Wow, what a start to the season! As the east coast gets heaps of snow in its snowiest early season for a while, mountains in the Appalachians have also gotten a taste of winter. Appalachian ski resorts’ early season is off to a pretty good start. Many mountains were able to open more runs after early December’s snow got the season started. Mountains in NC got as much as 6+ inches on the 8th, and low early-season traffic allowed for some great skiing on fresh snow. Snowshoe has reported a season total of 26″ as of Dec 16th, which inspires confidence for the season ahead.
A recent day trip to Beech Mtn (NC) told me all I needed to know. Dumping snow all day, no crowds (despite there being only one top-to-bottom run open), and consistent conditions without snowmaking was a great precursor to what looks to be a promising season. Even though we are looking at higher temps this week, snow of that level so early is rare and generally predicts better than average season totals. Now, without further ado, here is a check in on the Appalachian ski resorts through the first 2 weeks – a month of opening:
Slope Reports-
In North Carolina-
Sugar Mountain Resort opened for the 2025-26 season on November 11, making it one of the earliest openings in the region this year. Beech Mountain Ski Resort began operations on December 5, bringing another major Southeast destination online. Meanwhile, Appalachian Ski Mountain kicked off its season on November 29, with snowmaking and cold temperatures allowing for some early coverage and open runs.
Over in West Virginia,
Several major mountains have also started up for the season. Timberline Mountain, Snowshoe Mountain, and Winterplace Ski Resort each opened terrain in early December, capitalizing on colder weather and snowmaking to offer a variety of slopes and activities. Timberline led the way on December 4, followed by Snowshoe on December 5, with Winterplace beginning operations on December 6. Virginia ski resorts Wintergreen and Massanutten opened on Dec. 5th and 6th respectively, with most smaller mountains also opening around the same time.
Many of these mountains now have at least ~50% of their terrain open in mid-December. Along with some early natural snow, however, we have also seen a warmer front come along with some icy conditions. Keep an eye out on the weather and crowds for holiday ski trips. Generally, across the Appalachians, early-season snow is often a mix of man-made coverage and any natural snow that sticks, so conditions can feel firm, slushy, or patchy depending on temperatures and recent weather. Check each resort’s current slope reports and webcams before heading out, because open trails and surface quality can change quickly in early December. Paying attention to base depths, number of lifts running, and which runs are open will save you a frustrating trip and help you plan the best possible day on the snow.
Check out our post about tips for Appalachian skiing here
As always, keep checking for more updates, and have an amazing holiday season!
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