Things to Do in Blowing Rock in Winter: A 2026–27 Guide

Winter is Blowing Rock's quiet season, and that's the point. The crowds from leaf season are gone, the views are clear, and there's skiing, tubing and skating within a short drive. The Jungle House is our 3-bedroom, 3-bath condo inside Chetola Resort, and it sleeps seven. Downtown Blowing Rock is a 4-minute drive, and a trail starts 30 seconds from the front door. Planning a winter trip? Book direct and save 7% on the nightly rate.

Blowing Rock in winter at a glance

• Skiing: Appalachian Ski Mtn has set Friday, November 20, 2026 as its scheduled opening day, weather permitting, with night skiing on every slope.
• Snow tubing: Hawksnest, Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain all run tubing parks. Hawksnest is tentatively planning to open Thanksgiving weekend.
• Ice skating: App Ski Mtn's outdoor rink has a scheduled season of November 29 to March 15.
• Holiday lights: Chetola Resort's free Festival of Lights runs nightly from dusk through January 31, 2027, on the same resort as the condo.
• New Year's Eve: a torchlight parade and fireworks at App Ski Mtn.
• WinterFest 2027: January 28–31, with the Polar Bear Plunge at Chetola Lake.

Ski at Appalachian Ski Mtn

Appalachian Ski Mtn ("App" to locals) has a Blowing Rock address and is the closest ski area to town. It's a family-friendly mountain where every slope is lit for night skiing, and the slopes stay open until midnight on Fridays, Saturdays and listed holidays. Lift tickets and rentals are reserved online, so book before you drive over.

Want more vertical? Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain are farther into the mountains and higher up. Both make a good day trip from Blowing Rock.

Go snow tubing

Tubing is the easiest winter thrill for a mixed group: no lessons, no gear beyond warm clothes. The three parks near Blowing Rock are Hawksnest in Seven Devils, Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain, and all of them sell tickets online for set sessions. Hawksnest's posted 2026–27 prices start at $46 for a weekday session. Sugar lists $45 on weekdays and $56 on weekends and holidays, and Beech lists $45 weekdays and $53 weekends. Weekends and holidays sell out, so reserve early.

Skate under the lights

App Ski Mtn has an outdoor, refrigerated ice rink with a rink-side bonfire. The scheduled skating season runs November 29 to March 15, with sessions from noon to 2 PM, 3 to 5 PM and 7 to 9 PM. Skate rental and a helmet are included in the ticket, and online reservations are required. Sugar Mountain also has ice skating.

Walk the snowy carriage trails

A trail starts about 30 seconds from our front door. Follow it about 3 minutes and you reach the Bass Lake loop in Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, part of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a unit of the National Park System. After a snowfall, the carriage trails are hushed and beautiful, and the Park Service notes you may meet cross-country skiers on them.

A few winter notes from the Park Service:

• The Parkway road can close for snow and ice. When a section is closed for winter weather, the Park Service allows sledding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and walking there at your own risk. Sections closed for Hurricane Helene damage are closed to everyone.
• Stay off frozen lakes, including Bass Lake.
• Check the road status on the Blue Ridge Parkway closures page before you drive anywhere on the Parkway.
• The craft shop at Flat Top Manor closes for the winter, but the grounds and trails stay open.

See the Blowing Rock and Grandfather Mountain on a clear day

Winter brings the clearest long-range views of the year. Two classic stops:

• The Blowing Rock, the town's namesake overlook, is open daily, weather permitting (9 AM to 5 PM in November through February). Winter admission is $10 for adults. It's closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, so call ahead in bad weather.
• Grandfather Mountain and its Mile High Swinging Bridge are open in winter from 9 AM to 5 PM, with last entry at 3:30 PM. Winter "base day" tickets are $25 for adults. The top half of the mountain can close for wind or ice, so call the entrance gate before you go, and book your entry time online.

Spend an afternoon downtown

Main Street is a 4-minute drive from the condo and stays lively in winter. Browse the shops and galleries, warm up over lunch, and stop by the free Blowing Rock Art & History Museum, a block off Main Street (closed Mondays).

Holiday lights and New Year's Eve

From November 27, Chetola Resort's Festival of Lights glows around Chetola Lake every night from dusk, and it's free. It's on the same resort as the condo, so it's an easy after-dinner outing. On December 31, App Ski Mtn wraps up the season of celebrations with a torchlight parade at 11:45 PM and fireworks. For the full holiday lineup (tree lighting, parade, Tweetsie Christmas and more), see our Christmas in Blowing Rock 2026 guide.

WinterFest: January 28–31, 2027

Blowing Rock's four-day WinterFest is the big event of the winter: ice sculptures downtown, a chili challenge, a beer garden and the Polar Bear Plunge at Chetola Lake, which is a 5- to 7-minute walk from our door. Details are in our WinterFest 2027 guide.

A sample winter weekend

• Friday: Check in from 4 PM. Dinner downtown (a 4-minute drive), then a night ski session at App or a walk through the Festival of Lights (through January 31).
• Saturday: Morning tubing session (book ahead), lunch, then Grandfather Mountain or The Blowing Rock if the sky is clear. Back home for a Jacuzzi soak.
• Sunday: Coffee on the balcony, a walk on the trail to Bass Lake, and checkout by 11 AM.

Why stay at The Jungle House in winter

• Room for seven: a king suite plus two rooms with twin beds, and one of the upstairs twin rooms also has a twin sleeper sofa. Three full baths.
• Two 2-person Jacuzzi tubs, one upstairs and one downstairs, for after the slopes.
• A stone wood-burning fireplace. Firewood isn't supplied, so bring your own.
• A washer and dryer for wet gloves and snow clothes, and a full kitchen for big breakfasts.
• Close to everything: downtown is a 4-minute drive, the trail is 30 seconds from the door, and the Festival of Lights and the Polar Bear Plunge are on the same resort.

Blowing Rock winter FAQ

What is there to do in Blowing Rock in winter?

Skiing at Appalachian Ski Mtn, snow tubing at Hawksnest, Sugar Mountain or Beech Mountain, ice skating, snowy walks on the Moses Cone carriage trails, Chetola's Festival of Lights through January 31, New Year's Eve fireworks at App Ski Mtn, and WinterFest from January 28 to 31, 2027.

When does ski season start near Blowing Rock?

Appalachian Ski Mtn has scheduled its 2026–27 opening day for Friday, November 20, 2026, weather permitting.

Is the Blue Ridge Parkway open in winter?

Sections of the Parkway often close to cars for snow and ice, and some sections remain closed for Hurricane Helene repairs. Check the National Park Service road status page before you drive.

Is The Blowing Rock attraction open in winter?

Yes. It's open daily, weather permitting, 9 AM to 5 PM from November through February, and closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Call ahead in bad weather.

Does the condo have a fireplace?

Yes, a stone wood-burning fireplace. Firewood isn't supplied, so please bring your own.

What are the house rules?

Check-in is 4 PM and checkout is 11 AM, with a 2-night minimum. The Jungle House is non-smoking and pet-free, with no parties or events.

Book your winter stay

Winter weekends around the holidays and WinterFest go first. Pick your dates, see your total before you pay, and book direct to save 7% on the nightly rate. More about our location inside Chetola Resort, the home and our other guides. House rules are on the FAQ and policies page.