This Charming Mountain Town Is the ‘Ski Capital of the South’—and It Has Night Skiing, Tubing Parks, and Scenic Drives

• Boone, North Carolina, is known as the “Ski Capital of the South,” with three ski resorts just minutes apart in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
• Visitors can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and après-ski fun at Appalachian Ski Mountain, Sugar Mountain, and Beech Mountain.
• Beyond the slopes, Boone has craft trails, local shops, and cozy restaurants.

When most people think of popular skiing destinations in the U.S., their minds often jump to the Rockies or the Northeast—ski vacations in the South aren’t on most peoples’ radar.

But to overlook the South is to overlook Boone, North Carolina, the “Ski Capital of the South.” Not only does Boone have three nearby ski areas, each within 19 miles of the next, but it’s beautiful to get to: The town is tucked just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, aka “America’s Favorite Drive,” which runs for 469-miles through the Appalachian Mountains.

Those mountains, which provide the Blue Ridge Parkway with long-range mountain views, become a playground for skiers and snowboarders when the temperature drops.

The closest ski area to downtown Boone, Appalachian Ski Mountain, is also the longest standing of the trio. Appalachian, often called “App Ski Mtn” for short, has been open since 1962 and has a ski school—French Swiss Ski College—that’s been teaching people to ski for nearly as long. The mountain has 13 runs, all of which stay open for night skiing, an outdoor ice rink, and it’s also adjacent to the bustling town of Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

Meanwhile, Sugar Mountain Resort is the largest and steepest of the ski areas near Boone, with 125 acres of skiable terrain, 21 ski runs, and a vertical drop of 1,200 feet. Plus, 14 of the mountain’s runs are lit for night skiing and Hawksnest Tubing is nearby, boasting the largest snow tubing park in the Southeast with over 30 tubing lanes.

And finally, the area’s highest elevation ski spot (read: good snow) is Beech Mountain Ski Resort, which is also the highest elevation ski area in the east. Beech has 17 runs, six chairlifts, and three surface lifts, plus a vertical drop of 830 feet. For après-ski, there’s the slopeside Beech Mountain Brewing Co. or the on-mountain 5,506′ Sky Bar, which is perched at the summit of Beech Mountain at 5,506-feet.

Beyond skiing and snowboarding (and tubing, après, and skating) Boone is known for its community of small business owners—like Fred and Margie Pfohl, who met on the slopes and now own Fred’s General Mercantile at the base of Beech Mountain. To get the full scope of the local landscape, take on Boone’s Blue Ridge Craft Trails, which include stops at art hubs like Hands Gallery and artisan-owned shops like Capozzoli Guitar Company, which incorporates reclaimed barn wood and repurposed railroad elements into furniture and guitars. For food, The Gamekeeper, a steakhouse specializing in locally sourced game, is a favorite. 

While driving the Blue Ridge Parkway is the most beautiful way to access Boone, those coming from further afield can fly into Charlotte Douglas International (CLT) and take the Hickory Hop shuttle to Boone.