When it comes to mountain destinations, North Carolina is brimming with possibilities. If the Highlands of the Tar Heel State are where you’ve set your aim for a day trip, weekend getaway, or longer, then you can’t go wrong if you head to Banner Elk — especially in the height of the winter season. Just be sure to bring along your go-to winter hiking gear before hitting the slopes!
Relatively speaking, the tiny town of Banner Elk (population... about 1,000) wasn't settled too long ago.
The first settlers, the Banner family, set up house here in 1848, and the rest is history. During the summer, Banner Elk's temps rise to only as high as the low 80s. And the nearby mountaintops? They rarely rise above 72 in the summer. High elevations make the difference - year round! In the winter, Banner Elk is the perfect place to call home for some fantastic wintertime activities.
The largest snow tubing resort on the east coast is found only 10 minutes from Banner Elk.
Hawksnest Snow Tubing (and zipline) in nearby Seven Devils is a snow-covered destination everyone can enjoy. You don't need any experience at all to go flying down a long mountain slope on top of a tube.
And consider roping your tubes together. The more tubes you have the faster you'll go! For most of the winter, you can also try out the zipline at Hawksnest, too. Soar high above the white landscape and enjoy the views.
Want more? It's easy to find when you're hunkering down in Banner Elk for your adventures! Be sure to check out the all-new (opened 2020) Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster in Banner Elk, across the road from the very visible slopes of Sugar Mountain.
Wilderness Run is open year-round, rain or shine. Hop aboard your coaster car, ride to the top of the mountain and travel at super high speeds as you descend back to the base.
For even more fun... purchase more than one ticket back-to-back, so you can ride again (and again)! Bundles of tickets are available with discounts for additional rides per person.
When you're sitting on Banner Elk's main street, look up at the huge mountain in front of you. That's Beech Mountain!
Ski. Ice skate. Snow board. Then, take a break and enjoy some freshly-brewed beer or a cocktail. Shop in the village. Or, have a bite to eat.
Robin Jarvis
The fire pit is always a great place to mingle while you're taking a break from the activities at Ski Beech.
Learn more about the Town of Beech Mountain and the ski resort here and here.
For variety and to ski some different kinds of slopes, head over to Sugar Mountain Ski Resort. You can see those super steep slopes from many parts of Banner Elk.
Sure, it's fun to watch everyone skiing from far away (they are like small specks from a distance) but you'll need to get up there and give it a go yourself. Slopes on both the front and back side of this mountain are routinely open and FULL of visitors just having a blast.
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Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain are pretty evenly matched for difficulty. So why not split your time and try both?
Learn all you need to know about Sugar Mountain by visiting this link.
And if you want a spot that's not as challenging (in our opinion) and might be just perfect for the beginner in your family... head to Blowing Rock (via Boone) and hit the slopes at Appalachian Ski Mountain.
Find out more about Appalachian Ski Mountain, right here.
Winter activities in North Carolina are so much fun. If you’re among those who wait with anticipation for winter to arrive, then you will be so pleasantly surprised by Banner Elk. Of note, there is only one actual hotel in Banner Elk. Most people find something on AirBnB.com or find a rental agent to help locate a place to stay.
Will you head to Banner Elk this winter for some outdoorsy, snowy fun? We’d love to know your thoughts!
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