Last Updated on 2nd September 2023 by Steve
North Carolina is the most popular destination for skiers and snowboarders in the South-East looking to get their winter fix without flying out to the Rockies or up to the chilly North-East. Certainly, the ski resorts here bear no comparison with the larger ski areas in those regions, but North Carolina can still claim it hosts the highest ski resort east of the Rockies and there are other options on the western side of the state that will keep the craving for snow satisfied for a while…
Map of North Carolina ski resorts
Ski Resorts near Boone NC
The lively town of Boone is home to Appalachian State University and makes a good base for visits to the three ski resorts in the area. All of the ski areas are also resort destinations in their own right (as the area is popular with hikers in the summer months) with accommodation closer to the ski lifts.
Check accommodation availability around Boone
Click the ‘+’ or ‘-‘ signs to zoom in or out on the map (or use a mouse wheel). Enter the desired visit dates and then hover over or click on the prices to see more information about the lodging.
Beech Mountain Ski Resort
The community of Beech Mountain is actually classed as the highest settlement east of the Rockies at an altitude of just over 5500 feet. That’s great news for any local skier or snowboarder as the nearby ski resort gets comparatively heavy snowfall for its location in the south-eastern states. The skiing includes a magic carpet for beginners and a separate terrain park, as well as a popular snow tubing area.
Beech Mountain Ski Video
Beech Mountain Ski Stats
Ski lifts: The ski area offers eight lifts, including three quad chairlifts
Skiable terrain: The ski area covers just under 100 acres
Vertical drop: The vertical at Beech Mountain ski area is 830 feet from a top elevation of just over 5500 feet, making it the highest ski resort in the East.
Distance from Boone: 23 miles
Ski resort website: www.beechmountainresort.com
Sugar Mountain Ski Resort
Sugar Mountain is the largest North Carolina ski resort with 22 different ski slopes of varying levels of difficulty. The small settlement is located just to the south of Beech Mountain and within an easy drive of the regional centre of Boone. All of the slopes at the ski area are covered by snowmaking and night skiing is available every evening once the season is up and running. There is also a terrain park and a separate snow tubing area with runs available every two hours.
Sugar Mountain Ski Video
Sugar Mountain Ski Stats
Ski lifts: The largest ski area in the state offers eight lifts, including a detachable six-seater chairlift, as well as tows for the terrain park and snow tubing area
Skiable terrain: There are 125 skiable acres included in the Sugar Mountain terrain
Vertical drop: Sugar Mountain has a vertical of 1200 feet with a top elevation of 5300 feet
Distance from Boone: 16 miles
Ski resort website: www.skisugar.com
Appalachian Ski Mountain
One of the smaller of the ski resorts in North Carolina, Appalachian Ski Mountain is located on the outskirts of Boone on the way to the resort town of Blowing Rock. It is the second-oldest ski area in the state (after Cataloochee) and runs daytime and evening skiing on the 12 trails. The ski area may not be large but it offers three terrain parks and has an ice skating rink at the base station. The ski area slopes are 100% covered by snowmaking.
Appalachian Ski Mountain Stats
Ski lifts: Appalachian Ski Mountain has six lifts, including three chairlifts
Skiable terrain: The ski slopes cover 27 acres
Vertical drop: The ski area has a vertical of 365 feet with a top elevation of 4000 feet
Distance from Boone: 6 miles
Ski resort website: appskimtn.com
Ski Resorts near Asheville NC
Asheville is the largest city in the western part of North Carolina and makes another good base for those looking to visit the ski areas in the state, with three ski resorts nearby and the Boone area snow skiing within a reasonable drive. It is home to a campus of the University of North Carolina.
Check accommodation availability around Asheville
Click the ‘+’ or ‘-‘ signs to zoom in or out on the map (or use a mouse wheel). Enter the desired visit dates and then hover over or click on the prices to see more information about the lodging.
Hatley Pointe Ski Resort
The former Wolf Ridge ski area is located to the north of Asheville, just off I-26 near the Tennessee state line. The ski resort is another one which can trace its history back to the Sixties. Over the years it has increased its snowmaking capability and grown into a popular small ski area for the region. There are 15 ski trails, mostly suitable for intermediate and beginner skiers. The separate snow tubing area has a run with a length of 350 feet.
Hatley Pointe Ski Video
Hatley Pointe Ski Stats
Ski lifts: Hatley Pointe has four lifts, including two chairlifts
Skiable terrain: The ski area covers 54 acres
Vertical drop: The skiing has a vertical of 700 feet with a top elevation of 4700 feet
Distance from Asheville: 31 miles
Ski resort website: www.hatleypointe.com
Cataloochee Ski Area
Cataloochee is another small ski area near Asheville, situated a few miles to the north of the popular tourist destination of Maggie Valley. The operation has 18 different ski trails and is best suited for the beginner or intermediate skier. It also has a terrain park and operates a snow tube run in the town of Maggie Valley around 4 miles away from the ski area.
Cataloochee Ski Video
Cataloochee Ski Stats
Ski lifts: The Cataloochee ski area has five lifts, including three chairlifts
Skiable terrain: The skiable area covers 50 acres
Vertical drop: The skiing has a vertical of 740 feet with a top elevation of 4700 feet
Distance from Asheville: 40 miles
Ski resort website: cataloochee.com
Ski Sapphire Valley
Sapphire Valley is a tiny ski area near the community of Sapphire just north of the Georgia and South Carolina borders. (In fact, it likes to publicise the fact that it is the nearest ski resort to Atlanta.) The small operation has a single run on the main hill served by a quad chairlift and there is a separate tubing park served by a rope tow.
Sapphire Valley Ski Video
Ski Sapphire Valley Stats
Ski lifts: The Sapphire Valley ski area has a single quad chairlift and a magic carpet for beginner skiers, with a rope tow serving the snow tubing
Vertical drop: The single ski slope has a vertical of 200 feet
Distance from Asheville: 60 miles
Ski resort website: skisapphirevalley.com
