Winter Excitement in the Blue Ridge Mountains

Written by Larry Deane, local expert for 20+ years

Many make the mistake of thinking there is nothing to see and do during the winter in the Blue Ridge Mountains, but they are so wrong!   There are lots of things to see and do, and many of the activities are unique to winter, and of course snow!

Winter months are a great time to visit the Blue Ridge Mountains due to the better better views, reduced costs, and there being far less people here.  Winter here in the Blue Ridge is a great time for a quick weekend getaway or an even longer vacation getaway.

Winter in the Blue Ridge Mountains offers SO much to see and do, including:

See the sections below for more detail on each one these fun Winter activities!

Our Top Guides for Winter Excitement!

Winter Blue Ridge Mountains

Christmas in the Blue Ridge Mountains

Christmas at Biltmore

Photo provided by The Biltmore Company

Icy and Frozen Waterfalls

Winter is a wonderful and often amazing time to visit Blue Ridge Mountain Waterfalls, for a couple of reasons:

  • Foliage is gone, so you have better views and easier access to waterfalls
  • Less crowds
  • During colder spells, waterfalls often partially or fully freeze over
Frozen Courthouse Falls

Our waterfall guides below will help you find the perfect winter fall to visit.  We have complete guides to more than 40 waterfalls, we have personally visited and photographed.

Winter Hiking

One of the best ways to see the beauty of the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains is to get out there in them, even in the winter!  In fact, hiking during the winter provides views you don't normally get to see.  Hiking in the snow is not only beautiful, but incredibly peaceful and serene as well.   

We're avid hikers, and enjoy getting out on the trail as often as we can, even in the winter.  We have complete guides for every single trail we've hiked, on our Hiking Trails Page and for the top winter hikes, you can visit our Top Winter Hiking Trails Guide.

We also have guides for waterfall trails, scenic views, and they are organized by difficulty (easy to hard).  So pack up the hiking essentials, dress warm and in layers, and pick the perfect winter hike for you!

Skiing and Snow Tubing

Some of the best skiing in the US, and certainly in the East Coast is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.  There are more than 10 different resorts, offering lots of trails, great views, snow tubing, ice skating, snow mobiles, and much more.

Skiing at Ober Gatlinburg, TN

Skiing at Ober Gatlinburg, TN

Scenic Drives

Scenic drives, during the winter months, when foliage is long gone from the trees, can offer some of the most spectacular views available.   You'll also get unique opportunities to see snow, ice formations, and hoar frost (water vapor that is quickly frozen on vegetation).

The Blue Ridge Parkway is of course the ultimate scenic drive, but many portions of it are often closed during the winter.

There are also numerous other scenic drives all through the states of Virgina, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee that offer beautiful views and relaxing drives.  Two of our favorites are Highway 215 and Highway 276 in North Carolina.

Biltmore

Biltmore is an incredible place to visit and stay at all times during the year, but even during the winter.  Seeing Biltmore's grounds and home covered in snow is a real treat, especially when decorated for Christmas during November and December.

Winter at Biltmore

Photo provided by The Biltmore Company

While anytime during the winter is a great time to visit Biltmore, Biltmore during Christmas is magical, especially during one of the Candlelight Christmas Evenings.  Biltmore house and much of the estate is decorated for Christmas, with trees, wreaths, lights, and more.

Christmas at Biltmore

Photo provided by The Biltmore Company

Winter Events and Festivals!

The fun doesn't stop when the holidays end! From ice carving competitions to chili cook-offs, the Blue Ridge Mountains stay packed with excitement all winter long.

Here are some exciting and fun winter events:

  • Rhythm & Brews

    Downtown Hendersonville Hendersonville

    Rhythm & Brews is a popular free outdoor concert series held on the third Thursday of each month from June through October in downtown Hendersonville. Main Street is closed to […]

  • Hazelwood Hot Summer Nights

    Downtown Hazelwood 24 Hazelwood Ave, Waynesville, United States

    Looking for the perfect way to spend a warm summer evening? Grab the family and head down to Hazelwood Avenue in Waynesville! Hosted by the Hazelwood Boosters, this beloved community […]

    Free
  • Hillbilly Jam

    Maggie Valley Festival Grounds 3374 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley, NC, United States

    Open to the public 10am – 10pm both days! Music Festival with Crafts and Food Vendors. Moonshiners of the Discovery Channel, Car & Bike Show & More! Price of admission […]

    $10
  • The Dip

    Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. 100 Sierra Nevada Way, Mills River, United States

    The Dip is a Seattle-based Rhythm and Blues band that is known for its poignant songwriting, detailed arrangements, and vintage sound. Featuring a three-piece horn section, the group’s music harkens […]

    $41
  • Showdown in the Valley

    Maggie Valley Festival Grounds 3374 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley, NC, United States

    Open Car & Truck Show with parts vendors! This show is open to 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive trucks and a wide range of cars. For more information contact Shane Gentry […]

  • Grand-Further

    Camp Grier 985 Camp Grier Rd, Old Fort, NC, United States
  • Sidewalk Yard Sale

    Downtown Marion (Main Street) Marion, NC, United States

    Marion's Annual Summer Sidewalk Yard Sale on Main Street downtown. Rain or shine. Sellers must register; registration begins July 7, 2026 (call 828-652-2215).

  • Art on the Greene

    Historic Banner Elk School Banner Elk

    Four summer weekends of fine art and handmade crafts from regional artists on the lawn at the Historic Banner Elk School, with no admission fee; proceeds help preserve the historic […]

  • Eurofest Maggie Valley

    Maggie Valley Festival Grounds 3374 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley, NC, United States

    Eurofest Maggie Valley – All European Automotive Event! Automotive vendors and cars! Admission $5. For more information visit https://www.southeasteuromotorsports.com/ or email [email protected] or call 919-616-2183.

    $5
  • Rhythm & Brews

    Downtown Hendersonville Hendersonville

    Rhythm & Brews is a popular free outdoor concert series held on the third Thursday of each month from June through October in downtown Hendersonville. Main Street is closed to […]

  • Icon of Hot Rodding

    Maggie Valley Festival Grounds 3374 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley, NC, United States
About the author

Larry Deane is the co-owner and voice behind Blue Ridge Mountain Life, a travel resource built from more than two decades of exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains firsthand. A Western North Carolina local, Larry has spent 20+ years hiking the trails, visiting small towns, chasing waterfalls, and documenting life in the mountains he calls home.

Alongside his wife Jenn, he created Blue Ridge Mountain Life to share their real-world experiences with others who love — or are just discovering — the Blue Ridge. Larry is a seasoned travel writer, photographer, and videographer with a background in journalism, and his work reaches more than 500,000 mountain lovers each month. Whether he's deep in Pisgah National Forest or strolling Main Street in a mountain town, you can count on Larry to give you the inside scoop from someone who’s truly been there.

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