Shout out to all snowboarders – the powder’s fresh, and the mountain is calling! Whether you’re cruising the groomers, bombing the backcountry, or doing tricks and riding switch, Maggie Valley, NC has one of the best spots for snowboarding in the entire Smoky Mountains. Head to the Cataloochee Ski Area for a gnarly day on the snow.
Shred your way down the same mountain as X-Games gold medalist – and native Waynesville, NC native – Zeb Powell. In January 2020, he scored the top prize in the Wendy’s Snowboard Knuckle Huck event, and that win was the culmination of years of practice. Powell did some of his earliest training when he hit the slopes at Cataloochee around 6 or 7 years old. And you can carve your own path down those same hills.
Snowboarding at Cataloochee
With its own extensive snow making abilities, Cataloochee keeps more base snow on the mountainside than many other ski resorts in the Smoky Mountains. Get ready for high-flying thrills when you take on the resort’s 18 trails with elevations up to 5,400 feet. The slopes are 44% beginner, 39% intermediate, and 17% advanced to expert. So, no matter what your skill level, you’ll be able to tackle all the chutes, bowls, speeds, and cliffs as aggressive or as chill as you want. Newbies can hone their skills with snowboarding lessons at Cataloochee’s on-site school, or check out our pro-tips for beginner snowboarders here.
When you want to switch things up from freeriding to freestyling, head over to the Cat Cage Terrain Park and join all the park rats. The crew here keeps the park fresh by mixing up the variations and adding in different features all throughout the season. No matter what kind of setup they make, though, your adrenaline will be pumping when you take on the ramps, rails, and boxes for some epic runs.
When the day is done, it’s time to let go with après ski. Head into Cataloochee’s lodge to grab a bite to eat at the restaurant or a warm drink in the bar, where you can catch live bluegrass every Friday. Chill out with great music, great drinks, and great stories from the slopes!
The Meadowlark Motel is an ideal home away from home on your snowboarding vacation in the Smoky Mountains. Warm up by the fire in one of our cabins beside Jonathan Creek, or enjoy the Appalachian chic vibe of our traditional guest rooms.
Directions to Cataloochee Ski Area from Meadowlark Motel
Cataloochee Ski Area is located four miles off U.S. 19 above beautiful Maggie Valley, North Carolina.
NOTICE TO OUR GUESTS…please do not use your GPS or iPhone Map app to bring you to the ski area and DO NOT use any mapping that includes the words Scenic View Dr. This is incorrect and a mapping error that takes you up a dead-end private road.
To get to the ski area, come through the town of Maggie Valley turn onto Fie Top Road and continue up that road for 3 miles and then 1 mile across on Ski Lodge Road to the ski area. Do not turn off of Fie Top Road onto any other road other than Ski Lodge Road.
Also, DO NOT USE DIRECTIONS THAT INCLUDE ROAD NAMES HEMPHILL ROAD OR YELLOW PATCH ROAD.
