High Country Skiing and Winter Activities

The NC High Country is well known for its abundance of outdoor activities, even during the winter season! Check out our various ski resorts and explore other fun winter activities.

High Country Ski Resorts

App Ski Mountain

This mountain's beginner terrain makes it the perfect place to learn to ski! Appalachian Ski Mountain is home to the French-Swiss Ski College, a nationally renowned ski school, offering group and private lessons for skiers and snowboarders, from beginner to expert. There's even a SkiWee program for the kids! App Ski Mountain features 12 slopes including 3 Terrain Parks. You can also visit their refrigerated outdoor ice arena for ice skating. Their Bavarian-style base lodge includes a restaurant, ski shop and gift shop!

Click here to view the slope cam.
Click here for the App Ski Mountain Live Cam.

Upcoming events at App Ski Mountain
President's Day Weekend: Feb. 12-15, 2022
A four day weekend of family fun includes online 2-for-1 ticket deals, fireworks on Saturday night and moonlight ice skating! Click here to buy your tickets now.

Beech Mountain Resort

Ski Beech is the highest ski area in the east at 5,506' peak elevation! Offering 15 slopes and seven chair lifts and a great variety of terrain for skiing and snowboarding. Beech Mountain Resort implemented several upgrades for the 2021-22 ski season to allow plenty of space for guests to enjoy the great outdoors! Some of these upgrades include a pavilion and social area with multiple fire pits that replaces the ice-skating rink and a new food and beverage outlet. On the slopes, a multi-year upgrade of the snowboarding system continues. Click here for more information.

Click here for Beech Mountain's live webcam!

Upcoming events at Beech Mountain Resort
Totally 80s Retro Ski Party: Feb 27-28, 2022
Enjoy live music from Cassette Rewind, special guest appearances from the MRL Morning Show from Kiss 95.1, retro festivities and the annual 80s attire contest! Click here for more info.

Sugar Mountain Resort

Sugar Mountain Resort is North Carolina's largest ski and snowboard area with 20 slopes from beginner to expert. Sugar rises from 4,100 feet to more than a mile high and features two double chairlifts, offering a breathtaking summit view from Tennessee to Virginia. Also featuring a new major slope, a tubing park, and guided snowshoe tours! There's ski and snowboard schools for all ages and abilities, rental shops, and two cafeterias. Click here for more information.

Click here for Sugar Mountain's live cam!

Outdoor Winter Activities

Hawksnest Snow Tubing

Hawksnest, conveniently located in Seven Devils, NC, is the largest snow tubing park in the southeast with 30 tubing lanes! The park also has conveyors to get you back to the top of the mountain. With a wide variety of terrain, the park offers fun for everyone. Click here to book your own snow tubing adventure.

Sledding Hill at Beech Mountain

Enjoy a maintained sledding hill at Beech Mountain, complete with snow-blowing! There's also nearby cafes for hot chocolate and coffee. You can even purchase a sled right across the road at Fred's General Mercantile! For more suggestions on great places for sledding, click here.

Winter Hikes

Hiking is a unique experience during the winter months. You can enjoy clear, long range views and take advantage of the smaller crowds on the trails. A few of our favorite winter hikes include Elk Knob Summit Trail (one of the highest peaks of the Appalachians), Flat Top Mountain Trail and Rich Mountain Trail. Click here for more information on winter hiking.