Top 10 Destinations for Winter Sports in North Carolina
From snowboarding and skiing to tubing and snowshoeing, there’s plenty to do in North Carolina this winter.
North Carolina is a beautiful place to be in the winter, and there is no shortage of options for those who want to stay active throughout the cold season.
While towns throughout the state turn into winter wonderlands each year, if you’re looking for winter activities like snowboarding, sledding, tubing, or skiing in North Carolina, you’ll want to head west. There are six ski resorts spread throughout the western part of the state, where the snow is known to fall, and they’ll make it if it doesn’t. Below, we’ve highlighted some great activities to get into at a few of those resorts mixed in with some other spots where you can enjoy your winter in the great outdoors.
It’s important to note, however, that western North Carolina is still recovering from Hurricane Helene, which decimated many towns in the area in late September. Many of the locations listed below are in the area surrounding Blowing Rock, which suffered extensive damage but has since reopened. We’ve checked all the venues we’re recommending, and they’re ready for visitors, but you’ll want to do your research to ensure that restaurants, roads, and anything else you’ll rely on for your trip are open.
VisitNC has a helpful Travel Advisory page that stays updated with information about which towns and roads are open and what’s still closed.
Skiing in North Carolina
Appalachian Ski Mountain
940 Ski Mountain Road, Blowing Rock
Appalachian Ski Mountain incurred minimal damage during Hurricane Helene and was ready to open at the start of its normally scheduled season, which began on Nov. 22 this year. There are snowboard and ski rentals available, as well as an ice-skating arena for those who want to stay off the slopes.
With 27 acres of skiable terrain comprising 13 slopes and trails ranging across all skill levels, you’re sure to find something perfect for you.
Cataloochee Ski Area
1080 Ski Lodge Road, Maggie Valley
With 18 slopes spread throughout 50 acres, the longest run at Cataloochee is the Upper and Lower Snowbird, which comes in at 3,500 feet. Throughout January and February, the area hosts interscholastic and NASTAR recreational race programs on Tuesdays (middle school), Wednesdays (high school) and Thursdays (NASTAR).
If you’re bringing the kiddos, consider the nearby Tube World as an alternative. The six-run tubing park requires no experience or lessons and also features a Wee Bowl Snowplay Area.
Sledding in North Carolina
Beech Mountain Sledding Hill
Beech Mountain
Hosting the only municipal sledding hill in the southeast, the Town of Beech Mountain keeps the action going with a mix of manmade and natural snow. The hill is only usable for kids 12 and under, but parents are invited to ride with their preschoolers.
Located behind the Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria at 402 Beech Mountain Parkway, the hill is free to use, but the kids need a plastic sled, which they can bring themselves or rent from the Beech Meadows Ski Shop or White Wolf Lodge. If you’re looking for something more advanced, the nearby Beech Mountain Ski Resort offers skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing.
Boone Jaycee Park
728 Horn in the W Drive, Boone
This small park near Horn in the West hosts several great sledding spots. Jaycee Park has a few places to sled. For toddlers, the best spot is on the gentle slope in the fenced playground area.
For all you bigger folks, take to the paths on Strawberry Hill, located across Horn in the West Drive. However, beware that there is a road below Strawberry Hill, so you’ve got to be prepared to stop your sled before you reach it.
Snow tubing in North Carolina
Hawksnest Snow Tubing
2058 Skyland Drive, Seven Devils
Four different snow-tubing areas feature 30 lanes on a range of terrains at this park, making for a full day of fun. Anyone 3 years old and up is welcome to take a ride down the hills, then ride back up on the conveyor belt-style lifts called “magic carpets.”
The park also hosts zipline tours through the mountains, though Hurricane Helene ended that party early. They plan to reopen for ziplining in the spring of 2025.
Moonshine Mountain
5865 Willow Road, Hendersonville
With a name that pays homage to the history of the Appalachian mountains, Moonshine Mountain is about family fun, not bootleg liquor. With 500 feet of steep and snowy fun, you can ride solo or build a tube train for the trip down.
This year’s opening date is Dec. 20. The park is cash-only, though there’s an ATM onsite.
Snowshoeing/cross-country skiing in North Carolina
Moses Cone Memorial Park
Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 294
Having built his fortune on denim and other textiles, Moses H. Cone built his 23-room Colonial Revival mansion, called Flat Top Manor, to serve as a retreat from the rigors of running a business empire. With 25 miles of carriage roads built throughout the property, the estate is one of the most popular spots for hiking, horse riding, and snowshoeing along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Hikers can enjoy two man-made lakes, sprawling meadows, and the historic Cone Cemetery or hike to Rich Mountain, a quieter, longer alternative to the popular Flat Top Tower hike.
Winter fishing in North Carolina
North Carolina is not a state that’s amendable to ice fishing. In fact, we’ll go ahead and say it right now: It’s never a good idea to walk on ice in North Carolina, let alone cut a hole through it and sit there for a few hours.
That said, there’s still great fly-fishing opportunities throughout western North Carolina over the winter, just be sure that your boots aren’t going to let any of that cold stream water in. In this blog post from 2021, Joshua Brooks recalls some of his fond memories of fishing during the winters in Hot Springs (don’t let the name fool you), while The Catawba Angler has written about his experiences trout fishing around Asheville in the cold season.
Ice skating in Charlotte
US National Whitewater Center
5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte
Heading down into the Piedmont, the US National Whitewater Center has been providing Charlotte-area residents with a place to run, paddle, ride, climb, kayak, and more since 2006. It’s located on 1,300 acres on the outskirts of the city. In winter, staff drain the humongous man-made whitewater rapids course and place two beautifully lit ice-skating rinks on the upper portion of the course.
Open from mid-November through mid-February, the site consists of more than 24,000 square feet of unique skating space split into four distinct skating areas, including two ice trails and two free-skate zones. Centered among the skating rinks is an old Airstream trailer from which staff sells cold and hot beverages, including beer and hot cocoa. Bring your own skates or rent one of the regularly sharpened pairs at the facility. New this year is the cask curling, which consists of sliding mini kegs across the ice to compete for points.
Camp North Pole
300 Camp Road, Charlotte
Each year, the sprawling Camp North End campus turns into a winter wonderland called Camp North Pole. It features igloo photo moments, seasonal drinks, and a variety of seating options to watch the action at the outdoor ice skating rink, plus a cozy indoor lounge to serve as a respite from the elements.
While you’re there, check out Mistletoe Market, with 25 Market Street vendors joining the existing 30 public-facing businesses at Camp North End. Get some shopping done, create memorable moments by the fire pits, and capture family portraits with the seasonal décor and any of the 100+ murals as your backdrop. Stop by on Dec. 14 for the incredibly cute Reindog Parade.
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