Cataloochee Ski Area - Maggie Valley, NC

The Cataloochee Ski Area is located in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. It has been open for 45 years. The resort offers 10 trails and 5 lifts over 25 acres. There is a 5,400-foot elevation and vertical drop of 740 feet. The longest run is 3,500 feet.

The season generally runs from November through March, though varies by year. During the regular season lift tickets may be purchased as Day, Half Day (Morning or Afternoon), Twilight, and Night. Day passes are valid from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM on non-holiday weekdays and from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Half days run 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM or 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM. Twilight skiing is 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM and night skiing is 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Equipment rental is also available. The rental department has over 4,000 sets of ski and snowboard equipment. They also have a state-of-the-art boot drying system.

Skiers may purchase various season passes, as well. There are early bird passes available during March, First Tracks from April through August, Pre-Season from September through November, and In Season passes from December on. Prices increase accordingly. Passes may be purchased as a single person unlimited or limited and a family pass that is unlimited or limited. Seasonal lockers are also available for Season Pass holders. There are large and small lockers available to those who purchase the Early Bird and First Tracks passes.

The resort offers a Professional Ski Instructors of American (PSIA) certified Ski and Snowboarding school. The school offers regular and private lessons, which include snowboarding and children's programs. One program is for 5th and 6rh graders and runs after school. The resort provides beginners with their own area and their own chairlift. There are also two runs more suitable for experienced skiers.

Upper Omigosh, Alley Cat, and Cat Cage Terrain Park are the runs available for experts. Lower Omigosh, Rock Island Run, Upper and Lower Snowbird, and Short `n Sweet are intermediate runs. Over Easy, Rabbit Hill, Wolf Creek Hollow, Beginners Luck, Easy Way, and Turkey Trot are all runs for novice skiers. A majority of the slopes have lights available for night use.

The Ski Area has partnered with a variety of cabins, private home rentals, motels, and hotels for the out of area skiers. Cataloochee offers a "Kids Ski Free'' program. To participate, children under 18 can stay overnight and ski free when a paying adult accompanies them. Paying adults must stay overnight on a non-holiday Sunday through Thursday evening.

There are some restrictions to the program. One is that a person must be 21 years or older to qualify as a paying adult. Also, there is a limit of two free children per room per paying adult. The paying adult must purchase a full price lift ticket in order to use the kids ski free vouchers. The motel portion of the program is any non-holiday Sunday through Thursday, where the skiing portion is any non-holiday Monday through Friday.