6 Wonderful Ski Resorts in North Carolina (Get Your Ski On!)

Published by Christina. Last Updated on December 11, 2024.

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Our travel guide to ski resorts in North Carolina has you covered for the best slopes, and a special nod most fun snow tubing spots!

Are you looking into going skiing in North Carolina? Need to find the best ski resorts in North Carolina this winter?

Whether it’s winter or summer, we always think it’s a good time to share the best NC ski resorts!

We’ll also share everything we know about snow tubing in North Carolina, too! Here’s how we’ve organized the guide:

Before You Go: Some Notes for Skiing in North Carolina
North Carolina Ski Resorts
Snow Tubing Parks in North Carolina

Grab your snow bibs and mittens and get ready to hit the slopes at the best places to go skiing and tubing. Most are nestled in the High Country near Boone and Blowing Rock (also, Banner Elk!) or further west in the mountains around Asheville.

Regardless of location, all of them are waiting for you to come and enjoy some snowy fun, so join us for this fun wintry roundup!

Whether you’re a new resident, a frequent visitor, or a local, we’re leaving no detail behind. If you live in NC (or near our border) and are wondering, “What are the best ski resorts near me?” we think this NC travel guide will help you out!

Before You Go: Some Notes for Skiing in North Carolina

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If you’ve never skied, we recommend taking lessons before getting on the slopes of these ski resorts in North Carolina. All of these places have incredibly skilled instructors who will make sure you have a safe and enjoyable experience.
Bring or rent your equipment and make sure it is adjusted correctly.
Dress in layers from top to bottom.
Waterproof gloves help! These are especially useful when it comes to kids.
If you are tired, be sure to take a break. Fatigue leads to most injuries.
If you’re looking for a place to stay, check out our guides covering places to stay near Asheville and Boone Airbnbs! These unique rentals give us the privacy we need as a family but keep us close enough to the action to enjoy these ski resorts and beyond.

List of North Carolina Ski Resorts

The best North Carolina Ski Resorts often have multiple activities available, from snow play to tubing, skiing, and more, making them more of a snow park in North Carolina.

Here is a list of the best ski resorts and snow resorts in North Carolina! We break each one down in further detail below:

Appalachian Ski Mountain (Blowing Rock)
Beech Mountain Resort (Beech Mountain)
Cataloochee Ski Area (Maggie Valley)
Ski Sapphire Valley
Sugar Mountain Resort
Hatley Pointe (Mars Hill)

Appalachian Ski Mountain (Blowing Rock)

Address: 940 Ski Mountain Rd, Blowing Rock, NC
Website

This snow park in North Carolina’s High Country features 12 slopes for beginners to advanced skiers. There are three beginner, six intermediate, and three advanced trails with a peak elevation of 4,000 feet.

In addition to its 27 acres and 12 slopes, Appalachian Ski Mountain also boasts an ice rink for more outdoor winter fun!

Online reservations are required for skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, and equipment rentals.

Beech Mountain Resort

Address: 1007 Beech Mountain Pkwy, Beech Mountain, NC
Website

Beech Mountain Resort (also home to the Land of Oz) is the second largest of our ski resorts in North Carolina, with 95 acres. It’s also the highest-elevation resort on the East Coast at 5,506 feet.

There are 17 slopes and a 700-foot-long tubing park.

snow tubing down the lanes at Beech Mountain Ski Resort

Unique to the ski industry, Beech Mountain’s glass roundhouse, known as the “5,506′ Skybar,” is accessible as you exit the chairlift. Named for its high elevation, a variety of snacks, beautiful views, and a complete bar await here.

a pint of beer at the top of the Beech mountain ski resort

You can buy a lift ticket to visit the brewery in the summer or enjoy it before skiing down the mountain in the winter.

Beech Mountain is also the only ski resort in NC with a brewery, and Beech Mountain Brewing Company‘s beers are available on tap at 5,506’ Skybar, too.

Cataloochee Ski Area (Maggie Valley)

Address: 1080 Ski Lodge Rd, Maggie Valley, NC
Website

Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley is one of the best places to ski in North Carolina for beginners. With 18 slopes spanning 50 acres, they feature eight beginner, seven intermediate, and three advanced trails.

Hit Tube World and Wee Bowl Snowplay Area for the kids or join a class at The Cataloochee Snow School. Their snow school also includes an adaptive ski program for adults and children.

A unique feature to Cataloochee Ski Area is the NASTAR and Recreational Racing program, a public racing program allowing racers of all ages and abilities to compare themselves with each other across the world.

Ski Sapphire Valley

Address: 127 Sapphire Valley Rd, Sapphire, NC
Website

While there are only two trails, one beginner and one intermediate, at Ski Sapphire Valley, many still find it an excellent place for skiing in North Carolina! A short vertical drop of only 200 feet means it’s perfect for families to work on perfecting their forms!

Sapphire Valley is also one of the most southern ski areas in the United States, making it ideal for those coming from Charlotte, Atlanta, and throughout the South. The park also boasts a 500-foot tube park.

Sugar Mountain Resort

Address: 1009 Sugar Mountain Dr, Sugar Mountain, NC
Official Website

A bird's eye view of Sugar Mountain ski trails across the valley in North Carolina.

Of all the NC ski resorts, Sugar Mountain is the largest, with 125 acres of skiable area, 21 slopes, a tubing park, an ice skating rink, and a public racing program. All these features make this the ultimate winter getaway, but there’s even more.

In case you’re not staying in one of our favorite Airbnbs in the area, Sugar Mountain also has beautiful rentals.

If you’re looking for something unique and new to do, then book a snowshoe experience! It can range from a casual walk to an intense workout–each tour is customizable and a great way to explore Sugar Mountain!

If you’re thinking about a December visit, then you’re in luck because of the annual fun found at Sugarfest.

Hatley Pointe Mountain Resort (Mars Hill)

Address: 578 Valley View Cir, Mars Hill, NC
Official Website

Dropping 700 feet and with the longest run hitting 4,700 feet, Hatley Pointe Mountain Resort (formerly Wolf Ridge Ski Resort) in Mars Hill offers plenty of winter fun. There are 54 acres of skiable trails including 15 lighted runs, 4 beginner trails, 9 intermediate, and 2 expert runs.

Located just 30 minutes north of Asheville, Hatley Pointe has 16 different slopes to choose from.

(Bonus) Snow Tubing in North Carolina

We have a full article dedicated to Snow Tubing in NC, but these spots stand out among the rest!

Hawksnest Resort

Address: 2058 Skyland Dr, Seven Devils, NC
Website

Hawksnest Resort in Seven Devils (near Otter Falls) is one of our favorite places to spend a weekend in winter! It’s the largest snow tubing park on the East Coast, and this resort also has one of the longest zip lines in the nation!

There are four dedicated tubing areas spread over 30 lanes that range in length from 400 feet to 1,000 feet. Their zipline course covers more than four miles and is typically open throughout the year!

Jonas Ridge Snow Tubing Park

Address: 9472 NC-181, Newland, NC
Website

Have you ever gone tubing at night? If not, then Jonas Ridge Snow Tubing Park has five lanes that are perfect for sliding down as the sun starts to set.

Take the conveyor belt back up to the top and keep on sliding down as much as your heart desires!

Jonas Ridge is a bit of an outlier from the rest of our ski resorts and snosw tubing parks, but it’s still in a great spot. This place sits in Burke County, about 40 minutes from Morganton and 10 minutes from Linville Falls.

Ready to Visit these Ski Resorts in North Carolina?

out little girl inside of a snow tube at Jonas Ridge Snow Tubing Park in Burke County, North Carolina

Whether you are looking to enjoy some family fun or you’re a powder hound, North Carolina skiing and tubing is incredible! Hopefully, you can enjoy these wonderful ski resorts and areas, but always remember to make memories first!

Of all these ski resorts and snow tubing parks, we’d love to know where you’ll be buying tickets first. Let us know here in the comments or by email. Either way, we’d love to keep the conversation going!

More Things to Do During Winter in North Carolina

We’ve featured skiing and snow tubing in many of our winter guides. Here are a few that will help you explore the state after enjoying the ski resorts we mentioned!