Top 10 NC Skiing & Snowboarding Destinations: Your Ultimate Guide

Prepare for the winter season ahead with North Carolina’s array of exciting ski resorts, parks, and snowy slopes which are due to open soon. Perfect for skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, and snow tubing enthusiasts at any level of experience. Here’s your guide to the top ski resorts and what you can expect when you visit:

Appalachian Ski Mtn

Location: 940 Ski Mountain Rd., Blowing Rock, NC 28605

Opening date for the season: Dec. 2

Slope hours: Sunday-Thursday 9 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 9 a.m.-12 a.m.

Cost: Varies

The Appalachian Ski Mtn resort offers twelve slopes for skiing and snowboarding and an outdoor ice skating arena. Private lessons are available and tickets and rentals can be reserved online in advance from their website.

Beech Mountain Resort

Location: 1007 Beech Mountain Pkwy., Beech Mountain, NC 28604

Opening date for the season: Dec. 2

Slope hours: Sunday-Thursday 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 9 a.m.-10 p.m.

Cost: Varies

The Beech Mountain Resort is open year-round for a variety of outdoor activities and is particularly popular for skiing, snowboarding, and tubing in the winter season. As the highest ski area in Eastern America, it features 17 trails and 9 lifts. Tickets can be purchased online from their website.

Cataloochee Ski Area

Location: 1080 Ski Lodge Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751

Opening date for the season: To be determined

Slope hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m.

Cost: Varies

The Cataloochee Ski Area, the first ski area in North Carolina, offers 18 slopes for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. You can also enjoy snow tubing at Cataloochee’s Tube World, beginning Nov. 24. Tickets for both the snow tubing hill and ski area can be purchased online from their website.

Hatley Point

Location: 578 Valley Cir., Mars Hill, NC 28754

Opening date for the season: Dec. 16

Slope hours: Monday-Sunday 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 5:30-10:30 p.m.

Cost: Varies

Hatley Point, formerly the Wolf Ridge Ski Resort, is a newly owned and rebranded resort near Asheville. The resort will offer skiing, snowboarding and potentially snow tubing for the new season. Tickets can be purchased online in advance from their website.

Jonas Ridge Snow Tubing Park

Location: 9472 NC-181, Newland, NC 28657

Opening date for the season: Dec. 18

Slope hours: Subject to weather conditions.

Cost: $25+

The Jonas Ridge Snow Tubing Park in Boone offers 6 snow tube lanes with varying speeds for different thrill levels. Operating hours vary with weather conditions. Check current operating hours and reserve tickets in advance online from their website.

Moonshine Mountain Snow Tubing Park

Location: 5865 Willow Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28739

Opening date for the season: Dec. 20

Slope hours: Friday 4-9 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Cost: $40

The Moonshine Mountain Snow Tubing Park is located about 30 miles outside of Asheville and offers over 500 feet of slopes for solo or group tubing. There’s also a snack area and food from Southern Hawg BBQ food truck.

Sugar Mountain Resort

Location: 1009 Sugar Mountain Dr., Sugar Mountain, NC 28604

Opening date for the season: To be determined

Slope hours: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; 6-10 p.m.

Cost: Varies

The Sugar Mountain Resort features 125 acres of skiable terrain used for skiing, snowboarding, tubing, ice skating, and guided snowshoeing tours. Tickets are first come, first served and can be purchased in person at the resort.

Zip N Slip Snow Tubing Park

Location: 10725 US-23, Mars Hill, NC 28754

Opening date for the season: Dec. 15

Slope hours: Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.– 9 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m.– 6 p.m.

Cost: $22.50

The Zip N Slip park, located 30 minutes outside of Asheville, offers 8 to 10 slope lanes for anyone 3 years and older to ride for up to two hours this winter season. Reservations can be made online from their website or by calling them on 828-689-8444.