The mountains of Western North Carolina are the perfect spot for having some good ol’ wintertime fun, whether you’re into ice skating, skiing, tubing or just taking in the beautiful scenery of a winter wonderland. With several major resorts and numerous small attractions scattered across the region and the state, there are plenty of places to get your winter sports fix in the Tarheel State.
Beech Mountain Resort, Beech Mountain
Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, Beech Mountain Resort is a one-stop spot for all of your favorite winter activities. At 5,506 feet in elevation, it’s the highest ski area in the Eastern United States and offers 17 total trails and 8 lifts, spread across 95 skiable acres. There’s a terrain park, a play yard for kids and new skiers, and trails for all levels from beginner to expert. The resort also offers lessons, full rentals, two sport shops, four restaurants including the mountaintop Sky Bar and Alpine Village — a quaint little area at the base of the mountain that features a game room, retail store, snack shop, an ice skating rink and the Beech Mountain Brewing Company. For a little extra adrenaline rush, make sure to take a spin down the tubing run too during your visit!
Appalachian Ski Mountain, Blowing Rock
Appalachian Ski Mountain was the first ski area in Northwestern North Carolina and is the second oldest ski area in the entire state. Dating all the way back to the 1960s, the resort has gone through several renovations and additions over the years and now is home to 12 trails, six lifts (including two quad chair lifts), two terrain parks, and a 46,000 square foot lodge with a restaurant and complimentary Wi-Fi. They also offer ice skating, ski lessons, complete rentals including clothing rental and hook-up sites for RV’s and motorhomes.
Cataloochee Ski Area, Maggie Valley
Located in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, the Cataloochee Ski Area sits about 45 minutes outside of Asheville in the town of Maggie Valley. Because of the resort’s high elevation at 5,400 feet and their state-of-the-art snowmaking technology, they are usually one of the first to open each year, offering a total of 18 slopes, a lighted terrain park, and five lifts including doubles, triples, and quads. The skiing and snowboarding trails range in difficulty from easy to most difficult, with several areas of freestyle terrain also available. There is also an area for snow tubing called Tube World, which is located about four miles away from the ski area.
Wolf Ridge Ski Resort, Mars Hill
Also located just outside of Asheville, is the Wolf Ridge Ski Resort, a family-friendly year-round resort with a variety of activities. In the winter, check out their 14 slopes (including two black diamond trails), four lifts and then when your day of skiing is over, relax in the indoor heated pool. If you are a beginner, they also offer lessons for both skiing and snowboarding. For some more fun, try sledding down Tube Run and then hop on the magic carpet ride lift to go back to the top and do it all over again!
Sugar Mountain Resort, Sugar Mountain
Located close to the town of Beech Mountain, Sugar Mountain is another popular North Carolina spot for winter sports. In fact, it is the state’s largest ski area, offering a total of 21 trails and eight lifts, including a high-speed detachable, six-person chairlift. Situated at an elevation of 5,300 feet, the Resort offers a total of 115 acres of skiable terrain and is home to both the largest vertical drop in the state and the state’s only double black diamond trail. In addition to skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and ice skating, Sugar Mountain also offers another unique recreation opportunity – guided snowshoe tours.
Hawksnest, Seven Devils
Although Hawksnest in Seven Devils, North Carolina only offers snow tubing and ziplining, they aren’t messing around. In fact, they are the largest snow tubing park in the entire state, featuring four areas with a total of more than 30 lanes. The lanes range in length from 400 feet to 1,000 feet, depending on how far and how fast you want to go. Since they are lighted lanes, you can also continue riding well into the night! Just hop on one of the two magic carpet rides to go back to the top and start all over again.
