Sugar Mountain Resort Profile and Ski Guide

About the mountain

Overview

With its 1,200-foot vertical, Sugar Mountain is the largest ski resort south of West Virginia, and one of few resorts breaking a 1,000-foot vertical south of New England. The mountain is located near Banner Elk, North Carolina - a 7-hour drive from D.C., but less than three from Charlotte, Knoxville, and Winston-Salem, and a little over four hours from Atlanta.

The mountain offers skiers and boarders trails spread out over 125 acres. The lower mountain features graceful groomers, perfect for lower intermediates. The summit, however, will surprise even seasoned experts with several narrow, expert trails sporting 60-percent pitches. Sugar receives over 60 inches of natural snow annually, which is supplemented with 100 percent snowmaking. Snow tubing, ice skating, and snowshoeing are also offered in the winter.

There are approximately 1,000 beds located in condos on the mountain and another 10,000 beds located within 15 miles of the resort.

Photo provided by Sugar Mountain Resort.

At a glance

Mountain & Resort Details

Terrain

Mountain

Vertical Drop: 1,200 feet2nd-highest vertical in the region
Base Elevation: 4,100 feet2nd-highest base elevation in the region
Peak Elevation: 5,300 feet2nd-highest summit in the region
Skiable Acres: 125
Longest Run: 1.5 miles
Trails: 22
Trail Mix: 34% beginner 52% intermediate 14% expert

Experience

Skiing & Amenities

Lifts: 9 (1 high speed six-pack chairlift; 1 high speed quad; 1 fixed grip quad; 3 doubles; 1 handle tow; 2 magic carpets)
Night Skiing: Yes, on 15 slopes.
Terrain Park: Serviced by a handle tow lift.
Tubing Park: Multiple runs serviced by a Magic Carpet conveyer lift.

Plan your visit

Contact & Links

Address: 1009 Sugar Mountain Drive
Sugar Mountain, NC 28604
Phone: (800) 784-2768
Directions: Get directions →
Website: Official resort website
Social: Instagram

Beyond ski season

Summer Activities

Sugar Mountain Resort and the nearby Sugar Mountain Village feature golf, mountain biking, river rafting, tennis, and hiking during the warmer months. Nearby attractions include Grandfather Mountain, Blowing Rock, and the Pigsah National Forest.

Each summer, the resort sponsors the Showdown at Sugar Mountain Bike Competition & Festival, one of 23 American Mountain Bike Challenge (AMBC) events held each year throughout the country.

Plan your day

Trail Map

View full-size map →

Plan your trip

Getting There

Estimated Drive Times

Baltimore, MD 8 hours 466 miles Washington, DC 7 hours, 20 minutes 431 miles Arlington, VA 7 hours, 20 minutes 429 miles Richmond, VA 5 hours, 50 minutes 333 miles Pittsburgh, PA 7 hours, 20 minutes 439 miles Harrisburg, PA 8 hours, 10 minutes 486 miles Philadelphia, PA 9 hours, 45 minutes 568 miles Charleston, WV 4 hours, 25 minutes 255 miles Raleigh, NC 3 hours, 50 minutes 210 miles Charlotte, NC 2 hours, 20 minutes 111 miles

Mountain forecast

Weather

Weather near Sugar Mountain

1:15 pm on September 23 / Watauga County Hospital Heliport

58° F

Fog/Mist

Humidity:	100%	Visibility:	3.00
Wind Speed:	mph	Sunrise:	7:15 a.m.
Barometer:	30.31 in	Sunset:	7:25 p.m.
Dewpoint:	58 °F

Much too warm for snowmaking right now. No snowmaking

This Afternoon

High: 55°

Chance of Showers and Patchy Fog

A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 5pm. Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. East wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight

Low: 48°

Showers and Areas of Fog

Showers and thunderstorms before 2am, then showers likely. Areas of fog. Low around 48. East wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Thursday

High: 54°

Showers Likely and Areas of Fog

Showers likely, mainly before 11am. Areas of fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 54. East wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Thursday Night

Low: 41°

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. Calm wind becoming east northeast around 5 mph.

Weather supplied by the National Weather Service. Errors or reporting delays may be possible.

Latest from DCSki

Recent Sugar Mountain News

Visit the Newsroom →

August 30, 2026

Fall Returns to the Mountains: 2026 Events at Mid-Atlantic Ski Resorts

DCSki rounds up Fall 2026 events at Mid-Atlantic ski resorts, from Oktoberfests and foliage chairlift rides to music, mountain biking, and Bigfoot.

August 29, 2026

Where Can You Still Ski for Less? The Mid-Atlantic's Best Values

DCSki searches for the Mid-Atlantic’s best ski values for the 2026-2027 season, from bargain lift tickets and season passes to military, family, and lodging deals.

August 27, 2026

The Pacific Is Heating Up: What a Powerful El Niño Could Mean for the Mid-Atlantic Ski Season

A potentially historic El Niño is taking shape ahead of the 2026-2027 winter, bringing the prospect of an active storm track — and plenty of uncertainty — to the Mid-Atlantic.

December 18, 2025

A Snapshot of Mid-Atlantic Ski Conditions Heading Into Late December

A period of sustained cold weather has allowed Mid-Atlantic ski resorts to build solid snow bases and open substantial terrain as the region heads into late December.

December 4, 2025

Mid-Atlantic Ski Areas Accelerate Snowmaking as Early-Season Openings Roll Out

Mid-Atlantic ski resorts are capitalizing on sustained cold weather to fire up snowmaking and launch early-season operations, with multiple mountains opening in the first week of December and more terrain coming online as conditions allow.

November 11, 2025

Early-Season Cold Snap Brings Snow and Snowmaking to the Mid-Atlantic

A sharp early-November cold snap brought natural snow and ideal snowmaking conditions to ski areas across West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, allowing many resorts to fire up their snowguns and begin early preparations for the 2025 winter season.

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