Winter Fun in
Western North Carolina!

Winter in Western North Carolina means bundle up an get outside for snow skiing, snow tubing, ice skating and great winter hikes!
Scroll Down for Fun!
(Where to ski, board, ice skate, Videos, Ski Lodging, Links, More!)

On this page you will find places to snow ski, snow board, snow tube, ice skating and even some winter hikes to frozen waterfalls! All these facilities are within an hour or less of each other! 

Need a winter vacation rental, go to

[HighSouthRentals.com]

Quick Links:
[Highlands] - Ice Skating
[Highlands Outpost]- Skating/Tubing
[Cataloochee Ski Area] - Skiing, Tubing, Boarding
[Ski Sapphire Valley] - Skiing, Tubing, Boarding

Please reference our Winter Sports Matrix here to find that perfect winter experience and get away! 

Learn more about these winter sports facilities below! These are all in a 1 hour drive from each other in The High South of Western North Carolina!

Facility
 Skiing
 Tubing
 Boarding
 Skating
Cataloochee
 x
 x
 x
Highlands Outpost
x
x
Ski Sapphire
 x
 x
 x
Highlands


x
Highlands North Carolina Ice Skating
Highlands NC Ice Skating

The Town of Highlands
 - Ice Skating

Reservations are no longer needed and will not be taken.

Winter 2023-2024 Schedule
Thursday 3:30-8:00pm
Friday's 3:30-10:00pm
Saturday 1:00-10:00pm
Sunday 1:00-5:00pm

Thanksgiving Schedule
Open Wednesday, November 22nd from 1:00-8:00pm, Closed Thursday, November 23th Thanksgiving Day. Open on Friday, November 24th 1:00-10:00pm, Saturday 1:00-10:00pm and Sunday 1:00-5:00pm.


**Christmas break schedule
Monday, December 18th - Saturday , December 23rd  1:00-8:00pm and 
Closed Sunday and Monday December 24th and 25th

Tuesday, December 26th-Thursday, December 28th 1:00-8:00pm, Friday and Saturday , December 29 and 30th 1:00-10:00pm

Sunday, December 31st 1:00pm-1:00am

Saturday, January 1st schedule back to normal winter shedule.

Private parties can be scheduled on Mondays and Tuesday that are not open to the public from 6:00-8:00pm but must be booked two weeks in advance. Limited to 30 skaters. This must be scheduled through Lester Norris at 828-526-3556.

Price:
$5.00 (with or without skates)
Rental skates available, youth size 8 to adult size 14.

Coffee and Hot Chocolate will also be available.

Visit: https://highlandsnc.org/recreation-ice-rink
For more information, call the Highlands Parks & Recreation Dept. at 828-526-3556

The Highlands Outpost,
Scaly Mountain

The Highlands Outpost is located in Scaly Mountain between
Highlands North Carolina and Sky Valley, Georgia.

Scaly Mountain Highlands Outpost

The Highlands Outpost - Tubing, Ice Skating, Mountain Coaster

Formerly known as the Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center, this was also once a favorite local ski area!  Snow tubing, ice skating and the Scaly Screamer mountain coaster will provide a full day of family fun! 

highlands outpost
highlands outpost
highlands outpost ice skating

Highlands Outpost Ice skating: 

The ice skating rink at the Highlands Outpost is a very popular venue. In this image several guest are using the skating assist apparatus to get used to being on skates!

highlands outpost

The Scaly Screamer! 
The new Scaly Screamer mountain coaster is open for Christmas and the 2022 Season! 
Scaly Mountain Screamer
Open 7 Days a Week
December 18th – January 9th

Just imagine over 3800 feet of gravity-powered thrills through the magnificent Appalachian Mountains! Our mountain coaster is the longest in North Carolina, boasting 360 degree turns and gorgeous views that you enjoy at your own speed. 


Location:
7420 Dillard Road
Scaly Mountain, NC 28775

Phone Number:
(828) 526-3737

Snow Tubing is Open as of Nov 1, 2023!

Equipment Rentals:
Yes

Tubing:
Yes

Ice Skating:
Yes

Highlights:
The Highlands Outpost, formerly known as Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center, has recently invested big money in their snowmaking equipment and the new Scaly Screamer - a mountain coaster! 

They offer a very long tube run and ice skating which is very popular.  This is a smaller facility but very convenient to the North Georgia and Western North Carolina market.

Highlands Outpost Holiday Hours

Hours do vary during the winter, please visit The Highlands Outpost calendar for hours of operations here:

https://www.highlandsoutpost.com/operations-calendar/

Cataloochee Ski Area
Cataloochee Ski Area

Cataloochee
Ski Area - Ski / Board

Cataloochee Ski Area target open date: pending cold weather...

Location:
1080 Ski Lodge Road
Maggie Valley, NC 28751

Phone Number:
(828) 926-0285

Target Opening Date:
Pending Cold Weather

Equipment Rentals:
Yes

Tubing:
Yes at nearby Tube World

Ice Skating:
No

Highlights:
Cataloochee Ski Area when fully opened - all lifts and all trails -  really offers a good day of skiing and boarding close to the Georgia and South Carolina markets. 

Fully open they have 5 lifts total: 1 quad, 1 triple, 1 double chair, 2 moving carpet surface lifts serving eighteen slopes and trails.

Top Elevation 5,400′
Base Elevation 4,660′
Vertical Drop 740′

Cataloochee Vacation Rentals

Cataloochee Ski Area Lodging Options

North Georgia Vacation Rental Cabins Homes

Easy access, minutes from skiing, pet friendly, wifi and cable, cleaning incl.

LAbout this rental
Cabin
940 sq. ft
2 bedrooms
2 bedsSleeps 4
2 bathrooms
2 full baths
Spaces
Kitchen Living Room Deck/Patio

More Info and Book Online
North Georgia Vacation Rental Cabins Homes

Amazing Views And Close To Ski Cataloochee

About this rental
Cabin
1000 sq. ft
2 bedrooms
1 bed Sleeps 4
2 bathrooms
2 full baths
Spaces
Kitchen Living Room Deck/Patio

More Info and Book Online
North Georgia Vacation Rental Cabins Homes

A Smoky Mountain Sunset "The Cliff's" - 2 miles from ski resort

About this rental
Cabin
1100 sq. ft
2 bedrooms
2 beds Sleeps 4
2 bathrooms
2 full baths
Spaces
Kitchen Living Room Deck/Patio

More Info and Book Online

Contacts: info@cataloochee.com   Website: https://cataloochee.com/

Ski Sapphire Valley
Ski Sapphire Valley

Ski Sapphire Valley
- Ski, Tube, Board

This is a very good ski area for beginners and families as everything is very close - parking, ski lodge, the lift - all within sight! .

Ski Sapphire Valley

Please Visit SkiSapphireValley.com
for more info!

Location:
127 Cherokee Trail
Sapphire,NC

Phone Number:
(828) 743-7663

Target Opening Date:
Dec 16, 2023

Equipment Rentals:
Yes

Tubing:
Yes

Ice Skating:
No

Highlights:
Ski Sapphire Valley is part of the Sapphire Valley Resort amenity offerings. It has been in operation since 1964! 

The Frozen Falls Tube park is the most popular snow sport here and overs 1.75 hours of thrills. Most visitors are simple too tired to complete the full time. The tube park is in the shadows most of the day and can get quite fast on cold days.

Top Elevation 3450
Base Elevation 3200'
Vertical Drop 250′

Please Visit SkiSapphireValley.com
for more info!

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High South Adventures is part of The High South Media Network! Our other sites:

SapphireValleyResort.com
SkiSapphireValley.com
HighSouthRentals.com

All information believed accurate but not guaranteed. The High South Media Network covers news, events, vacation rentals and recreational opportunities all around the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains.