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

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
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.

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.

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:
Events
-
-
Vairs in the Valley
Maggie Valley Festival Grounds 3374 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley, NC, United StatesShow & Shine! Friday & Saturday with Parts Vendors, Food Trucks, and Live Band playing 50s and 60s music! Door prizes! For more information contact NC Mountain Corvairs @ 828-775-0487, […]
-
Annual Southeastern Mini Truckin’ Nationals
Maggie Valley Festival Grounds 3374 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley, NC, United StatesOpen car & truck show! Friday & Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 9am-3pm. Parts vendors, Food vendors, and DJ! Contact Jason @ Bell’s Rod Shop @ 865-742-7403, email [email protected] or visit http://www.minitruckinnats.com
-
Oktoberfest at Sugar Mountain
Sugar Mountain Resort Sugar MountainA Bavarian-style family-friendly Oktoberfest celebration with music, food, kid’s activities, and Bavarian costumes at Sugar Mountain Resort.
-
Rhythm & Brews
Downtown Hendersonville HendersonvilleRhythm & 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 […]
-
GO Outside Fest
Elmwood Park & Explore Park Roanoke, VAThe Anthem GO Outside Festival (GO Fest) in Roanoke, VA, is a premier three-day October event (Oct 17-19, 2025) in Elmwood Park and Explore Park celebrating outdoor recreation. It features […]
-
Woolly Worm Festival
Historic Banner Elk School Banner ElkAnnual fall festival with woolly worm races, craft and food vendors, live entertainment, and children’s activities; nearly 50 years of tradition in Banner Elk.
-
Apple Harvest Festival
Downtown Waynesville 15 N Main St, Waynesville, NC, United StatesNamed one of the “10 Best Fall Harvest Festivals in the Nation”, this annual street festival in charming downtown Waynesville is a delicious way to enjoy the tastes of the fall […]
-
2026 Apple Harvest Festival – Waynesville, NC
FeaturedDowntown Waynesville, NC Waynesville, NC38th Annual Apple Harvest Festival has been named one of the “10 Best Fall Harvest Festivals in the Nation”, this annual street festival in charming downtown Waynesville is a delicious way […]
-
Blue Ridge Folklife Festival
Ferum College Ferrum, VACovering much of the Ferrum College campus and the Blue Ridge Institute & Museum’s living history farm museum, the Blue Ridge Folklife Festival has something for everyone. It’s a family […]
-
-
Home for the Holidays
Various Locations (Henderson County) HendersonvilleHome for the Holidays is a seasonal celebration that transforms Henderson County into a festive winter destination from mid-November through New Year’s Day. The event features holiday decorations, special shopping […]
-
Drumstick Dash
Berglund Center Roanoke, VA -
-
A Small Town Christmas
Various locations Banner ElkHoliday weekend of traditional Christmas fun including tree lighting, cookie decorating, parade, train rides, and other festive activities throughout town.

