When winter settles into the High Country, the Boone area trades lush forests for frosted evergreens, crisp mornings, and the kind of serenity that makes you slow down and look around. Snow-dusted ridgelines, glowing downtown windows, and a calendar full of seasonal fun make winter one of the most magical times to visit. Whether you’re chasing fresh powder, cozying up indoors, or doing a little of both, this Winter Bucket List will help you make the most of the season.

Someone snowboards down a slope with a huge spray of snow behind them.
✓ Hit the Slopes

As the Ski Capital of the South, Boone winters wouldn’t be complete without snow sports. The area is home to three of the Southeast’s premier ski resorts: Appalachian Ski Mountain, Sugar Mountain Resort, and Beech Mountain Resort. From first-time snow bunnies to seasoned skiers carving double-black diamonds, there’s a run and a resort for everyone.

✓ Go Tubing or Sledding

For pure snowy joy with zero technical skills required, tubing and sledding deliver every time. Several nearby resorts offer expansive snow tubing parks with multiple lanes and conveyor lifts, making it easy to lap your favorite run again and again. After a natural snowfall, the town of Beech Mountain offers a free sledding hill for kids. Add a little friendly competition, and you’ve got a winter tradition in the making.

The original Mast General Store in Valle Crucis is blanketed in snow. Old signage and the American flag a bright against a white backdrop.

✓ Explore Hallmark-Worthy Downtowns

Winter transforms High Country communities into something straight out of a holiday movie. Downtown Boone, Blowing Rock, and Valle Crucis shine with twinkling lights, historic storefronts, and cozy corners perfect for wandering. Pop into locally owned shops, grab a warm drink, and enjoy the slower, more intimate feel that winter brings to these mountain communities.

✓ Warm Up with Appalachian Arts & Culture

Cold days are perfect for creative exploration. Step inside galleries and museums like the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, browse working craft studios along the Blue Ridge Craft Trails, or create your own handmade works at The Pottery Lot. Many galleries are free, making this an easy and enriching activity for families.

Someone holds a fork and a knife as they get ready to dive into a plate of food at Booneshine.

✓ Enjoy Delicious Food + Cozy Sips

Boone’s dining scene leans into the season with hearty, soul-warming dishes that feel especially earned after a day in the cold. Think locally sourced ingredients, rich flavors, and menus that favor comfort without sacrificing creativity. Pair it with a craft beer, a glass of wine, or a locally roasted coffee, and you’ve got the ideal recipe for thawing out. Whether you’re settling in fireside or swapping trail stories at a neighborhood favorite, winter here tastes as good as it feels.

✓ Go Ice Skating

There’s something undeniably magical about gliding across the ice with mountain peaks all around you. Nearby ice skating rinks offer a classic winter experience that feels festive, nostalgic, and just a little bit whimsical. Bonus points if you go in the evening, when the twinkling lights shine overhead, and the chance of flurries increases. 

Two horses with a male and female rider walk side by side along a snowy dirt road with the sun shining through bare trees and a mountain ridge in the distance.

✓ Take a Snowy Trail Ride

When conditions allow, winter opens up a quieter side of the High Country outdoors. Snowy or frost-lined carriage trails at Moses Cone Memorial Park offer a peaceful way to explore the landscape on foot, snowshoes, or even horseback at select outfitters. The pace slows, the crowds thin, and the scenery feels especially serene beneath a blanket of white.

✓ Watch a Live Performance

Boone’s event calendar stays lively all winter long. Catch a concert, film screening, or theatrical performance at the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country, or cap off a day on the slopes with Beech Mountain's Winter Concert Series. It’s the perfect way to spend a winter evening—warm, entertained, and surrounded by a community that loves the arts.

The sunrise bathes the sky in pinks and purples as a snowboarder looks on from the trees.

✓ Catch a Winter Sunrise

Winter sunrises in the mountains are something special. Crisp air and bare trees create long-range views and soft pastel skies that feel almost otherworldly. Bundle up and head to a scenic overlook or quiet roadside pull-off to watch the day begin. Some of our favorites in winter are along the Tanawha Trail*, which include Beacon Heights Overlook and Rough Ridge Overlook. 

*While the Beacon Heights parking area is still accessible when the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed, the Rough Ridge parking area is not. Be sure to check the road status before you head out!

✓ Relax and Refresh

Winter in Boone isn’t all about doing; it’s also about unwinding. Book a massage, enjoy a spa day, or simply linger a little longer over breakfast at your lodging. Our range of accommodations provides the perfect setting to rest, reset, and fully soak in the season.

Winter in the Boone area offers space to play hard, slow down, and reconnect with nature and with yourself. As you explore, remember to follow the 7 Outdoor NC Principles to help protect the places that make the High Country so special.