The Best Ski Resorts near Boone
It’s the peak of ski season, meaning that it’s time to hit the slopes. When you visit North Carolina’s High Country, there’s no better place to do so than Boone. The Boone area is known as “The Ski Capital of the South.”
Boone is less than an hour from several popular ski resorts that are ideal for skiing, snowboarding and snowtubing. Appalachian Ski Mountain, Beech Mountain Ski Resort and Sugar Mountain Resort are the most popular ski resorts near Boone. These ski resorts offer everything from access to the best slopes for your favorite winter sports, to lessons, pro shops and more. Skiing in Boone is an incredible experience and these nationally-recognized ski resorts make the experience even more memorable.
Appalachian Ski Mountain
Owned and operated by a High Country ski family, Appalachian Ski Mountain has been a popular ski destination for over 50 years. Appalachian Ski Mountain is known as a family-friendly ski resort, catering to skiers and snowboarders of every skill level.
Image from Appalachian Ski Mountain
The ski resort features 12 slopes, three terrain parks and an outdoor ice skating rink.
The slopes range from easy to most difficult, including three black diamond slopes. The slopes are also are fully lighted for nighttime skiing. The App Terrain Park is great for freestyle skiers and snowboarders. Between all three terrain parks, there are over 60 rails, jumps, boxes and jibs. The fully-lighted ice arena allows you to ice skate day or night.
Beginner and novice skiers can take lessons at the on-site ski school. The French Swiss Ski College is a great place to learn from professional skiers. Choose from group or private lessons to get the instruction that best suits you.
At the base of the mountain is a 46,000-square-foot lodge, perfect for taking a break, watching the kids or just relaxing. Take in panoramic views of the mountain from the 200-foot observation deck. You can also have breakfast, lunch and dinner in the slope-side restaurant. Other lodge amenities include, a TV room, video game room, fireplace, nursery, lockers and more.
The lodge is also home to the Alpine Ski Shop where you can rent and purchase top-of-the-line ski apparel and equipment. Get fitted before taking to the slopes when you visit the clothing rental.
Beech Mountain Ski Resort
The highest resort in the East, Beech Mountain Ski Resort has a peak elevation of 5,506 feet. The resort offers skiers and snowboarders 17 trails on 95 acres, eight lifts and one terrain park. For those uninterested in skiing, there’s also ice skating, snowtubing and free sledding.
Image from Beech Mountain Ski Resort
Beech Mountain constructed a state-of-the-art tubing park at the base of the slopes. This location allows for long tubing runs with chutes that are 700 feet long. The tubing park is close to the 7,000-square-foot outdoor ice skating rink and Alpine Village.
Alpine Village is the resort’s lodge, complete with shopping and dining. The Village boasts several dining options, ski rental shop, gift shop, sports shop, repair shop and an on-site brewery.
Beech Mountain Brewing Company is the only brewery in the United States owned and operated by a ski area. Stop by the taproom, where you can often find a live musical performance, for a flight of beer or a bite to eat.
Beech Mountain Ski Resort is the perfect place for kids to learn how to ski, as the resort offers ski lessons for children as young as 3 years old. These ski schools are not just fun and informative, but they also serve as a form of childcare so your child can learn while you have some fun.
No matter what age you are, if you’re new to skiing, take advantage of Beech Mountain’s free ski lessons in February.
Sugar Mountain Resort
The largest ski resort in North Carolina, offering 125 skiable acres, is Sugar Mountain Resort. Sugar Mountain boasts 21 slopes of various skill levels, including the only double black diamond slope in North Carolina—Whoopdedoo. For beginners, there are plenty of easy trails and a magic carpet to take riders to the bunny slopes. Many of the slopes are lit, allowing nighttime skiing and snowboarding.
Image from Sugar Mountain Resort
Novice skiers and snowboarders, or those looking to brush up on their skills, can take lessons at the on-site Snowsports School. Adults and children alike can attend group lessons or private lessons, allowing you one-on-one time with the professional instructor.
In addition to skiing and snowboarding, Sugar Mountain Resort also offers ice skating on a 10,000-square-foot outdoor rink, tubing on 700-foot-long lanes and snowshoeing. Take a tour of the majestic mountain along a guided snowshoe tour.
Once you’re off the mountain, head inside to the cozy lodge where you’ll find ski and snowboard rentals, dining options, a lounge, gift shop and the Sugar Mountain Sports Shop. Sugar Mountain Resort is in the quaint mountain village of Sugar Mountain. There, you can find even more shopping, restaurants and even a salon and spa.
The resort is family friendly, but when you’re ready for some adult-only time, drop off child care is available in the mornings and evenings. Sugar Mountain Resort also hosts a number of events year-round, including live music in the lodge and competitions on the mountains.
Whichever ski resort you choose, you’ll be in for a one-of-a-kind winter getaway.
