
North Carolina’s first alpine roller coaster, Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster, offers excitement for folks of all ages.
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A more relaxing outdoor experience is available at Wildcat Lake, a free public lake in town complete with a white sand beach, swimming area, fishing pier, canoe rentals and a park. Edge of the World outfitters in downtown Banner Elk serves up exhilarating whitewater and river adventures, as well as rock climbing excursions. Warmer months bring opportunities for hiking, biking, rafting, tubing, horseback riding, antiquing, festivals and gallery tours. The town is located at 3,701 feet above sea level, making it a cool getaway as warm weather becomes pervasive in the South. In spring and summer, visitors come to Banner Elk to enjoy beautiful scenery and pleasant temperatures. Appalachian is also home to the French-Swiss Ski College, which has taught more than a million lessons since opening in the early 1970s. Appalachian Ski Mountain was the first ski resort in North Carolina and provides skiing, snowboarding and ice skating. Hawksnest also offers winter zipline tours that soar above the tubing lanes. Hawksnest Resort is the largest snowtubing park on the East Coast with nearly 30 lanes for tubing. Other winter fun is a little further away at Hawksnest Resort and Appalachian Ski Mountain. Once the cart is pulled by a cable to the top, the remainder of the ride is downhill - fed by gravity - with riders using hand brakes to control the speeds, which reach up to 27 miles per hour. Each cart accommodates one or two people. This exhilarating attraction is open year-round to people of all ages. Sugar Mountain has North Carolina’s only double black diamond slope Beech Mountain has North Carolina’s only mountaintop skybar.Ī unique winter experience awaits at North Carolina’s first alpine roller coaster, Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster. Both resorts feature exciting terrain for skiing and snowboarding, as well as the latest in rental equipment.Įach resort also offers ice skating and snowtubing.

In winter, visitors to Banner Elk are just 10 minutes from the two largest ski resorts in the South: Sugar Mountain Resort and Beech Mountain Resort.

Within 25 minutes (or less) of Banner Elk’s lone stoplight visitors can enjoy attractions, outdoor adventure, family fun, winter sports, shopping, museums, wineries & breweries, spas and much more. The town is geographically positioned to take advantage of all there is to see and do in the High Country of North Carolina. A visit to Banner Elk comes with an amazing array of activities.
