Sugar Mountain Kicks Off the East Coast’s 2025-26 Ski Season

Winter is here, and it arrived in the most unexpected place first. Sugar Mountain Resort in North Carolina has officially opened for the 2025-26 season today, November 11th, making it the first ski resort on the entire East Coast to spin its lifts. This early-season victory for the Southern ski scene has everyone across the region buzzing.

You might be asking how a North Carolina resort could open before the major players up north, like Vermont's Killington. Well, this southern mountain is known for its ambitious snowmaking efforts and often capitalizes on early-season cold snaps.

A recent drop in temperatures on Sunday night, November 9th, allowed the resort to fire up its substantial snowmaking system. This cold window, combined with up to seven inches of natural snowfall in the area, proved to be enough to establish a base. In short, as soon as the weather provided the opportunity, the snowmaking crew at Sugar Mountain was locked in.

For those eager to get their first taste of winter, Sugar Mountain is offering a solid start. The resort is running the Summit Express chairlift and the Magic Carpet in the learning area. Guests will find access to five trails, including:

This allows for top-to-bottom skiing and riding on the mountain's 1,200-foot vertical drop, a feat in early November. This is not the mountain’s earliest start, they opened on Halloween in 2012, but it is the earliest in several years and a clear win for the East Coast.

This early opening is a big-picture sign that winter is on its way across the entire continent. It sets the tone for an exciting season ahead. Whether you're planning a trip to the Rockies, the Sierra, or staying close to the East Coast, the sound of chairlifts spinning early is a collective signal to get hyped.

Cataloochee Ski Area, another North Carolina resort, is set to open tomorrow, November 12th, adding to the excitement. Don't sleep on the rest of the season; make sure your crew is locked in, your gear is tuned, and you are ready for those deep breaths before dropping in on your first line of the year.