I don’t care that Ski Ward opened on November 1st with a magic carpet that isn’t even running. Usually, it’s been resorts like Sunday River or Killington pulling off to be one of the first ski resorts open in North America. Well, for 2025/26, it’s an unlikely contender in a state you wouldn’t normally associate with skiing: Sugar Mountain in North Carolina.
This mountain doesn’t play around. With a top-notch snowmaking arsenal and new fully automated SMI machines, Sugar Mountain flipped the switch as soon as temps dipped to January like levels Sunday night. The result? November 11, 2025 officially marked the first real mountain opening on the East Coast.
Snow Everywhere
And Mother Nature is joining the party. Three fresh inches fell Sunday night, and on Monday the forecast called for single digit temps and added another four inches of snow. It was a powder day to kick off the season.
What’s Open
Expect top to bottom riding with 1,200 vertical feet on 8 to 24 inches of snow. Trails like Northridge, Switchback, Upper and Lower Flying Mile, and the Magic Carpet area will be ready to shred. The high speed six passenger Summit Express chairlift whisks riders to the 5,300 foot peak, while beginners can take the Magic Carpet at a gentler pace.
Sugar Knows How to Open Early
This isn’t their first rodeo. Sugar Mountain kicked things off on November 11 in 2018, November 9 in 2019, and even Halloween in 2012. They know how to start a season strong.
Other NC Ski Resorts Have Won The Crown TOO
Sugar isn’t alone in early season glory. Back in 2019, Cataloochee, a tiny resort, managed an opening on November 3 thanks to the perfect combo of freezing temps and low humidity.
Big congrats to Sugar Mountain, the potential of being the first real mountain to open on the East Coast this season! Powder hounds, get ready: this could be your best winter yet.
