Asheville and the surrounding mountainous areas have fun activities all year round. Hitting the mountains for winter means you have a wonderful opportunity to participate in outdoor winter sports! Those are just a few types of the many winter activities in Asheville.
Asheville has a mild winter so you won’t get the same cold or snow as the Northeast or Midwest. This means you can do some fun outdoor activities without freezing or you can still cozy up indoors. Here are our favorite activities:
Outdoor Winter Activities in Asheville
Visiting Linville Caverns
Linville Caverns are the only snow caverns in North Carolina, but the caverns are only open on weekends in winter. The caverns are a cool 52F all winter, so make sure to dress appropriately as it may be warmer than outside. The caverns have updated lighting and pathways, which makes them great for touring even when the weather isn’t great outside or you’re taking children with you. Tickets are $12 per adult and $10 per child, but you’ll want to purchase them ahead of time.
Chase Frozen Waterfalls
Waterfalls are the only thing I’ll chase (since I don’t like running and all). Frozen waterfalls are true works of art. There are MANY waterfalls in the Asheville area so naturally, there are many amazing frozen waterfalls to see.
Some of the callouts include Moore Cove Falls, Daniel Ridge Falls (you’ll see some hardcore mountain bikers here), and the waterfalls in DuPont Forest, where portions of The Hunger Games were filmed.
CAUTION: Remember, ice can form anywhere on the trails and can be dangerous and slippery. Always go on your hikes during the day, wear an adequate amount of layers, and ensure people know where you are. Keep a map and whistle handy as well.
Skiing
My favorite winter activity in the Asheville area is skiing. There are two main skiing mountains in the area Beech Mountain and Cataloochee Ski Area. These are not tall mountains like you’d see out West, but it is great family skiing.
Be sure to book ahead of time because it gets quite busy during the winter season. If you plan ahead of time you can actually get a ski-in ski-out cabin/apartment. If you can get one of these you never have to leave the mountain for your entire stay!
Check out all the great skiing in New England here!
Participate in Winter Sports
There are so many fun winter sports in the mountains for all those who aren’t into skiing or snowboarding. The Cataloochee Ski Area and Beech Mountain both have many options for winter activities near Asheville. Cataloochee Ski Area has ice skating or stay indoors with some roller skating nearby. While near Beech Mountain you can rent some snowshoes and warm up with a 1/3 mile loop.
There are some more trails in Emerald Outback and Sugar Mountain. Another cool and very unique winter activity is Ice Climbing. There is a climbing school that will teach novices how to climb the frozen Waterfalls. Definitely, a Must Try!
Hit the Trails
There are many wonderful hiking spots in the Asheville area. However, many hikes near the Blue Ridge Parkway are closed in the December-March season due to the weather and snow. Some more seasoned hikers may park near the closed trails and hike anyway.
I’d recommend leaving that to the seasoned hikers and hitting up Pisgah National Forest instead. Grandfather Mountain’s mile-high swinging bridge would be a good hike for winter. Bent Creek Experimental Forest Trails also has a wide variety of trails, varying in difficulty and length.
CAUTION: Remember, ice can form anywhere on the trails and can be dangerous and slippery. Always go on your hikes during the day, wear an adequate amount of layers, and ensure people know where you are. Keep a map and whistle handy as well.
Indoor Winter Activities in Asheville
Shoji Spa: Japanese Style Spa
This is a unique spa experience. Nestled in the mountainside is this unique, tranquil spa with traditional Japanese bathing and soaking. Guests have completely private rooms for their outdoor salt tubs and spa showers. All the products are locally sourced in the Asheville area. This is the ideal place to go to completely unplug after a busy holiday season or after trying some of the more physical winter activities in Asheville.
Soak up a Winter Sunset on a Rooftop Bar
There are so many wonderful rooftop bars in Asheville. While it might seem counterintuitive to sit outside during winter, sitting by a warm fire overlooking the city is a wonderful way to spend an evening. The mountains create some incredible sunsets. Since the sun starts to set earlier you can head to dinner after a cocktail or two and still catch the sunset.
Visit the Biltmore Estates and Village
The Biltmore Estates has expansive grounds with many beautiful sites and fun activities. That being said it is on the more expensive side with tickets being about $76 per person (prices vary). While Christmas time is magical because of the decorations and events, there are still many things to do year-round.
You can Tour the Biltmore House, Stroll through the garden, walk the lagoon, and go to a wine tasting. There are also many winter activities throughout the year. As of right now, there’s a Da Vinci exhibit, winter activities, and Wonders of the World in the garden.
Biltmore Village has many different places to visit. You can choose to stay the night in one of the many hotels in the Village.
Visit a Chocolate Factory
Asheville has many chocolate shops, including one with a local chocolate factory as well. As a great cold weather activity head to the French Broad Chocolate Factory for a tour and tasting. You’ll want to book the appointment ahead of time and come hungry for lots of free chocolate and a fun lesson on the history of chocolate. After the class, pick up drinking chocolate before you head out into the cold. With the tour, you get an added discount on all purchases in the store.
Cozy up in your Cabin
One of my favorite activities in winter is to curl up in front of a fire with a good book and hot chocolate. The mountains are a great place to slow down, relax, and enjoy the peaceful views. If you rent from an Airbnb or VRBO, look for a functioning fireplace. Then check out the Uncorked Librarian to see her Asheville reading suggestions.
Frequently Asked Questions about Winter in Asheville
Is January a good time to visit Asheville?
Yes! January is a great time to visit Asheville because it is both the snowiest and the least busy! You’ll get the lull after the holiday season and before the busy ski season in February. Plus you might luck out and it’ll snow while you’re there.
Does it snow in Asheville NC in January?
YES! January is both the snowiest month and the coldest. You will want to bundle up!
Is Asheville fun in the winter?
Asheville is so much fun in winter. It is a town of over 100,000 people plus it has many small towns surrounding it. So if all the activities I listed for winter in Asheville don’t sound fun there is plenty to do in town. There are many shops and wonderful restaurants in the downtown area.
Are there many places to stay in Asheville in Winter?
Yes! The Asheville area has so many wonderful hotels and lodges. Check some out below:
Can you visit Asheville in Summer too?
Absolutely! There are so many wonderful activities to do in Asheville year round. In the Summer there are many activities to do outside that include your dog too. Fall is a wonderful time to go leaf peeping as well.
The Amazing Winter Activities of Asheville
This small town has a lot to offer from caverns to luxurious Japanese spas. There is something for every kind of traveler and it will not disappoint! Not only is Asheville great for winter activities, it is also close to many other places in the NC mountains. It can be a passing place or a destination. It is a small town with so much personality and so many activities.
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