Ski Resorts

Some of you may already know this; in my past life, I was a ski instructor. Skiing is still a passion of mine, though I don’t get to the mountains near as often as I would like. I hoping that none of the ski resorts are damaged by the while fires, but my first concern is that everyone is safe in those areas!

I know there are a lot of skiers in the Triangle area, so I thought I would summarize information about the resorts that are somewhat close.

Skiing in the eastern part of the country is not the same as heading to the Rockies. But if you love to ski, there are still plenty of fantastic options close to home. Now that December is almost here, keep an eye on the weather reports and be ready to go!

Here are a few ski resorts to try that aren’t too far a drive from Holly Springs and the Triangle areas.

North CarolinaNC Ski Resort

Appalachian Ski Mountain – This one makes the top of a few lists because it’s an overall good place to ski especially for families. Appalachian Ski Mountain has nine slopes and offers options for all levels of skiers. They also have ice skating.
Distance: 3.5 hours

Beech Mountain – The main thing about Beech Mountain is its elevation, 5,505 feet, which means it’s the highest ski resort here on the east coast. There are ski options for both beginners and experts.
Distance: 3 hours, 50 minutes

Sugar Mountain – If you’re looking for the largest ski area, head to Sugar Mountain. It has 20 ski runs, plus snowshoeing, tubing, and ice skating.
Distance: 3.5 hours

West Virginia

I prefer the slopes in West Virginia. While these are farther away, they offer a better experience for skiers looking to hit some more serious slopes. Head up for a weekend for a change of pace.

Snowshoe – Snowshoes is the largest winter resort in this area. It’s famous for its size: 251 acres and the fact that there are two mountains. There are 38 trails, including two black diamond trails that have a 1,500-foot vertical drop. The mountains also offer snowshoeing, cross country skiing and snowmobiling.
Distance: 6 hours

Canaan Valley – Lots of options here for all levels of skiers, including 47 trails. This resort is known for being very family-friendly and has instructors for ski and snowboarding. They also have cross country skiing, ice skating, snowshoeing and snow tubing.
Distance: 6.5 hours

Timberline Resort – Timberline uses a mix of natural and made snow. It’s considered an old favorite and has 37 runs and the highest average vertical drop south of New England.
Distance: 6.5 hours

If you ski, I’d love to hear from you: what’s your favorite place? If you’re not a skier yet, you’re known as a never-ever. Look for ski lessons in North Carolina. Most resorts offer beginner groups and private classes so you can figure out how to “pizza” or “pie.”