It’s Always Beech Season: Find Year-Round Activities at Beech Mountain

Beech Mountain, Eastern America’s highest town, sits in the Blue Ridge Mountains at a cool 5,506 feet above sea level. This signature elevation provides snowy winters, refreshing summers and crisp autumns – and you know what that means: all the adventures all the time.

Winter

The star attraction this time of year is Beech Mountain Resort, a world-class facility equipped with state-of-the-art snow-making technology. It features skiing and snowboarding across 17 trails, plus a multi-lane snowtubing run. At the base of the slopes is a picturesque Alpine village complete with shops, restaurants and Beech Mountain Brewing Co. – one of the only craft breweries in the country operated by a ski resort. At the top of the slopes, 5506’ Skybar provides food, refreshments, live music and jaw-dropping panoramic views.

The town of Beech Mountain also operates a free youth sledding hill for kids 12 and under and offers winter hiking on miles of maintained trails.

Summer

Beech Mountain’s mild summers typically stay in the low 70s, making it comfortable weather for golfing, fishing, kayaking, hiking, biking – the options go on and on.  

If you have an adventurous heart, Beech Mountain Resort’s lift-assisted downhill mountain biking park offers both beginner-friendly trails and technical terrain. And 5506’ Skybar’s soaring views and bar make it a perfect spot to stop for a snack or pick-me-up between runs. Just want to experience Skybar? Scenic lift rides to the summit are available during summertime too.

Downhill biking is not the only game in town. With more than 27 miles of hiking and biking trails, outdoor enthusiasts can find plenty to explore, including the Emerald Outback Trail System at the summit, which provides an extraordinary opportunity to take in nature and wildlife. A walk down a trail can often scare up a wild turkey, white tail deer or grouse. Don’t miss the four designated overlooks for long-range views across three states.   

Is fishing more your sport? Trout anglers have multiple options on Beech Mountain with two lakes and a handful of mountain streams. Pro tip: Buckeye Lake, Lake Coffey and Pond Creek are the favorite fishing spots among locals. Lake Coffey, designated as delayed harvest trout waters, receives an annual infusion of brown, rainbow and brook trout.

If you’re looking for a slower-paced day, check out the Buckeye Lake Recreation Area. It’s designated by the High Country Audubon Society as a perfect spot for bird-watching, with approximately 127 bird species calling Beech Mountain home. The area, which also contains the Buckeye Recreation Center, features lake access, camping and two hiking trails, one of which leads to the largest waterfall on the mountain. The Buckeye Recreation Center offers tennis, pickleball and basketball courts, a workout facility, fitness classes, a reading room, indoor and outdoor playgrounds, and the popular free kayak and fishing gear loaner programs. 

For parents looking to keep their kids busy, the Mountaineer Adventure Tower located beside Brick Oven Pizzeria features a three-story ropes course and thrilling 25-foot slide. The town of Beech Mountain also has three playgrounds to exhaust the little ones: Fireman’s Park, Bark Park Playground and Buckeye Playground. For the four-legged children, the Beech Mountain Bark Park is an off-leash dog park with two separate areas for large and small dogs.

Fall

Once summer starts to wind down, autumn ushers in brilliant fall colors that extend for weeks. As Mother Nature weaves her colorful tapestry in the Blue Ridge, Beech Mountain provides spectacular color and awe-inspiring panoramic views. Whether you’re hiking to overlooks in the Emerald Outback or driving along Beech Mountain Parkway, stunning scenery is always right around the corner.

During autumn, Beech Mountain hosts two beloved events: the Mile High Kite Festival, where kids of all ages cover the skies with colorful kites, and the immensely popular Autumn at Oz. This iconic immersive theater event lets visitors stroll the yellow brick road, tour Dorothy’s house, meet their favorite Oz characters, and go back home with tons of fond memories and enviable Insta stories. 

Much like adventures, cozy lodging is another Beech Mountain specialty regardless of season. Options range from country inns and condo rentals to chalets and upscale vacation homes. Interested in all the mountain amenities? Consider it done. Whether you want a mountain view, secluded hideaway, hot tub, fireplace or gourmet kitchen, Beech Mountain has your perfect home base for High Country adventures. Noteworthy nearby attractions include Grandfather Mountain, Linville Falls, Linville Caverns, Tweetsie Railroad, the Blue Ridge Parkway, three wineries, multiple zip line adventures and whitewater rafting.  

Being in the heart of it all makes Beech Mountain a great place to stay the night, week or month.

This article was produced in partnership with, and all photos are courtesy of, Beech Mountain TDA.