North Carolina’s snowboarding season is coming to a close on Saturday, March 29, 2025. The announcement comes from Sugar Mountain, located in Banner Elk, which has been offering one of the longest seasons in the state. As the warm temperatures begin to rise and the month of March comes to an end, the ski resort has decided to shut down its operations for the year.
Sugar Mountain’s ski area, known for having the largest vertical drop in North Carolina at 1,200 feet, will close its doors at 4:30 p.m. on March 29. The final night session of the season will take place on Friday, March 28, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., offering snowboarders one last chance to hit the slopes under the stars.
Initially, Sugar Mountain had planned for the season to end on March 30, but this plan was changed when temperatures remained high, reaching 60°F. As a result, riders faced difficulty reaching open trails, with mud patches making it challenging to navigate from the base of Oma’s Meadow to the top of the mountain. This led to the early closure announcement on Thursday.
Just down the road, other ski resorts in the region have already ended their seasons. Beech Mountain and Cataloochee both closed on March 22, 2025. Appalachian Ski Mountain wrapped up on March 14, two days earlier than planned, and Hatley Pointe concluded its first season of operations on March 8. Sapphire Valley also shut down on March 26.
A Recovery Season for Western North Carolina
This winter season was especially significant for the ski areas in western North Carolina, which are still recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Helene. The hurricane hit the region with devastating effects, destroying businesses, homes, and recreational facilities. Despite these challenges, the area experienced a good winter, with several resorts benefiting from strong snowmaking conditions.
Cold weather during the season allowed the ski areas to create artificial snow when necessary, as they are heavily reliant on snowmaking due to the unpredictable nature of natural snowfall in the southern states. Fortunately, there was also a fair amount of natural snow this season. Sugar Mountain received a total of 65 inches of snow, with the last dusting arriving late in the season, on March 21. Beech Mountain, which sits at a higher elevation, received 70 inches. Appalachian Ski Mountain recorded 33 inches, while Hatley Pointe had 52 inches of snow, and Cataloochee got nearly 40 inches.
Ober Mountain in Tennessee Remains the Last Resort Open
As of now, Ober Mountain in Tennessee is the only ski area left open in the southeastern United States. The resort is operating with two open lifts and three trails, running from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. However, with rain expected on five of the next eight days, it remains to be seen how long Ober Mountain can keep its lifts running.
Final Thoughts
It has been a season of recovery, good snow conditions, and plenty of opportunities for skiers and snowboarders to enjoy the slopes in North Carolina. With Sugar Mountain closing its doors on March 29, 2025, winter sports enthusiasts will have to wait until next season to return to the mountains.
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