Seasonal Outdoor Activities in the High Country – A Year-Round Guide
Experience mountain views while hiking along one of the numerous trail options in the area. Additionally, year-round activities including horseback riding and mountain biking await you.
Experience the annual Woolly Worm Festival in mid-October and witness how fuzzy caterpillars at this event may predict winter’s weather! According to legend, fuzzy caterpillars here may even predict snow!
Fall
Fall may not receive as much recognition as winter and summer, but it remains one of the most beautiful times to visit the High Country. From vibrant foliage, pumpkin picking, parkway drives, football season and annual festivals to unforgettable experiences like pumpkin picking. And for those not quite up for braving the cold outside yet – indoor venues offer just as many events, shows, restaurants and activities to keep everyone warm and cozy this fall season!
Autumn is an excellent season to explore our mountain trails and take in the fall scenery. Local parks provide ample hiking opportunities, while Blue Ridge Parkway features scenic overlooks that provide beautiful mountain landscape views. For an even more challenging adventure, head up Grandfather Mountain where trails remain open year-round.
No matter your fall adventure style, High Gravity Adventures has an Ultimate Adventure package just for you! Their package features access to their high-altitude zip line tour, Blue Ridge Park & Ninja Course and three-person giant swing.
Fall is also an ideal time to visit our region’s many apple orchards. Many in the High Country allow visitors to pick their own apples, ride on a hayride around the farm and purchase fresh-pressed apple cider from these orchards. Altapass on Blue Ridge Parkway features heirloom varieties with full service restaurant, while Perry Lowe Orchard in Wilkesboro features family fun like an apple cannon, corn maze and more for visitors of all ages!
Make the most of your trip to the High Country by immersing yourself in local arts! Don’t miss Boone’s Downtown Art Crawl on every first Saturday of each month in Boone; galleries and businesses display jewelry, pottery, fiber art glasswork and much more for all to see!
The High Country offers many ski resorts and a snow tubing park for winter activities, from skiing and tubing to snow tubing and tubing parks. Be sure to pack layers when heading onto the slopes; temperatures can quickly become frigid after exerting yourself.
Winter
The High Country offers an abundance of activities ideal for winter enthusiasts and sports fans. Home to three ski resorts and a snow tubing park, each one provides skiing, snowboarding and snow shoeing experiences suitable for all experience levels. Winter also brings with it many outdoor opportunities to discover this breathtaking mountain scenery.
Hiking trails offer breathtaking vistas of the High Country’s mountains and valleys during winter hiking trails. Boasting open views with minimal bugs, hiking is an excellent way to appreciate nature while taking in its winter scenery. Rhododendrons, azaleas and wildflowers bloom beautifully; making for a beautiful sight!
High Country locations boast high elevation and clear air that are ideal for snow sports enthusiasts and other winter activities, such as downhill and cross-country skiing. Snow sports enthusiasts can find many options available at Appalachian Ski Resort, Sugar Mountain Ski Resort and Beech Mountain Ski Resort during winter season.
Skiing isn’t the only way to enjoy the High Country during winter; snowmobile rentals are also widely available across the region. Winterfest at Chetola Resort and Polar Plunge events provide additional winter fun!
Winter in the High Country is an extraordinary season that provides an idyllic backdrop for holiday festivities and winter activities. Boone, Blowing Rock and Banner Elk all boast festive lights displays for Christmas celebrations; making the area a great location to experience Hallmark movie-inspired Christmases!
In the summer months, take a ride on Tweetsie Railroad or visit one of the numerous museums located throughout the region. Or take on white water rafting for an exhilarating thrill or mine for gems at Prospector Hill! Or head over to 10 High Country Lanes for bowling or some delicious cuisine – this city truly offers something for everyone!
Spring
Springtime in the High Country is a beautiful time of year, when birds chirp, flowers bloom, and family activities take place outdoors. Take advantage of famous mountain bike trails or stroll around lakes, parks, or rivers; try your hand at fishing at Grandfather Mountain Trout Farm; kids will catch trout that they pay to keep!
Hiking in the High Country is a year-round activity suitable for hikers of any skill level, from the novice to expert. Hikers can witness colorful leaves in fall while summer hikes provide opportunities to discover waterfalls, mountain vistas and wildflowers. Plus, due to its highest elevations the High Country also serves as an idyllic destination for snow sports – thrill seekers flock to its ski resorts for skiing, snowboarding and other adventures!
If you want to experience the High Country during wintertime, take a stroll through charming mountain towns such as Boone and Blowing Rock. Stop in at local festivals featuring live music performances and holiday markets; cozy cabin getaways offer another excellent way to embrace its winter spirit!
One of the great pleasures of summer in the High Country is wandering through a farmer’s market, where local farmers and artisans display their produce, handcrafted goods, fresh baked treats and more.
Whitewater rafting or tubing on the Watauga and New Rivers offer exhilarating outdoor adventures, while drifting along their waterways on a tube allows you to unwind in nature’s beauty while relaxing and taking in its beauty.
Be a cowboy or cowgirl on horseback with Dutch Creek Trails in Valle Crucis or Vx3 Trail Rides in Moses Cone Park! Or learn about the High Country’s rich heritage at either Blowing Rock Art & History Museum or Banner Elk’s Mountain Culture Center – perhaps sampling some delicious Jerky Outpost offerings of venison, buffalo and alligator from Historic Valle Crucis! Don’t forget the Ensemble Stage which boasts 99 seats!
Summer
With its temperate climate that often falls 10-15 degrees lower than coastal plain regions, the High Country is an outdoor enthusiast’s delight all year long. Offering everything from challenging mountain sports to cozy highland cabins and everything in between – be it adrenaline junkie or leisure seeker alike, its natural beauty offers endless adventure.
In summertime, the High Country comes alive with outdoor concerts and festival celebrations of all sorts, farmers’ markets with fresh produce from chefs as well as homemade goods made by farmers themselves, musical concert series taking place throughout towns like Banner Elk’s Tate-Evans Park or Valle Crucis Community Park, and plenty more!
Hike to discover hidden waterfalls and peaceful rivers, or take a drive on the legendary Blue Ridge Parkway where breathtaking vistas await at every turn. And make sure to stop at a brewery so you can taste some of the region’s finest craft beers!
Summer in the mountains provides ideal conditions for boating and white water rafting adventures, from High River Expeditions and Wahoo’s Adventures. Adrenaline junkies can experience rapids aboard thrilling white water rafting excursions while other water activities can include swimming, kayaking, canoeing and tubing.
Though the High Country is most widely known for its beautiful fall colors and winter ski resorts, spring and summer offer equally breathtaking scenes with vibrant blooms of dogwood, crape myrtle, rhododendron, and azalea providing scenic hiking trails.
Due to its temperate climate, the High Country is an ideal setting for golf and tennis players of all levels – beginners or experts alike can find plenty of clubs here, plus several PGA and USTA professional tournaments take place here annually.