Top 10 Best Ski Resorts in the Appalachian Mountains

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Top 10 Best Ski Resorts in the Appalachian Mountains

Whether you are planning a family or group trip to the southern side of the united states, one activity in your list has got to be skiing. The skiing destinations on the southern side along the Appalachian Mountains have the best slopes and are charming.

Part of the range, the Blue Ridge Mountains, have the highest peaks on the East Coast. The ski resorts on the Alabaman and the West Virginian side have ski bars, tubing hills and a park providing homes to black bears and bobcats.

If hiking up the hill is not for you, you can ride in one of the aerial trams up and down the skiing slopes. From the top, you will enjoy beautiful views of the Appalachian Range from 5,000 feet up.

The ski resorts are family-friendly and are open to all, whether you are a beginner or a highly skilled skier, snowboarders and ice skaters have a place too. There are many slopes categorised according to difficulty levels.

With that said, here are the top 10 best ski resorts you can visit in the Appalachian Mountains.

1. Laurel Mountain Ski Resort, Ligonier, Pennsylvania

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The Laurel Mountain State Park is located in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands. This resort has one lift and is among the newest in the region. The resort has photos from the 1940s that pay homage to the skiing history of the mountain.

Before this resort was put up, there used to be a midway cabin from the 1940s close to the ski run which exists to date. It used to be exclusive to wealthy Pennsylvanian families only.

The resort provides a cosy abode with a beautiful landscape of the mountains, steep skiing slope and a lift. The slopes drop at a vertical of 1,000 feet, it is one of the steepest slopes in the state.

It is here that you will find the famous double diamond lower wildcat slope a favourite of many skilled skiers. Since 1964, the mountain was gifted to the commonwealth and is a winter playground for all.

2. Wintergreen Resort, Wintergreen, Virginia

The Wintergreen Resort in Virginia is a special one because it caters to all and has specialized instruction for its disabled guests. This came about after Michael Zuckerman gave a lesson to Vince Fiore, an amputee, in 1984.

The staff in this resort are highly qualified and dedicated to ensuring that all their guests have a pleasant experience while visiting.

They hold an annual event, wounded warrior weekend, celebrating the wounded veterans and their families every winter. During warmer seasons they have activities like white water rafting and canoeing.

Other activities offered here include golfing, snowboarding, tennis. The resort sits on 11,000 acres of lush land at the base of Blue Ridge Mountains.

3. Timberline Four Seasons Resort, West Virginia

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Timberline Four Seasons Resort gets about 200 inches of snow annually with its peak at 4,268 feet, in West Virginia. There are 41 trails and runs, a new addition is a 750-foot terrain park, with plenty of room to glide in and out of the trees.

Their two-mile Salamander Run is worth checking out because it is the longest trail in the southeast.

This resort is close to the Dolly Sods Wilderness that can be found in the Monongahela National Forest. Sitting is a chairlift, you will be drifted above the 17, 000 acre of forest land. Be sure to stop at the Lions head rock.

4. Ober Gatlinburg Ski Area, Gatlinburg, Tennessee

For the ultimate tram up the mountain experience in the Appalachian Mountains, visit the Ober Gatlinburg Ski resort. This is the only ski resort in Tennessee and it has one of a kind aerial tram.

The resort has a 2.1-mile cable car that starts from a charming lowland and rises to a magnificent view above the treelines. You will be able to get a panoramic view of the Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg skyline and the pigeon forge.

If you do not feel like going up the slopes, there is a lot of other fun activities to do at the resort. There are indoor skating rinks, a roller coaster and an alpine slide.

Walkthrough the park and get to see the beautiful animals like bobcats, opossums and river otters.

5. Sugar Mountain Resort, North Carolina

This resort has 21 trails extending across 125 skiable slopes. This resort is popular with families because it is beginner-friendly. It is also the largest ski resort with a double black diamond slope in North Carolina.

Their famous ski trails are Whoopdeedoo, Gunther’s Way, Tom Terrific, and Boulder Dash. the peak elevation is 5,300 feet with a vertical slope of 2,900 feet in length.

The resort has 10,000 square foot skating rink, a multi-lane tubing hill and a terrain park with a grab-bag. The Sugar Bear ski school at the resort offers a lesson for all ages and skiing abilities.

During December holidays, the resort hosts music and other festivities dubbed Sugar Fest. They also offer snowshoeing tours making your experience unique.

6. Beech Mountain Resort, North Carolina

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This resort in the Western region of North Carolina has a unique experience for its guests. In addition to the skiing facilities and activities, it also has a craft beer scene.

This has become popular in the recent past drawing beer lovers and nature lovers alike to its slopes. It is one of the few resorts that makes its beer.

The resort sits at 5,506 feet and becomes the highest ski resort on the East Coast. This park is close to Land of Oz theme park, no longer in use.

The tubing hill on this resort features 700-foot chutes and a 7,000 square foot outdoor skating rink.

For a more adventurous experience, ride their lift and ski on one of their 15 slopes that are suitable to all skill levels. While at the summit, spend some time at the Sky bar while sipping their pale ale made from their brewery.

7. Appalachian Ski Mountain, North Carolina

This nest skiing resort is a favourite of many university students. Well, it is located close to Appalachian State University. It has the best offers for the youth and also the young at heart.

The resort is full of life and can be loud for those that look for quieter resorts. You cannot blame the young people that love their parties, posing for photos for their social pages and the good rates they get as students.

This resort has been in existence since 1962 and has quad chairlifts, conveyer lift, double chairlift, handle pull lift, 11 slopes and 3 terrain parks.

8. Cloud Mont Ski and Golf Resort, Alabama

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This the Country’s southernmost skiing resort and is found in Alabama at fort Payne. The resort sits on 800-acre land with lots of outdoor and indoor activities for the entire family.

The resort is four-seasons and has two slopes that are more than 1,000 feet with a vertical rise of 150 feet. It is beginner-friendly and has plastic grab handles of the surface as you head to the summit. They have instructors on-site to guide all ages.

There is an advanced snowmaking machine that has been used in this resort since the 1970s. this has enabled the resort to create two 1,000-foot-long slopes for beginners and intermediate skiers.

Should have forgotten your boots, jacket, goggles, worry not because you can hire or buy them at the resort.

9. Massanutten Resort, Virginia

This resort is located in the heart of the charming Shenandoah Valley with magnificent views of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and Allegheny Mountains to the west.

The resort is adjacent to the George Washington forest and Jefferson National forest. It has a 1,100-foot vertical slope, snow tubing hills and 14 skiing trails.

You will find an onsite restaurant and temperature-controlled water parks that are children friendly. They can learn to surf on the flow rider endless wave.

This is the most loved resort by families because of its varied amenities from accommodation to activities. It has been serving families for more than 40 years.

10. Snowshoe Mountain, West Virginia

Snowshoe Mountain resort gets about 180 inches of snow a year. It is at 4,848 feet creating a perfect ambience for skilled skiers. The silver creek is the most popular slope with trees and moderate terrain compared to the mountaineer parks.

This resort is spread over 11,000 acres of land and receives at least 480,000 skiers each year. There are at least 60 slope and trails, one unique one is the Cupp Run that was designed by Olympians Jean-Claude Killy and Shays Revenge.

The train at Cass Scenic will take you to the railroad state park up the beautiful mountains.