| Vertical drop: | 1,200 feet |
| Base elevation: | 4,100 feet |
| Peak elevation: | 5,300 feet |
| Skiable acres: | 125 |
| Longest run: | 1.5 miles |
| Trails: | 22 |
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.
| Resort Name: | Sugar Mountain |
| Vertical Drop: | 1,200 feet |
| Base Altitude: | 4,100 feet |
| Peak Altitude: | 5,300 feet |
| Trails: | 22 Trails:
|
| Skiable Acres: | 125 |
| Longest Run: | 1.5 miles |
| 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. |
| Address: | 1009 Sugar Mountain Drive Sugar Mountain, NC 28604 |
| Phone: | (800) 784-2768 |
| Social Media: |  |
| Webcams: | View resort webcams |
| Web Site: | http://www.skisugar.com/ |
| Directions: | Via Google Maps |
| Humidity: | 51% | Visibility: | 10.00 |
| Wind Speed: | mph | Sunrise: | 7:07 a.m. |
| Barometer: | 30.11 in | Sunset: | 7:40 p.m. |
| Dewpoint: | 60 °F | Heat Index: | 81° F |
Weather supplied by the National Weather Service. Errors or reporting delays may be possible.
August 30, 2026 - Fall brings a different kind of activity to Mid-Atlantic ski resorts, with Oktoberfests, foliage chairlift rides, mountain biking, live music, arts festivals, and even a celebration devoted to Bigfoot. DCSki rounds up some of the events worth checking out this fall as the mountains begin their gradual transition toward winter.
August 29, 2026 - Skiing has become expensive, but bargains have not disappeared. DCSki looks across the Mid-Atlantic for the season passes, night tickets, family programs, lodging packages, and other offers that can still put skiers on the snow without draining the winter budget.
August 27, 2026 - One of the strongest El Niño events in the modern record is developing ahead of the 2026-2027 ski season, increasing the odds of an active, moisture-rich storm track across the East. DCSki looks at the latest forecasts, lessons from past El Niño winters, and the factors that could determine whether that moisture arrives at Mid-Atlantic ski areas as snow or rain.
December 18, 2025 - After an extended stretch of cold temperatures earlier this month, ski resorts across the Mid-Atlantic were able to make snow aggressively, building strong early-season base depths and opening expanding terrain. DCSki provides a comprehensive snapshot of current conditions across the region as resorts head into the end of December. Photo: Opening Day at Big Boulder, shot by Ella Muir.
December 4, 2025 - Sustained cold temperatures have allowed Mid-Atlantic ski areas to ramp up snowmaking and begin opening for the 2025–26 winter season, with several resorts launching operations in the first week of December. Additional terrain and activities are expected to come online soon as snowmaking continues across the region. Above, an aerial view provided to DCSki by a skiing pilot shows snowmaking underway at Maryland’s Wisp Resort on December 1.
November 11, 2025 - An early-season cold snap brought the first real signs of winter to the Mid-Atlantic, covering higher elevations with natural snow and giving ski areas across West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania the chance to fire up their snowmaking systems. The drop in temperatures allowed resorts to run tests, train crews, and begin early preparations for the 2025 winter season. Some areas also saw natural snow, marking the region’s first widespread taste of winter weather. Above, natural snow falls at Hidden Valley Resort. Photo by Heidi Lewis.
December 16, 2024 - The majority of ski resorts in the Mid-Atlantic region are now open for the 2024-2025 winter season, with a variety of trails available for early-season skiing and snowboarding. Additional resorts are set to open in the coming days, supported by snowmaking efforts and natural snowfall. Above, Pennsylvania’s Roundtop Mountain began its 60th season on December 14, 2024. Photo provided by Haley Mowery / Roundtop Mountain.
December 1, 2024 - An arctic air mass has brought ideal snowmaking conditions to the Mid-Atlantic, enabling resorts across the region to prepare for their winter season openings, with many planning to open in early December. Resorts like Seven Springs, Wisp, Snowshoe, and Timberline Mountain are leading the charge, while others are building their bases for upcoming announcements. Photo by Heidi Lews / Hidden Valley Resort.
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.
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.
