the any North Carolina ski resorts. It also offers the only double black diamond trail in the state of North Carolina, plus epic skiable terrain. But don’t think Ski Sugar is only for experts. There are trails for every level and several green runs for novice skiers.
SkiSugar also has a magic carpet to take beginners up the bunny slope easily, but watch out for the lift disembarking, it’s a steep slope, much more than I’ve seen elsewhere. Sugar also offers the most wintertime fun off the slopes, with a beautiful ice rink and a tubing hill down from the ski lodge.
To check the Sugar Mountain weather and learn about up-to-the-minute Sugar Mountain Resort snow conditions, visit the Sugar website. There are lodging types onsite for every taste including hotel rooms, bed and breakfasts, to condominiums and rental homes, however none of the these options are ski in, ski out, so you may prefer to check out one of the rentals below.
Read More: Snow Near Me: 13+ Great Spots Atlanta Locals Can Find Winter Weather
WHERE TO STAY IN SUGAR MOUNTAIN
CATALOOCHEE SKI AREA (MAGGIE VALLEY)
Cataloochee Ski Resort is in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, in the Western Mountains surrounding the Cataloochee Valley. This ski resort caters to the first time skier, with 50 skiable acres, 18 slopes, and a lighted terrain park.
Forty-four percent of the slopes in the Cataloochee Ski Area are beginner trails, followed by 39 percent intermediate, and 17 percent advanced to expert. With 100 percent snow making capabilities, there is always a base, and you can check the Cataloochee ski area snow conditions online.
WHERE TO STAY IN MAGGIE VALLEY
HATLEY POINTE BOUTIQUE MOUNTAIN RESORT (MARS HILL)
Hatley Pointe Boutique Mountain Resort was formerly known as Wolf Ridge Ski Resort. Located just 5 miles off I-26 in the mountains of Western North Carolina near Asheville, this resort has undergone major improvements with their new ownership in 2023.
Since March 2023, the new owners have worked to reimagine and upgrade the lodge, but the functionality will stay the same. The lodge will now be home to an elevated full-service restaurant and bar. Other updates will include a VIP Season Pass Holder experience, and they’ve worked to improve the infrastructure for snow-making.
Hatley Pointe peaks at an elevation of 4700 feet and sits in the shadow of Big Bald Mountain. They offer 54 acres of skiable terrain, 15 lighted runs with 1 double lift, 1 quad lift, and 2 surface lifts.
Read More: 9 Coolest Places for Incredible Snow Tubing in NC
HATLEY POINTE ACCOMMODATIONS
SAPPHIRE VALLEY SKI RESORT (SAPPHIRE)
Scheduled Season Opening Date: December 14, 2024
Located in Sapphire, NC, is the Sapphire Valley Ski Resort, which features a moderate slope fit for intermediate skiers and ideal for youth and beginners. However, Sapphire Valley offers more than just skiing on its 5700 acre resort — this is also a good snow vacation destination.
There is the Frozen Falls Snow Tubing Park and winter zip lining at the Vordach Zip Line, plus a Base Lodge with fire pit to warm up afterwards. The zip lines varying heights and lengths. Finish up with a rappel down the tree or a zip.
A favorite annual event here is the Great Outhouse races. During the race, homemade outhouses are put on skis and sent down the hill for charity. (February 15, 2025)
SAPPHIRE VALLEY ACCOMMODATIONS
FAQS ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA SKI RESORTS
- Which NC ski resort is the largest? Sugar Mountain Ski Resort is the largest ski resort in NC. It sits on 125 acres, with a vertical drop of 1200 ft. The longest run of the 22 slopes is 1.5 miles.
- Which is better…Beech or Sugar? Which ski resort is best depends on what you’re looking for. The general opinion is as follows…Beech offers more high-speed lifts, and runs at Sugar are longer and there are more of them.
- Does North Carolina offer good skiing? If you’re accustomed to skiing in Vail, then you’ll be disappointed in NC. The mountains and resorts are smaller, the runs are narrow, and the snow is generally man-made. However, it’s a good place to visit from Atlanta if you’re looking for affordable, easy-access snow.
- Where can I take my kids to play in the snow in NC? Snow tubing parks are the answer!
- Do I really need lessons? Ski lessons aren’t just for kids, and well worth the investment. Taking a lesson is the best way to enjoy skiing.
MORE INFORMATION FOR YOUR NORTH CAROLINA VACATION
- NORTH CAROLINA VACATION
- WINTER BOOTS FOR KIDS: 6+ Of The Absolute Best Picks
- BEECH MOUNTAIN RESTAURANTS: Most Loved Beech Mountain Restaurants ( + Our Picks)
- BILTMORE: Biltmore: 27 Reasons Families Adore This Relaxing Asheville Resort
- NC RESORTS: 24 Resorts In North Carolina That Will Have You Packing Your Bags
NORTH CAROLINA SKI RESORTS MAP (WITH ACCOMMODATIONS)
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