Sugar Mountain is the closest big ski area to the house, about 10 miles away and two miles east of Banner Elk. It has 20 slopes across 125 skiable acres, a 1,200-foot vertical drop from a 5,300-foot summit, and a longest run of a mile and a half. Fourteen slopes are lit for night skiing.
Not everyone in the group skis? There’s plenty else. The tubing park has 700-foot lanes with a carpet lift back to the top, there’s a 10,000 square foot outdoor ice rink with skates included, and guided snowshoe tours run several times a week. Tubing and skating are for ages 3 and up.
The season usually runs from November to March. In summer, the Summit Express chairlift runs scenic rides and the bike park opens on weekends from early July to Labor Day. Oktoberfest takes over the second weekend in October, with free admission.
Good to know: tubing and skating tickets are sold online only, go on sale two days ahead and often sell out, so book as soon as you can.
