The levels of stoke are high. The start of the 2025-26 ski season came early after snowfall in western North Carolina.
Sugar Mountain opened for skiing on Tuesday, Nov. 11.
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The Beach Mountain Ski Resort is scheduled to open on Friday, Dec. 5.
Here’s what you need to know about each of North Carolina’s ski resorts before the start of “shredding season.”
Sugar Mountain
1009 Sugar Mountain Drive, Sugar Mountain, NC 28604
This is North Carolina’s largest resort with 115 skiable acres. It has tubing and ice skating as well.
There are seven lifts, eight green slopes (easiest difficulty), eight blue slopes (medium difficulty), two black diamond slopes (hard difficulty) and two double black diamond slopes (most difficult).
A single-day slope ticket costs between $37 and $99.
A season pass costs $936 if purchased before Nov. 30, which is a $28 increase compared to last year. Prices increase to $1,261 after 4 p.m. on Nov. 30.
It costs another $616 to add a second family member and $468 for each additional family member after that.
Sugar Mountain has a 350-seat cafeteria open each day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The 250-seat, top-floor cafeteria is open when needed. The Last Run Lounge also offers food and beer.
Beech Mountain
1007 Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain, NC 28604
Beech Mountain has moved back its projected opening date twice. It's now scheduled to open Friday, Dec. 5 to allow for more snowmaking.
The resort had initially planned to open on Nov. 22, and then Nov. 29.
Beech is North Carolina’s second-largest ski resort with 95 skiable acres.
There are 10 lifts. There are also 17 trails:
- Three areas of the terrain park
- Three green slopes (easiest difficulty)
- Seven blue slopes (medium difficulty)
- Four black diamond slopes (hard difficulty)
A single-day slope ticket costs between $32 and $110. Multi-day tickets cost between $47 and $92 per day.
An unlimited season pass at the Beech Mountain Ski Resort costs $640 for adults (ages 13-64). It’s a $25 increase from the $615 cost last ski season.
Season passes will cost $515 for juniors (ages 5-12), seniors (ages 65 and older), college students and military members. Children ages 4 and younger cost $5.
Season passholders can enjoy early lift access starting at 8 a.m. on Lift 5 during select days this winter. The perk begins on Friday, Dec. 5, and will be available every Saturday and Sunday.
During the holiday period, from Monday, Dec. 15, through Friday, January 2, passholders can take advantage of daily early access.
After the holiday, early access continues every Saturday and Sunday until Sunday, March 8.
Adult weekday season passes cost $425. Weekday passes for juniors, seniors, college students and military members cost $325.
Local student and faculty weekday passes cost $260, which are valid for students, faculty and staff of Lees-McRae College, Appalachian State University, East Tennessee State University and Watauga and Avery County Public Schools.
In mid-January 2025, weather conditions allowed Beech Mountain to open its West Bowl slope. The area of the mountain offers sublime views of the sunset.
Time will tell if temperatures will remain cold enough, if there is enough natural snow and if Beech Mountain can generate enough snow to open the West Bowl for the 2025-26 ski season.
The 5506’ Skybar’s name signifies its place as the highest bar in the Southeast at 5,506 feet of elevation. The view provides an exquisite view of the Blue Ridge Mountains and features food, craft cocktails and beer from Beech Mountain Brewing Co.Beech Mountain Brewing Co.’s main bar is at the base of the mountain.
Beech Mountain vs. Sugar Mountain: Comparing NC's ski resorts
Appalachian Ski Mountain
940 Ski Mountain Road, Blowing Rock, NC 28605
Appalachian Ski Mountain opened on Nov. 29. The ski season at the resort runs through March 15, 2026.
The resort is offering unlimited individual season passes for $650. It costs $560 for students with a valid student identification.
Single-day lift tickets range between $38-$83.
Cataloochee Ski Area
1080 Ski Lodge Road Maggie Valley, NC 28751
Cataloochee Ski Area opened on Nov. 12 for the 2025-26 ski season.
North Carolina’s very first ski area offers 50 acres of skiing and a peak elevation of 5,400 feet. There are five lifts and 18 slopes:
- Eight green slopes (easy difficulty)
- Seven blue slopes (medium difficulty)
- Three black diamond slopes (hard difficulty)
There are also two terrain parks: A beginner-level park is located on the Turkey Trot slope. The intermediate to advanced-level park is located on the Richard’s Run slope.
Daily slope passes range from $17 to $89.The resort lists season pass prices on its website:
- Weekday/night: $485
- Unlimited: $860 plus another $500 for an additional family member (immediate family within the same household)
- Limited: $700. Valid any day except Saturday. Add an additional family member in the same household for another $420.
Tom Alexander founded Cataloochee Ski Area in 1961.
Hatley Pointe (Formerly the Wolf Ridge Ski Resort)
578 Valley View Cir, Mars Hill, NC 28754
Hatley Pointe plans to open on Friday, Dec. 5, for the 2025-26 ski season.
Hatley Pointe is in the shadow of Big Bold Mountain. Its peaks reach 4,700 feet, and the resort offers 54 acres of skiable terrain.
There is a 700-foot vertical drop and 15 trails. Many of the trails are lit for night skiing.
Individual lift passes range from $32 to $160.
Unlimited adult season passes cost $950. Each additional family member is $600.
Sapphire Valley
127 Cherokee Trail in Sapphire, NC 28774
Sapphire Valley’s targeted opening date is Dec. 13, weather permitting.
Sapphire Valley’s website lists individual lift tickets from $39.75 to $98.
Skiing at Sapphire Valley began in 1964.