Intro
Sugar Mountain Resort boasts one of the highest vertical drops and largest amounts of skiable terrain in Western North Carolina. From Asheville, a scenic hour and forty minute drive into the North Carolina high country will have you skiing on one of the area’s finest resorts. Make the trip for a day of fun in the snow or check into one of Sugar Mountain’s variety of lodging options for a multi-day winter excursion.
What Makes It Great
Sugar Mountain Resort is known not just for skiing and snowboarding, but for an array of activities to entertain the entire family. Not comfortable on the slopes? Sugar runs a 700 foot tubing run which is serviced by a “magic carpet lift” that stays open late for evening entertainment. Adjacent to the tube run is a 10,000 square foot ice skating rink. If you are looking for winter exercise, Sugar Mountain offers guided snowshoe tours throughout the week. Tours include a one hour hike and snowshoe rentals.
- Summit Elevation: 5,300 feet
- Base Elevation: 4,100 feet
- Vertical Drop: 1,200 feet
- Total Skiable Acres: 125 (100 at night)
- 14% expert
- 52% intermediate
- 34% beginner
- Number of Lifts: 7
Who is Going to Love It
Skiers and snowboarders love the terrain offered at Sugar Mountain during the winter.
In recent years, Sugar has also begun to offer year round activities. If you find yourself visiting the North Carolina mountains in summer, Sugar Mountain is a great place to quench your thirst for hiking or mountain biking. Many miles of free access trails are available during daylight hours in the summer months. Get a detailed trail map before your visit and check out this video from Sugar Mountain Resort’s expert downhill track. Expert riders can experience the same downhill adventure as a USA Cycling National downhill racer on what is considered one of the most demanding and thrilling downhill courses on the East Coast.
Directions, Parking, & Regulations
The drive from Asheville to Sugar Mountain Resort is beautiful and takes 1 hour and 40 minutes from downtown. Lift tickets to Sugar are incredibly reasonable. Parking can easily be found at the resort and they also run a shuttle system to help you get around once you’re at the mountain.
Featured image provided by Mark Clifton
