Cross-country skiing at Moses Cone Park
Sugar Mountain Snowshoeing
Ziplining at Hawksnest
Ice skating at Appalachian Ski Mountain
Winter Fun in the High Country
By Karen Rieley
T
hink of the High Country in the winter and, no doubt, you think of snowboarding and snow skiing. After all, the area boasts three great ski mountains, including Beech Mountain Resort, Sugar Mountain Resort, and Appalachian Ski Mountain. But make no mistake, the High Country is no one-trick pony in the winter. There’s lots to do for all ages, whether there’s snow or not. If standing at the edge of a mountaintop with nothing between you and the bottom but two skis and a couple of poles or one lone snowboard isn’t your cup of tea (or hot cocoa), or if you’re ready for a change of pace from snow skiing/snowboarding, check out these other fun winter activities! Google the website or Facebook page for each listing to check out times, days of the week, costs, age restrictions, advance reservation requirements and other specifics.
Snow Tubing & Ziplining If snow tubing and ziplining are more your speed and comfort level, you have several great choices in the High Country. All offer sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, plenty of lanes, snowmaking, plus moving carpet lifts to quickly transport you back to the top. Check out Beech Mountain Resort, Hawksnest in Seven Devils, and Sugar Mountain Resort, all in the northwest mountains of North Carolina.
Ice Skating While others are skiing or snowboarding on the slopes, you and your children may enjoy ice skating. Sugar Mountain Ski Resort has the added advantage of ice skating located next door to restaurants,
retail stores and other amenities. At Appalachian Ski Mountain, families can watch the resort’s Zamboni scrape the ice floor to get the rink ready for skaters! At Beech Mountain, ice skating is currently under construction and will be closed for the 2021-2022 season.
Sledding Sledding is the easiest and most accessible winter activity for all ages. It can be done almost anywhere there is a hill and public property—an inexpensive plastic sled will do—and snow in the High Country is almost certain throughout the season! Beech Mountain has a new sledding hill across the street from the Visitor Center and behind the Brick Oven Pizzeria. It can be accessed from Bark Park Way, the paved road that runs beside the pizzeria. Parking is either in the public gravel lot just before the restaurant off the Beech Mountain Parkway, or the new, paved pay-to-park lot on Bark Park Way. Two state-of-the-art snow guns ensure a good base and quick coverage when the weather is optimal for snowmaking. Only plastic sleds may be used—no tubes or sleds with metal runners.
Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing If you’re looking for fun, easy, and safe new ways to stay active and energized over the winter months, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing offer great alternatives for outdoor enthusiasts of every age and skill-level to get out and explore winter. They are much faster to learn, and are also more affordable as a sport. The region offers a variety of options.
Tubing at Su gar M Photo by Todd ountain Bush
Beech Mountain has an extensive trail system available for snowshoeing with all levels of difficulty. Experienced snowshoers might consider the Emerald Outback trails at the top of the mountain. An easier snowshoeing option is the 1/3-mile walking track surrounding the Buckeye Recreation Center. Sugar Mountain Resort offers a snowshoe guided tour that can be a casual walk or an intense workout in a wonderful winter wonderland. Boone Greenway Trail (Boone, NC) is a nice flat trail that meanders through the woods and mountains and along creek beds. The trail is maintained by the Town of Boone, but it is “last on the list” to be scraped for snow after all town sidewalks and roads are clear, so there is a good chance you can get in some skiing if you arrive right after a good snow! When the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed to vehicles due to ice or snow, it is open to hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Visit the National Park Service website for Blue Ridge Parkway road closures. Two good starting points are the gate on U.S. 221 near Beacon Heights to travel to the Linn Cover Viaduct, and off U.S. 221 just outside of Blowing Rock and south of the Cone estate on the parkway. In both cases, make sure to park without blocking the gates in case a park ranger needs to enter the area. Moses H. Cone Memorial Park near Blowing Rock offers some fine crosscountry skiing in an attractive and historic venue. Valle Crucis Park has a nice and flat ¾-mile paved loop that is great for crosscountry skiing. (The park also offers excellent trout fishing locations that are accessible on snowy days.) Continued on next page CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Winter 2021/22 —
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