Resort photo

Beech Mountain
Beech Mountain, North Carolina
Vertical drop:830 feet
Base elevation:4,675 feet
Peak elevation:5,506 feet
Skiable acres:95
Longest run:5,280 feet
Trails:17

At 5,506 feet above sea level, Beech Mountain is the highest ski resort on the East Coast. Beech is also one of the coldest spots in the southeast, with an average snowfall of 70 inches. That helps Beech be one of the first ski areas to open in the region each winter. Beech has been in operation for over 50 years.

Founded in 1964 by Dr. Thomas Brigham, who also developed West Virginia’s Snowshoe Mountain Resort, Beech offers 17 total trails and an 830-foot vertical. The resort also features an ice skating rink, a snow tubing area, and a terrain park.

Over the past several years, Beech Mountain has been in the process of upgrading its snowmaking system. During the summer of 2021, Beech Mountain added two high-performance pumps and increased its total of new high-tech snow guns to 85, bringing overall snowmaking capacity to 5,000 gallons of water per minute. During 2021, the resort also made significant enhancements to its base area, creating a park-like setting with new outdoor spaces for guests to interact and relax.

Beech is located near Banner Elk, North Carolina, a two and a half hour drive from Charlotte. At the mountain there are hundreds of privately owned chalets, townhouses, condominiums, inns, and a bed and breakfast. More restaurants and accommodations can be found in nearby Banner Elk.

Photo provided by Beech Mountain.


Key Statistics

Resort Name: Beech Mountain
Vertical Drop: 830 feet
Base Altitude: 4,675 feet
Peak Altitude: 5,506 feet
Trails: 17 Trails:
  • 4 beginner
  • 7 intermediate
  • 4 expert
Skiable Acres: 95
Longest Run: 5,280 feet
Lifts: 8 (3 quads, 3 doubles, 1 magic carpet, 1 rope tow)
Night Skiing: Yes, on 100% of terrain
Terrain Park: One terrain park
Tubing Park: Yes
Address: 1007 Beech Mountain Parkway
Beech Mountain, NC 28604
Phone: (800) 438-2093
Social Media: Facebook link Instagram link
Webcams: View resort webcams
Web Site: https://www.beechmountainresort.com
Directions: Via Google Maps

Trail Map

Trail Map

Getting to Beech Mountain

Show directions via Google Maps...


Weather near Beech Mountain

3:55 pm on November 5 / Watauga County Hospital Heliport
 Heavy Drizzle
58° F
Heavy Drizzle
Humidity:100% Visibility:1.75
Wind Speed:0 mph Sunrise:6:54 a.m.
Barometer:30.05 in Sunset:5:28 p.m.
Dewpoint:58 °F
Much too warm for snowmaking right now. No snowmaking
This Afternoon
rainy
High: 56°
Slight Chance of Rain
A slight chance of rain before 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. South wind around 13 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tonight
rainy
Low: 52°
Chance of Light Rain and Patchy Fog
A slight chance of rain before 7pm, then a chance of drizzle or light rain, mainly between 7pm and 4am. Patchy fog between midnight and 4am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. South wind 13 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Wednesday
rainy
High: 60°
Chance of Showers
A slight chance of showers before 1pm, then a chance of showers after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. South wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Wednesday Night
rainy
Low: 54°
Chance of Rain and Areas of Dense Fog
A chance of rain. Areas of dense fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

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


News about Beech Mountain

A Wave of Mid-Atlantic Ski Resorts to Open in Coming Days
Article thumbnail November 29, 2023 - The recent stretch of cold temperatures has enabled robust snowmaking across the Mid-Atlantic region, and as a result, a handful of ski resorts across Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia plan to open in the coming days. In North Carolina, two ski areas have already opened for the season. In this story, we provide a look at official opening day plans shared by resorts as of November 29, 2023.
Cue the Snowguns
Article thumbnail November 26, 2023 - The sound of snowguns began ringing out across the Mid-Atlantic region in recent days, as post-Thanksgiving temperatures dipped below freezing. With the nighttime mercury dropping into the 20s in the coming days, the symphony of snowguns should continue as local resorts prepare for their season openings. DCSki provides a gallery of snowmaking photos from across the region and explains how the technology works. Above, snowguns begin to blanket the slopes of Seven Springs Mountain Resort on November 25, 2023.
Mid-Atlantic Ski Season Begins
Article thumbnail November 27, 2022 - Below average temperatures in November have enabled a variety of ski areas across the entire Mid-Atlantic region to open for the season, giving skiers one extra thing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.
From a Drizzly December to a Snowy New Year
Article thumbnail January 7, 2022 - The second half of December wasn’t ideal for Mid-Atlantic ski areas: cold temperatures from early in the season yielded to unseasonably (and, to skiers, unreasonably) mild days. As the calendar advanced from December to January, that’s all changed. DCSki provides a roundup of the latest conditions at local ski resorts.
More Mid-Atlantic Ski Resorts on Tap to Open December 4
Article thumbnail December 1, 2021 - The Mid-Atlantic ski season is already underway, and additional ski areas are scheduled to come on-line the weekend of December 4-5. DCSki presents a complete roundup of open — and soon-to-open — ski areas in this December 1, 2021 update. Above, Pennsylvania’s Seven Springs Resort has been laying down snow in preparation for a December 4 opening.
What’s New for 2021: Beech Mountain
Article thumbnail November 26, 2021 - The base village has transformed into a park-like plaza.
7 Ski Areas in 7 Days: A Road Trip through the Southeast
Article thumbnail February 15, 2021 - Woody Bousquet had planned to spend this winter skiing north of the Mason-Dixon Line. COVID-19 changed his plans, and he found himself planning a week-long trip south, hitting 7 classic southeastern ski areas in 7 days. He chronicled his road trip in this Firsthand Report.
Want to Minor in Skiing? Now you Can
Article thumbnail September 1, 2019 - Thanks to a partnership between North Carolina’s Lees-McRae College and nearby Beech Mountain Resort, students can now earn a minor degree in Ski Industry Business and Instruction.
Rain Tries to Crash Party, but More Resorts Slated to Open
Article thumbnail December 20, 2018 - Early-season cold temperatures enabled many Mid-Atlantic resorts to fire up the snowguns, but the cold gave way to some bouts of milder temps and heavy rain, which has delayed the start of the season for some resorts. Although pre-Christmas rain is still adding to the challenge, several additional resorts plan to open in the coming days.
Canaan Valley Resort Recognized by Liftopia’s Best in Snow Awards
Article thumbnail December 28, 2017 - On December 20, 2017, Liftopia announced its Second Annual Best in Snow Awards, and Mid-Atlantic ski area Canaan Valley Resort received top billing in two categories.

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