Wolf Ridge, located in Mars Hill, North Carolina, is a thirty-minute drive from Asheville. Wolf Ridge sits at an elevation of 4,700 feet and has 72 acres of ski terrain. "The Wolf" boasts 23 ski slopes, including 10 green family runs, 10 blue runs, and 3 black diamond runs. Wolf Ridge also has two ski school teaching areas, with a third teaching area opening for the 2010-2011 season.
Cataloochee is located in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, approximately 45 minutes from Asheville. The Area has 50 skiable acres, including 3 expert, 5 intermediate, and 8 novice trails. The highest elevation is 5,400 feet, with a 740-foot vertical drop. Many slopes and trails are connected and can be combined to create longer runs. For example, the Area's longest run is created by combining the Upper Snowbird and Lower Snowbird trails, resulting in a 3,500-foot run.
Banner Elk, North Carolina, within two hours of Asheville, is home to the Sugar Mountain Resort. Sugar not only has 115 skiable acres, but also includes areas and resources for tubing, snowshoeing, and ice skating. Sugar Mountain's base is at an elevation of 4,100 feet; 5,300 feet at its summit with a 1,200-foot vertical drop. Sugar has one double black diamond run and two black diamond runs to challenge expert skiers, with 17 other runs to accommodate intermediate and beginner skiers.
Beech Mountain is within two hours of Asheville, and is the highest ski area in the eastern United States. Beech's base elevation is 4,675 feet, and its peak elevation is 5,506 feet, with a vertical rise of 830 feet. Ski Beech also accommodates tubing and ice skating. There are 15 trails across 95 skiable acres, including 4 black diamond runs and 2 freestyle terrain areas.
