North Carolina Skiing: Where Fun & Stewardship Meet on the Slopes
Enjoy a powder day skiing in NC without knocking out Mother Nature.
It’s the most wonderful time of year. We’re talking about ski season, of course. For three or four months every year, the mountains of North Carolina are transformed into a winter wonderland with six resorts scattered throughout Western North Carolina offering fun outdoor activities like downhill skiing and snowboarding on nearly 100 slopes which are ideal for beginners and experts alike. And the skiing and snowboarding isn’t just the main attraction. There’s also snow tubing, ice skating rinks and plenty of hot cocoa in the lodges at the bottom of the hills. So whether you love gliding through fresh snow or you enjoy being a spectator and coming along for the ride, there are plenty of fun things to do in Western North Carolina this winter season.
This is Mother Nature at its most exciting, made even more special because skiing in NC is a fleeting adventure. Sandwiched between Fall’s colorful canopy and Spring’s warm weather, winter in NC is brief and fantastic, inviting you to make the most of the frigid temps and deep snow while it lasts. And with a little bit of forethought, a NC skiing adventure can be a practice in stewardship that helps preserve the slopes for others to enjoy.
Where to hit the slopes for the best skiing and snowboarding in nc
NC has the most ski resorts in the Southeast, so every snow-seeker will find something that suits them. Beech Mountain is the highest ski slope on the East Coast, boasting a peak elevation of 5,506 feet, and a village with an ice rink. The town of Beech Mountain also has a public sledding hill that’s free for kids under 12. Nestled in Haywood County, Cataloochee Ski Area is typically the first ski resort in the state to open each winter, pumping snow onto its 50 acres as early as Thanksgiving most seasons, while Sugar Mountain is the largest resort in North Carolina, with 125 acres of skiable terrain, 20 slopes, and a whopping 1,200 feet of vertical drop. All of NC’s ski resorts have space dedicated to beginners, making them ideal destinations for beginners looking to take their first turns.
Every ski trip in NC gives you a chance to help care for the slopes and the surrounding mountains. One of the most important Outdoor NC Leave No Trace principles you can practice while skiing or snowboarding is Trashing Your Trash.
Every ski resort in the country struggles with managing trash. These mountains you ski are active corridors for local wildlife, and litter can cause unhealthy feeding patterns for animals of all sizes, from black bears to gray squirrels. Properly disposing of everything you bring to the mountain is a great start in helping keep our favorite local wildlife healthy, and it’s just one of the ways you can help preserve these mountain resources.
ski resorts in north carolina
Beech mountain
1007 Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain, NC 28604
- 17 Trails
- 9 Lifts
- Peak Elevation 5,506′
- Vertical Drop 830′
Sugar Mountain
1009 Sugar Mountain Drive, Sugar Mountain, NC 28604
- 20 Trails
- 8 Lifts
- Peak Elevation 5,300′
- Vertical Drop 1,200′
cataloochee ski area
1080 Ski Lodge Road, Maggie Valley, NC 28751
- 18 Trails
- 5 Lifts
- Peak Elevation 5,400′
- Vertical Drop 740′
Hatley Pointe
578 Valley View Cir., Mars Hill, NC 28754
- 21 Trails
- 3 Lifts
- Peak Elevation 4,700′
- Vertical Drop 700′
Appalachian ski mountain
940 Ski Mountain Rd, Blowing Rock, NC 28605
- 13 Trails
- 6 Lifts
- Peak Elevation 4,000′
- Vertical Drop 365′
sapphire valley
127 Sapphire Valley Rd, Sapphire, NC 28774
- 2 Trails
- 2 Lifts
- Peak Elevation 3,400′
- Vertical Drop 200′
start your nc skiing adventure with a lesson
If you’ve never skied before, step one is signing up for a lesson. Even if you’re a seasoned shredder, the right instruction can help take your skiing or snowboarding to the next level. NC’s resorts have some of the best ski and snowboard instructors in the country, like the French Swiss Ski College, which calls Appalachian Ski Mountain home, and has taught more than 1 million people how to ski since its founding in 1968.
Not only will a lesson get you started on the right track and help you maximize your day on the mountain, your instructor will also explain the safest way to navigate the slopes with other users in mind. When you Share the Outdoors while enjoying your own adventures, you help those other skiers engage with nature in their own way. This practice enhances everyone’s enjoyment with the landscape and inherently increases their desire to preserve it. When you’re at a NC ski resort and taking a lesson, Sharing the Outdoors can be as simple as learning the nuances of skier right of ways (the skier lower on the mountain always has the right of way) so that everyone can move safely down the mountain at their own pace. Beginners will also learn what to do if they find themselves heading downhill and suddenly out of control (hint: fall down).
Three Outdoor NC Leave No Trace Principles to practice while you're on the slopes
be considerate of others
& share the outdoors
So many people enjoy the slopes skiing in NC every winter, and we all tackle the slopes in our own way. Some like snowboarding, others are first-time skiers, and many enjoy a scenic ride up a ski lift for a mountaintop view. Being considerate of others on the slopes by adhering to right of ways (the downhill skier or rider has the right of way) and giving each other enough space, will enhance the enjoyment of everyone out on the slopes enjoying an outdoor adventure. And when we’re all able to enjoy nature on our own terms, we’re more likely to want to preserve it.
Trash your trash
Ski resorts accommodate a large volume of people, and one of the best things you can do to help reduce your personal impact is handling your own trash. Litter is of particular concern at ski resorts, as the cold temperatures and snow slow down the decomposition of trash, which can become a hazard on multiple levels. Not only can litter on the ski slopes potentially present a hazard to other skiers, if left unattended it can make its way into local streams and become a danger to wildlife. Wild animals often wander through ski slopes and can mistake trash for food, which can cause sickness. Making sure your personal trash makes it into a proper receptacle is great, but reducing the amount of trash you create is even better. If possible, follow the “pack it in, pack it out” principle of wilderness visitation and take your garbage home with you. Also, bring your reusable bottles for water (most lodges have water refill stations) and avoid single use plastic containers for snacks, which is the best way to make sure plastic trash doesn’t accidentally make its way into the landscape.
Plan ahead & prepare
Learn about your destination before you make the trip. Know the weather ahead of time and make sure you have the right apparel and gear, like warm gloves and water resistant outer layers, which is the key to enjoying winter sports safely. Fortunately, all of NC’s ski resorts offer rentals if you don’t have what you need. Renting equipment is actually a great way to reduce your impact, as a single set of skis can be used by multiple people. If you do want to buy gear, consider second hand options. Buying used boots and skis can help keep those products out of the landfill and give lightly loved equipment a second life.
You’re invited to join the outdoor nc movement
Even small efforts can make a big impact, and by practicing Outdoor NC Leave No Trace Principles, we can ensure the winter wonderlands we love are available for future generations to enjoy.
