Skiing and Riding
in North Carolina

People look at you a little sideways when you tell them you ski in North Carolina. We love that. There is a genuine, passionate ski community here that's been built over decades by people who refuse to let geography be an excuse not to ski. The mountains are real, the skiing is real, and the experience is legitimately great — and increasingly, people from across the Southeast are discovering that.

Here's a guide to the mountains we know best, from 50 years of history equipping our customers to hit the slopes.

Sugar Mountain Resort

Sugar Mountain is the largest ski resort in the Southeast by acreage, with 21 trails, 8 lifts, and a vertical drop of 1,200 feet — the largest vertical in the region. Located adjacent to Beech Mountain, Sugar is known for accessible terrain that works well for a wide range of ability levels.

Our Banner Elk store is about five minutes from Sugar Mountain on Tynecastle Highway, making it the most convenient gear and rental stop before a Sugar Mountain trip.

Drive from Charlotte: approximately 2 hours. From Raleigh: approximately 3 hours. From Greenville: approximately 2.5 hours. From Knoxville: approximately 2.5 hours.

Beech Mountain Resort

Beech Mountain Resort sits at 5,506 feet — the highest ski resort in the eastern United States. The mountain has 17 trails, 8 lifts, and a vertical drop of 830 feet. Terrain spans beginner through expert, with a strong intermediate and advanced selection.

Our Banner Elk location is minutes away on Tynecastle Highway, and our Beech Mountain location is right at the entrance to the resort — making Alpine the most convenient stop for gear, rentals, or a tune before you head up.

Drive from Charlotte: approximately 2 hours. From Raleigh: approximately 3 hours. From Greenville: approximately 2.5 hours. From Knoxville: approximately 2.5 hours.

Appalachian Ski Mountain

Appalachian Ski Mountain in Blowing Rock offers 12 trails, 8 lifts, and a 365-foot vertical drop. It's one of the most accessible ski areas in the region and runs a strong ski and snowboard school program. App also features one of the few dedicated terrain parks in the Southeast — a solid option for riders looking to progress their freestyle skills.

Drive from Charlotte: approximately 2 hours. From Raleigh: approximately 2.5 hours. From Greenville: approximately 2.5 hours. From Knoxville: approximately 2.75 hours.

Cataloochee Ski Area

Cataloochee is located near Maggie Valley in the Smoky Mountains, with 17 trails, 5 lifts, and a vertical drop of 740 feet. It's farther west than the High Country resorts, making it the most convenient mountain for skiers and snowboarders coming from East Tennessee, western North Carolina, and Upstate South Carolina.

Drive from Charlotte: approximately 3 hours. From Raleigh: approximately 4.5 hours. From Greenville: approximately 2 hours. From Knoxville: approximately 1.5 hours.

Ober Mountain

Ober Mountain (formerly Ober Gatlinburg) is located in Gatlinburg, Tennessee — accessible via aerial tramway from downtown Gatlinburg or by road. The resort has 10 trails, 9 lifts, and a vertical drop of 600 feet. Ober is the closest ski destination for a large portion of East Tennessee and draws a high volume of first-time skiers given its proximity to the Smoky Mountains tourist corridor.

Drive from Charlotte: approximately 4.5 hours. From Raleigh: approximately 5.5 hours. From Greenville: approximately 2.5 hours. From Knoxville: approximately 45 minutes.

Hatley Pointe

Hatley Pointe is located in Mars Hill, North Carolina, about 30 minutes north of Asheville in the Blue Ridge Mountains. This boutique mountain resort offers 21 trails, 4 lifts, and a vertical drop of 700 feet, and has undergone significant renovations in recent years, including an upscale lodge and full-service dining. It's a strong option for skiers and snowboarders in the Asheville area, or anyone looking for something closer than the High Country resorts.

Drive from Charlotte: approximately 3 hours. From Raleigh: approximately 4.5 hours. From Greenville: approximately 1.5 hours. From Knoxville: approximately 2 hours.

Snowshoe Mountain

Snowshoe, in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, is the largest resort within reach of the Southeast — 60 trails, 14 lifts, and a vertical drop of 1,500 feet, the biggest in the region. It's an "upside-down" resort, with the village and most lodging at the summit rather than the base. It's farther than the North Carolina resorts, but the terrain variety and scale make it worth the drive for a longer weekend or multi-day trip.

Drive from Charlotte: approximately 5.5 hours. From Raleigh: approximately 6 hours. From Greenville: approximately 7.5 hours. From Knoxville: approximately 6.5 hours.

Wintergreen Resort

Wintergreen sits on the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Nelson County, Virginia, near Charlottesville. It's a "mountaintop" resort — amenities are built at the peaks rather than the base — with 26 trails, 5 lifts, and a vertical drop of 1,003 feet. It's a solid option for skiers and snowboarders in the Carolinas and Tennessee looking for a change of scenery from the High Country resorts.

Drive from Charlotte: approximately 4.5 hours. From Raleigh: approximately 4 hours. From Greenville: approximately 6 hours. From Knoxville: approximately 5.5 hours.

Getting set up before your trip

Regardless of which mountain you're heading to, the right equipment makes a significant difference in your experience. Alpine has six locations across NC, SC, and TN — on the mountain in Banner Elk and Beech Mountain, and in our city stores in Raleigh, Charlotte, Greenville, and Knoxville. Pick up your rental package before you drive up, get your gear tuned, or come in for a boot fitting before the season starts.

We've been supplying skiers and snowboarders headed to these mountains for nearly 50 years. We know what works and we'll get you set up right.