Skiing near Sugar Mountain | Salt and Summit

Sugar Mountain Resort is the in-town mountain. The slopes, the tubing lanes, and the outdoor ice rink are here, not down in Banner Elk and not up on Beech. Beech Mountain Resort is the other large area, higher and steeper to drive. Appalachian Ski Mountain is the smaller, lower hill in Blowing Rock, closer to Boone. All three make snow. Check current rates, hours, and opening day.

The published numbers for all three resorts sit on the Blue Ridge ski season page. Ticket prices stay on the resorts. Check current rates.

Sugar Mountain Resort

Village of Sugar Mountain, beside Banner Elk

The slopes are in the Village of Sugar Mountain, beside Banner Elk, even when a house has a Banner Elk mailing address. The resort publishes 20 slopes, 125 skiable acres, a 4,100-foot base, a 5,300-foot summit, and snowmaking on the slopes, plus tubing and an outdoor ice rink. It tries to open by early or mid-November and stay open through the end of March. That window moves. Check current rates and the day's hours.

Beech Mountain Resort

In the Town of Beech Mountain

The resort is on the mountain, inside the town. It publishes 17 trails, 95 skiable acres, a peak of 5,506 feet, and a vertical rise of 830 feet, with snowmaking on its slopes and a tubing hill. It opened in 1967 and calls itself the highest ski area in Eastern America. In warmer months it has run a lift-served bike park. Opening day still moves with the cold. Check current rates and which slopes are open.

Appalachian Ski Mountain

Blowing Rock

The resort's published address is in Blowing Rock, on the Boone side of the High Country. It is the closest of these three areas to downtown Boone. It publishes 13 slopes, a 365-foot vertical drop, night skiing on every slope, snowmaking on all of them, and an ice arena. It sits lower than Beech and Sugar. Check current rates and the posted season dates.