Comparison of Western North Carolina Ski Resorts
The fall foliage season has come and gone. Now ski resorts in Western North Carolina are beginning to open, welcoming winter enthusiasts to their snow covered mountains. If being in close proximity to ski resorts is an important factor in your second home buying decision, we thought we’d help you by comparing the most popular North Carolina ski resorts and identifying which best North Carolina mountain communities are the closest.
Here are the five best snow ski resorts in Western North Carolina:
BEECH MOUNTAIN - BANNER ELK
North Carolina’s first and highest elevation ski resort has a base elevation of 4,675 feet and reaches up to 5,506 feet in elevation. The mountain spreads across 95 skiable acres in one of North Carolina's best mountain towns. The resort operates 7 chairlifts and 15 ski slope trails. One of the chair lifts is North Carolina’s only high-speed quad chair lift. The mountain is divided intro 3 ski skill levels: 30% novice, 40% intermediate and 30% are expert trails. The vertical drop is 830 feet. Both snow skiers and snowboarders are welcome on the mountain. Beech Mountain has two terrain parks for advance skiers and snowboarders. Beech enjoys an average annual snowfall of 80 inches. Their high tech snow blowing equipment covers 100% of the mountain keeping snow skiing conditions pristine.
Beech’s Alpine Village is home to a 7,000 square foot ice skating rink. Two snow tubing lanes are located behind the View Haus Cafeteria at the village. Beech Mountain is open from 9am to 10pm. Popular events on the mountain include Christmas Eve Service, Winterfest and many snow ski races. Ski lift ticket prices range from $30 to $60. Beech Mountain offers rental equipment and ski lessons. The Beech Tree Bar and Grill and View Haus Cafeteria are popular hangouts at Beech for food and drinks.
SUGAR MOUNTAIN RESORT - BANNER ELK
At an elevation of 4,300 feet, Sugar rises up to a summit elevation of 5,300 feet. Here’s where you’ll find two of the longest ski lifts in North Carolina. They have 5 chairlifts and 20 ski slope trails across 115 skiable acres, for skiers of all skill levels. Sugar Mountain Resort trails are divided into 3 ski skill levels: 40% novice, 40% intermediate and 20% are expert trails. The vertical drop is 1,200 feet. Both skiers, snowboarders and snow shoes are welcome on the mountain. Depending on winter conditions, the mountain enjoys up to 70 inches of snow for four solid months and Sugar Mountain Resort doesn’t rely only on Mother Nature. Their snow blowing equipment covers 100% of the mountain’s terrain enhancing the snow skiing experience.
Sugar Mountain Resort has a 10,000 square foot ice skating rink and a 700 foot snow tubing lane. The ski slopes open at 9am and have lighted night skiing up until 10pm. Popular events on the mountain include SugarFest, Giant Slalom Competitions and Sugar Bears Birthday Celebration. Ski lift ticket prices range from $41 to $68. Sugar Mountain offers rental equipment and ski lessons. At the end of the day, Sugar’s Last Run Lodge is where folks gather for hot chocolate, a warm fireplace and the chance to enjoy beautiful mountain views from the lounge’s large picture windows. Buyer’s searching for Banner Elk real estate will find Headwaters at Banner Elk and Echota are the closest North Carolina mountain communities to Sugar and Beech Mountain.
APPALACHIAN SKI MOUNTAIN - BLOWING ROCK
This best mountain town has the smallest ski resort in the High Country. Appalachian Ski Mountain’s base elevation is at 3,635 feet and rises up to an elevation of 4,000 feet. There are 5 chairlifts and 10 ski slope trails spread across 27 skiable acres accommodating skiers of all skill levels. Appalachian Ski Mountain trails are bit more challenging, divided into 3 ski skill levels: 18% novice, 55% intermediate and 27% are expert trails. The vertical drop is 365 feet. Both skiers and snowboarders are welcome on the mountain. The mountain has three terrain parks for advanced skiers and snowboarders. Depending on winter conditions, the mountain enjoys up to 50 inches of snow. Appalachian Ski Mountain’s snow blowing equipment covers 100% of the mountain.
Appalachian Ski Mountain has a hill top 6,000 square foot ice skating rink. The ski slopes open at 9am and offers lighted night skiing up until 10pm. Popular events on the mountain include Anniversary Weekend, Rome Pre-Jib Snowboard Competition and New Years Eve Extravaganza. Ski lift ticket prices range from $37 to $65. Appalachian Ski Mountain offers rental equipment and ski lessons. Appalachian Ski Mountain’s 46,000 square lodge is located at the base of the mountain serving food and drinks in a smoke-free atmosphere. SweetGrass, Chetola Resort and Blue Ridge Mountain Club are the closest North Carolina mountain communities to Appalachian Ski Mountain.
WOLF RIDGE SKI RESORT - MARS HILL
Closest to the America's Happiest City, Wolf Ridge’s base elevation begins at 4,000 feet and rises up to an elevation of 4,700 feet. There are 5 chairlifts and 22 ski slope trails across 82 skiable acres. Wolf Ridge Ski Resort trails are divided into 3 ski skill levels: 40% novice, 50% intermediate and 10% are expert trails. The vertical drop is 700 feet. Both skiers and snowboarders are welcome on the mountain. Depending on winter conditions, the mountain enjoys up to 65 inches of snow for four solid months. Their snow blowing equipment covers 100% of the mountain’s terrain.
Wolf Ridge Ski Resort has snow tubing. The ski slopes open at 9am and offers lighted night skiing up until 10pm. Ski lift ticket prices range from $39 to $69. Wold Ridge Ski Resort offers rental equipment and ski lessons. Wolf Ridge Ski Resort has two mountain lodges. The 22,000 square foot Ridge Lodge is near the top of the slopes and their Base Lodge which has a beautiful large viewing deck and three cozy fireplaces. Wolf Ridge Ski Resort is only 5 miles from Interstate 26. Buyer’s searching for Asheville real estate will find SouthCliff in Asheville and Village of Cheshire in Black Mountain are the best closest North Carolina mountain communities.
CATALOOCHEE SKI AREA - MAGGIE VALLEY
This high elevation ski resort bordering Great Smoky Mountains National Park begins at 4,760 feet and reaches a summit of 5,400 feet. There are 3 chairlifts and 14 ski slope trails across 50 skiable acres. Cataloochee Ski Area trails are divided into 3 ski skill levels: 25% novice, 50% intermediate and 25% are expert trails. The vertical drop is 740 feet. Both skiers and snowboarders are welcome on the mountain. Depending on winter conditions, the mountain enjoys up to 40 inches of snow for three solid months.Their snow blowing equipment is state of the art covers 100% of the mountain’s terrain enhancing the snow skiing experience. Cataloochee Ski Area ski slopes are open from 9am to 10pm. Events on the mountain include Ski and Ride with Santa on December 25. Ski lift ticket prices range from $39 to $59. Cataloochee Ski Area offers rental equipment and ski lessons. Buyer’s searching for Waynesville real estate will find Sunset Falls at Bald Creek, Balsam Mountain Preserve and Laurel Ridge Country Club are the closest best North Carolina mountain communities.
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