1. Bicycling and Mountain Biking
Rocky Knob is starting to become famous around the mountain biker scene. It features nearly 7 miles of mountain biking trails, ranging from beginner all the way to expert. Complete with bridges, switchbacks, and jumps, it makes Boone a premier biking destination in the Southeast. Oh, and it's free!Sugar Mountain Trails
Take a lift ride up to the top and ride down on your mountain bike. Sugar mountain is monolithic with over 8 miles of trails and 1000ft of elevation change. Compound that with some gorgeous Blue Ridge views and watch as it changes your whole life perspective.
Beech Mountain also offers bike trails all throughout the town of Beech Mountain, with beginner, intermediate and advanced trails available. Over 8 miles of trail are currently blazed and many more are in the works.
The Greenway Trail
The Greenway Trail runs all throughout Boone. The longest section of the Greenway Trail stretches New Market Center down through the park goes under two major thoroughfares and runs down to Faculty Street and Appalachian State University. Add in the bike lanes and you can loop all the way around Boone.
Group Rides in the High Country
The Boone Area Cyclists and local shops host an evening ride nearly every day of the week during the summer months. Check out their site for more info.
Hwy 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock
This road is well commuted by cyclists, but can be dangerous since there is plenty of interaction with traffic. Bicycle paths are in the works with the 321 expansion project.
Highway 194 New Market to Jefferson
This road is known for it's windy, meandering curves and switchbacks. Even better, Todd, NC and the Todd General Store are right in the middle of the journey. Watch for cars around turns, though most locals are used to seeing cyclists on this road.
This one is a no-brainer. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a gem of the High Country that runs up the mountain peaks and down the valleys. The Blue Ridge Parkway offers up some of the areas most spectacular views. It was built for sightseeing and even the cars take it slow. It's a perfect place to climb a mountain and rack up some miles on your bicycle.
2. Hiking
Beech Mountain Trails
Beech Mountain trails are calm, tranquil and serene. Among many of them, you are more likely to see a bright red cardinal here before you see another human. The town of Beech Mountain maintains an extensive number of trails unmatched by any of the other small mountain towns in the high country.
This prolific trail is well known and well traveled. It traverses the entire mountain, taking you to the top right by the Mile High Bridge and back down again on the other side. Be careful if you bring your pup as their are ladders and steep rock faces.
Elk Knob offers a pleasant meandering climb and a gorgeous place to picnic at the peak. On a clear day, you can see mountains in 3 states.
Linville Falls and Linville Gorge
Linville Gorge is a North Carolina treasure. There are a plethora of hiking opportunities totaling 39 miles of trails. The gorge rests at the corner of nearby Burke, McDowell, and Avery counties. It offers spectacular views of the nearby mountains, Linville Falls and of the gorge itself. It is easily accessed form the Blue Ridge Parkway and US 221. The wilderness area has over 39 miles of trails to hike as well as places to fish and camp.
Snake Mountain
This one is right by Elk Knob. It's a little more of a strenuous uphill climb and the top gets even steeper. There are some great flat rocks about 3/4 up that offer a nice place to rest or picnic.
Boone Fork Trail
5 miles meandering through cow pastures, berry bushes, laurels, river beds and rock faces. It's also incredibly close to Hebron Rock Colony and the Tanawha.
Starting at Price Park, this day long hike will take you around Grandfather Mountain, over Rough Ridge, and spit you out atop the majestic Beacon Heights.
This trail stretches from Clingman's Dome at the end of Western NC down to Jockey's Ridge in the Outer Banks. Of course, the High Country is along the way. This trail takes you along the Tanawha and part of Boone Fork as well as a whole slew of other trails throughout.
Glen Burney Trail
This trail is right smack in the middle of Blowing Rock. It offers up 3 waterfalls, the second of which is easy enough to reach and put your head under. Be careful with pets as the steep drop offs away from the trail come sudden and unexpectedly.
Moses Cone
Part of Julian Price Park, this area is home to an extensive network of trails. Climb two mountains, take a quick jog around the Lake, and visit Flat Top Manor. The open field on the way up to the fire tower is an awesome place to picnic and let the kids roll down the hill. Watch for horses along the trails!
Appalachian Trail
The magnificent national treasure is only an hour away from Boone. The closest access point for parking is on Roan Mountain, offering scenic views and the chance to climb the Roan Balds and see the Baa-tany Goats. A second nearby access point is in Grayson Highlands State Park, VA about an hour and a half away from Boone.
3. Climbing
Footsloggers Climbing Tower
Footsloggers is a good place to go if you just want to stay in Boone. The climbing tower is relatively inexpensive and the guides are incredibly helpful and informative.
ASU Climbing Wall
Though not technically outdoors, this offers some good climbing if you know someone who goes to ASU. A guest pass (with a sponsor) is only $5. All climbing equipment can be rented there for free. The climbing wall is usually busy, so be prepared to wait a little while.
Blowing Rock Boulders
Out near Blowing Rock and the Blue Ridge Parkway, this offers some fun climbing without the long drive. A great place to beef up your skills.
Linville Gorge
Much farther away, but Linville Gorge offers some the best climbing with the best views. The gorge has something for all skill levels.
4. Sports
Tubing
The Watauga and New Rivers are an excellent place to plop down an inner tube and go floating down the River. The local Walmart sells river raft inner tubes for as low as $20 or you can rent one from Wahoo's Adventures.
River Girl Fishing Company in Historic Todd, NC also offer tubing trips for $20 per person as well as discounted group rates.
Additionally, River and Earth Adventures offers guided tours.
River Girl Fishing Company in Historic Todd, NC also offer tubing trips for $20 per person as well as discounted group rates.
Additionally, River and Earth Adventures offers guided tours.
Kayaking and Rafting
Boone is near a handful of rivers and streams for thrill seekers of all levels - from the easy going Watauga and New River, to the moderately difficult Nolichucky, to the extremes of Wilson's Creek.
Disc Golf
While there are a handful of private golf courses around the Boone and Valle Crucis area, the premier, free disc golf course in the High Country is over in Jefferson at Ashe County Park. It is a hidden gem with the perfect combination of open fields, tight passages, and beautiful views.
Beech Mountain is also new to the scene with a chair lift accessed, downhill, 18-hole disc golf course.
Ultimate Frisbee
The Boone Ultimate Alliance has been going strong for years and plays pickup games nearly every day that one of the members can see the sun. Pickup games are usually at either the Greenway fields or Brookshire park.
Golf
Beech Mountain, Boone Golf Club, Sugar Mountain, and Willow Valley just to name a few.
Ziplining
Hawksnest Zipline and Screaming Ziplines both offer exhilaration and adventure.
5. Parks
Ashe County Park
Ashe County Park is a large park that is less than a 45 minute drive from Boone and offers many of the same amenities as the Greenway, but with less people on sunny days. The park's unique features are the best disc golf course around and some intrepid views of Jefferson Mountain. If you're looking for a scenic drive and some adventure this should be near the top of your list. Don't forget to get your RC Cola and Moon Pie along the way!
Brookshire Park
This park is a recent addition to the town of Boone park system and includes a walking path, playground and the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex.
Cook Memorial Park
This park is located in rustic Todd, NC and hosts live music in the summer. Stop by the historic Todd General Store for some old country goodies.
Howards Knob Park
The location of America's first large wind turbine under President Carter's administration. The turbine was decommissioned and the area was turned into a park. This park serves up some of the best views of Boone and the surrounding area.
Junaluska Park
This park by the American Legion is right by Boone's downtown district. It includes an older playground, basketball courts, picnic shelters, and a grass field known for pickup games of kickball on the weekends.
The Greenway
This is the largest park in Boone and has the most to offer. The park borders Watauga High School, the Boone Municipal Pool Complex, Watauga Medical Center, Boone Fire Department, the National Guard Armory and State Farm Rd. In addition, the Greenway trail crosses over the New River multiple times as it winds through the main section of the park - the covered bridge being the most iconic of them all. Park features include a fenced-in Tot Lot playground for the kids, a skate park, multiple baseball and intramural fields, hiking and biking trails, picnic shelters, a restored marsh and a historic dam site. Come by in the Spring for flowered dogwoods and in the Fall for apples. As this park is the largest and most well known in Boone, it is densely populated on any day where the Boone weather is nice.
Boone Jaycee Park
Boone Jacyee Park is near ASU and Horn in the West. Its main feature is the playground, which is a great place to bring the kids after a busy Saturday morning at the nearby local Farmer's Market.
Jones House
During the summer, the Jones house offers concerts on the lawn. The Jones house also has many other cultural offerings, such as art displays and music lessons.
Jimmy Smith Park
This 3-rock, 3-benches park is known for it's novelty and this video.
Julian Price Park
Price park is huge and a prominent feature of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The area offers camping, picnicking canoeing and hiking. As it is secluded and nearly absent of light pollution, the open field offers some of the best viewing for star gazing, meteor showers and eclipses. Moses Cone, Hebron Rock Colony, and Boone Fork Trail - all sections of the park - are entire features within themselves.
Valle Crucis Park
A beautiful, large park that stretches along the Watauga River in Valle Crucis. The park includes a playground, picnic shelter, walking trails, a soccer field and an expansive meadow.
Watauga Dog Park
A great place to bring your pup and donate to a good cause. Watauga Dog park includes 4 acres of land designed specifically for your favorite pooch to romp around and have fun.
North Street Park
This park is small but offers a playground for the kids and a great view of the ASU wind turbine. Perhaps someone should make a video.
6. Swimming Holes
Hebron Rock Colony
Well known and a heck of a lot of fun. Hebron is just a giant cascading stack of boulders plopped into the Watauga River. Despite being well known, it usually isn't too busy. A great place to sit under a waterfall and sleep on a warm rock under the sun. Your best bet is to hike about a mile in from Boone Fork Trail.
Named because the parking lot used to be a trash pick up location for the rural locals, the falls offers three jumps at varying heights into a small basin. Be careful when you jump as the water can be really shallow and full of sediment, especially after a heavy rain. The water is fed from mountain springs upstream and the lack of sunlight can make the water quite chilly. The sediment in the basin is also an excellent place to go diving for "treasure" - lost jewelry and the like.
Compression is a slick rock slide in nearby Carter County, Tennessee. The pool below makes for a great place to swim and lounge around on a hot summer day.
This one is a tall beautiful waterfall in nearby Avery County, about a 45 minute drive away. This is the only one with signs directing you to it along the way (starting form 19E). The height of the waterfall makes it a dangerous place to jump and crowds gather to watch the spectacle when someone is crazy enough to do it. The basin is large and great for swimming. While it is and deep near the waterfall, it is also very rocky at the bottom, be careful with this one.
Snake Pit is on the other side of the road from Trash Can Falls (Laurel Creek). Snakes may be present upstream, but usually they avoid where people swim. This one comes with two boulders to jump from and plenty of area to swim.
Watauga River Rd
All along Watauga River Rd, you can find people enjoying a good time at the river. The road winds along with the river and makes for easy access. Just make sure that you don't park where it will interfere with the locals.
Boone Beach
Boone Beach (105 Dam) is an old TVA dam that is no longer in use. There is a platform off the top of the dam where people jump from into the River. The water is relatively deep with plenty of area to swim or explore. There's a lesser known swimming spot with a smaller jump a ways up from the dam if the main area is too crowded. Be careful with parking, especially in the adjacent lot as many people get towed each year.
Upper and Lower Creek Falls
This one offers a whole day of adventure! Within the Pisgah National Forest in nearby Burke County, these two waterfalls are about a mile away from each other and it's easy to hike through the river to get to access one or the other. There are also longer trails nearby that will get you there too. The top waterfall is larger with a great view. Just above it is a watering hole with a rock slide and a rope swing. The bottom area has a long, shallow, sprawling waterfall that offers up a much longer, bumpier rock slide and plenty of flat, warm rock to catch some rays in the sun.
Feeling more like staying inside today? Take a look at 7 Things to Do Around Boone - Indoors Edition.
7. Skiing, Snowboarding, and Snow Tubing
Appalachian Ski Mountain
No outdoor list of Boone would be complete without the region's plentiful skiing options. App Ski, while not as long as some of the other ski mountains in the area is certainly the most well maintained and likely the most popular of the three. This one will have all slopes open a month after the others have closed. It also tends to open the earliest. App Ski has expanded their terrain park features in recent years which caters well to the more extreme college crowd.
Ski Beech offers some of the best views and longest runs of the three and also has the fastest ski lift. It has some great qualities that make it stand out - the weekly specials are some of the best around. And it certainly fills a niche as a small ski town with a local feel. It has some drawbacks too - the long uphill drive to get there makes it the furthest away from Boone. With the longest trails comes the curse of trying to keep them all covered with snow and ice seems to be more prevalent on the trails. Even still, Beech mountain and the small town surrounding it give this one a nostalgic throwback to skiing's Alpine origins that's lost with the others.
Hawksnest Snow Tubing
Hawksnest threw out it's ski offerings a while ago, but came back with snow tubing runs that are some of the longest around. It is a lot of fun for the kids or for those who prefer sledding to skiing.
Sugar Mountain is a tourist favorite and offers a good all-around mix. Long, easy riding runs and groomed slopes. For those looking for something thrilling and extreme, Sugar also features some of the steepest drops around - double black diamond steep. Their biggest drawback is that their longest lift is slow, long, and very busy. For locals sugar is just a 20 minute drive away from Boone. For tourists, Sugar features adjacent lodging with close access to two grocery stores as well as being near some of the best restaurants around.
Feeling more like staying inside today? Take a look at 7 Things to Do Around Boone - Indoors Edition.
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