By Evan Moore
From The Charlotte Observer
Charlotte —Winter sports enthusiasts in the area are undoubtedly more than ready for ski season.
Most ski resorts in the North Carolina mountains opened in November. Despite a lack of much snow so far, temperatures fall enough to make weather conditions ideal for skiing, snowboarding, tubing and more on artificial snow.
Here are five places to ski in North Carolina that are less than three hours away from Charlotte:
Appalachian Ski Mountain
Where: 940 Ski Mountain Rd., Blowing Rock, NC 28605Season: Nov. 18 to March 19
Slope hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to midnight, Fridays and Saturdays.
Cost: One-day ski tickets range from $31 to $71. Tickets and rentals must be reserved before arrival.
What to know: Appalachian Ski Mountain, a resort just a 15-minute drive from Appalachian State University, features 12 slopes for skiers and snowboarders of various skill levels. Lessons are available for beginners. If you’re not in the mood to hit the slopes, the ice skating rink at the resort is open daily.
Sugar Mountain Resort
Where: 1009 Sugar Mountain Dr., Sugar Mountain, NC 28604Season: Open now, season end date in March varies, weather dependent.
Slope hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: Individual slope and lift tickets range from $40 to $84. Admission is free for children under 4.
What to know: Sugar Mountain Resort is a prime spot for skiing, snowboarding, tubing, ice skating and snowshoeing. The resort has 20 slopes, including 14 with lights for night skiing. The resort’s 2,320 square-foot sports shop offers a variety of accessories and gifts for the entire family.
Beech Mountain Resort
Where: 1007 Beech Mountain Pkwy., Beech Mountain, NC 28604Season: Nov. 19 to March 18 Slope hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Cost: Lift ticket prices range from $26 to $91.
Slope hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Cost: Lift ticket prices range from $26 to $91.
What to know: With a peak elevation of 5,506 feet, Beech Mountain Resort has the highest ski slopes in the eastern U.S. The getaway also includes a terrain park with more than 50 features for freestyle skiers and snowboarders to hone their skills and state-of-the-art tubing park with chutes up to 700 feet in length.
Wolf Ridge Ski Resort
Where: 578 Valley Cir., Mars Hill, NC 28754Season: First week of December to mid-March.
Slope hours: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday; 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., on Sundays.
Cost: Slope tickets range from $25 to $92.
What to know: Wolf Ridge, just 30 minutes north of Asheville, is a family-oriented resort that offers beginner and expert slopes. The resort also provides a top-rated snow sports school that provides lessons to all winter sports enthusiasts, regardless of skill level. If you work up an appetite after a long day of skiing, The Lodge Pizzeria offers seven types of freshly made specialty pies.
Cataloochee Ski Area
Where: 1080 Ski Lodge Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751Season: mid-November to mid-March.
Slope hours: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays; 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekends during early season.
Cost: Slope tickets range from $37 to $79 for adults. Tickets for kids 12 and under range from $27 to $59.
What to know: Nearly half of the slopes and trails at Cataloochee are beginner level, perfect for new skiers. Competitive skiers can test their skills in a NASTAR race, the largest recreational ski race program in the world. If you don’t have your own gear, the full service rental department offers more than 4,000 sets of ski and snowboard equipment.
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