50 Things to Do | Sugar Mountain & Blue Ridge

Sugar Mountain Things to Do

Here’s our full list of sweet things to do all four seasons during your vacation in the village of Sugar Mountain! Also check out our seasonal guides for even more fun in the High Country of the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains: Winter | Spring | Summer | Fall

Attractions & Activities On Sugar Mountain

Conveniently located adjacent to each other, our public golf and tennis club and the ski resort offer a variety of winter and summer activities (also see our illustrated map):

Sugar Mountain Golf
The Sugar Mountain Public Golf Club may be the best kept secret in mountain golf. Located just minutes from Boone, Banner Elk and the Blue Ridge Parkway, the 18-hole, par 64 municipal course is “Everyman’s Golf Course” is affordable and accessible. Open mid April through October. Read much more!

Sugar Mountain Tennis
The six courts, meticulously maintained of fast-dry, Har-tru clay, are wildly popular from May through October. Men’s, women’s, and mixed play “friendlys’’ can be found every day of the week. And like golf, the tennis facilities are open to everyone, either on a pay as you go basis, or economical season pass options. Read much more!

Scenic Lift Rides at Sugar Mountain Resort
Ride to the top of Sugar Mountain on the Summit Express chairlift with panoramic views all the way – on many summer weekends (Friday-Sunday) and a couple of October weekends for fall color. Read more.

Skiing & Snowboarding at Sugar Mountain
Find one of the South’s premier ski slopes, Sugar Mountain Resort. Choose from full day, half day, twilight or night sessions. Come as you are – equipment rentals and sports shop on-site. Beginners learn skiing & snowboarding at either the adult or children’s schools. For many tips and details, see our Ski Resort Insider’s Guide.

Sugar Mountain Tubing Park
Tube down 700-foot tubing lanes and return to the top via the Magic Carpet Lift! No experience needed and fun for all ages. Tube rental included. Located next to the ice skating rink. Read more about tubing.

Ice Skating at Sugar Mountain
Sugar Mountain Resort’s 10,000 square foot refrigerated outdoor ice skating rink is the perfect place to experience winter’s beauty on skates! Read more about ice skating.

Snowshoe Tours
Explore Sugar Mountain Resort’s winter wonderland with a Snowshoe Guided Tour. Tours range from a casual walk to an intense workout. Experienced guides accommodate your needs. Read more!

Williams Park
This 14-acre nature park on Sugar Mountain has a picnic pavilion and a half mile of scenic nature trails along a boulder field. Read more.

Sugar Mountain Events & Festivals

30 Nearby Things to Do in the Blue Ridge

All of these are within a 20-mile drive of Sugar Mountain!

Dining
Find 25+ great restaurants within a 5-miles of the main entrance to our village! See our Restaurant Guide.

Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster
The first Alpine Coaster in the North Carolina Mountains is located at the base of Sugar Mountain. Ride individual carts at speeds up to 27 MPH on multiple 360-degree loops. It’s a cross between a roller coaster and toboggan sled run. They are open every day year-round, including our winter ski season. Read more about the Alpine Coaster.

Wilderness Run Adventure Course
An aerial playground for both kids and adults opened in summer 2022. Explore the treetops via easy, immediate and advance routes with 28 obstacles to navigate while safely harnessed at all times. Read more about the Adventure Course.

Grandfather Mountain
Located only 15 minutes away from Sugar Mountain, Grandfather Mountain is home to the famous “Mile High Swinging Bridge,” the Nature Museum, wildlife habitats featuring bears and hiking trails. Drive to the top. See our Grandfather Mountain Guide.

Blue Ridge Parkway Drive
Just minutes from Sugar Mountain, you’ll find The Blue Ridge Parkway, “America’s Favorite Drive.” Some of the most scenic, most photographed parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway are located near Sugar Mountain with abundant opportunity for hiking, picnicking, leaf-looking, wildflower-watching and birding. See our Parkway Trip Guide.

Moses Cone Memorial Park
Located on the Blue Ridge Parkway, find 25 miles for trails for hiking or horseback riding, craft shop, historic mansion, lakes and more. See our Moses Cone Park Guide.

Julian Price Park
Located on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Moses Cone Park, Price Lake is the centerpiece of thousands of acres to explore on trails. Find a large picnic area, campground, fishing and boat rentals. See our Julian Price Park Guide.

Winery Trail
Take your own winery tour in our Sugar Mountain area and enjoy spectacular scenery of the Blue Ridge Mountains, beautiful outdoor settings, weekend live music, and plenty of local wines. Two wineries are located just five miles from our village. Open year-round. Free admission. Read about the wineries.

20 Hiking Trails
The possibilities are endless for hiking in our Blue Ridge Mountains.  See our full list of best day hikes & trails. 

Waterfalls
Take a photo tour of five waterfalls to see near Sugar Mountain – along with details on how to find each. Go waterfall hunting.

Sugar Creek Mining Company
Mine your own North Carolina gemstones! Grab a bucket and our expert staff will set you up on our flume line, then our staff will help you pan your gems and identify them. Located across from the entrance to Sugar Mountain. Read more.

High Mountain Expeditions Rafting & More
Over 25 years of experience providing guided rafting trips including Nolichucky River, Watauga River and Wilson Creek, along with New River tubing, hiking and caving. Located near the main entrance to Sugar Mountain. Read more.

Art Galleries
The Sugar Mountain area offers many art galleries with a range of talented artists. See our Art Gallery Guide.

Shopping
Find many local stores, ski & sports shops, gift boutiques and antique malls – plus places for essentials like grocery, drug store and hardware stores at the base of the mountain. See our Shopping Guide.

Wildcat Lake
A popular mountain swimming hole complete with a white sand beach, swimming pier, lifeguards, picnic tables and fishing dock. Read more.

Mast General Store
The famous original Mast General Store is not only a great place to shop, it’s a trip back in time. It’s only 10 miles from the entrance of Sugar Mountain in the scenic area of Valle Crucis. Find gourmet country food, gourmet cookware, gifts, shoes, old-fashioned toys and more. Read more.

Apple Hill Alpaca Farm
Take a guided tour of this mountaintop alpaca farm and store. The walking tours let you get up close and personal with the alpacas, llamas, angora goats, guardian donkeys, dogs and other animals. Located 8 miles from the Sugar Mountain main entrance. Read more.

Edge of the World
Guided whitewater rafting, whitewater kayaking, rappelling and rock climbing for the whole family. Trips include a delicious home cooked lunch. Enjoy rock climbing and rappelling in the beautiful Wilson Creek Wilderness with three phases of instruction. Read more.

Hawksnest Zipline
Zipline year-round on 20 ziplines including 4 mega zips more than 1500 feet long. With 4 miles of zipline riding with heights over 200 feet and speeds up to 50 mph, fly over trees, through trees, and over creeks. Read more.

Hero’s Axe House
Owned by first responders, they have six axe throwing lanes with projected targets for exciting games with digital scoring! Try Line-Up-Four, Tic-Tac-Toe, Duck Hunter, and more. Ages 10 & up. 4501 Tynecastle Hwy, Suite 6, Seven Devils. (next to Highlander’s Grill). Go to their website.

Tate-Evans Park & Greenway
This public park nearby in Banner Elk has picnic tables, playgrounds, dog park, events and a greenway trails for walking. Read more.

Ensemble Stage Theatre
This intimate professional theater in Banner Elk brings a broad range of live theatrical presentations of the highest possible quality at an affordable price. Their Christmas Variety Show is especially fun. Located inside the historic Banner Elk School, just 2.5 miles from the main entrance of Sugar Mountain. Read more.

Lees-McRae Summer Theatre
See outstanding professional shows in June and July. They specialize in musicals, Golden Age classics to the newest Broadway hits, and ambitious original works, with a 150+ member company from other college theatre programs across the country. Read more.

FORUM at Lees-McRae College
This 16-week summer concert and cultural series on Monday evenings include a big variety of live music performances, lectures and more. Read more.

Tweetsie Railroad Amusement Park
Experience wild west adventure for kids of all ages with steam train rides, classic amusement rides, zoo, gem mining and a variety of live entertainment. Located about 18 miles from Sugar Mountain. See our Tweetsie RR Guide.

Banner House Museum
See what life was like in the NC mountains during the 1800s. The Banner House was built in 1865 by one of Banner Elk’s founding fathers, Samuel Henry Banner. The museum displays artifacts including period furnishings, farm tools, hand-stitched quilts, vintage clothing, photographs and paintings. Open June-September. Read more.

Wiseman’s View
Stand atop the rim of Linville Gorge to see panoramic views from rock observation decks. Read more.

Linville Caverns
Go underground and walk through Linville Caverns. Experienced guides take you into the subterranean world to view the stalactites, stalagmites and underground stream. Located 20 miles south of Sugar Mountain. Read more.

Visitor Center
When you are staying in our village, visit our Outdoor Info Kiosk for plenty of information about our area. Also see our Illustrated Map.