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One Last Slice of Ice: Winter Recreation in Highlands
Written By: Mary Jane McCall | Issue: March-2022 | Photograph By: Susan Renfro
There are still a few places to squeeze every last measure of fun out of the retreating winter.
Spring is just around the corner, but for those wanting to hang onto the magic of winter just a bit longer, the Plateau is the place to indulge in these last, fleeting moments to savor a blustery day and an outdoor adventure.
That is, if Mother Nature cooperates with cool nights and moderate days.
Weather permitting, our area’s outdoor recreation centers continue to offer winter fun and adventures throughout much of March, so choose your adventure, check their websites for the latest hours, conditions and availability, grab your jackets and gloves, and head outdoors.
Highlands Outpost at 7420 Dillard Road in Scaly Mountain will continue to offer snow tubing and ice skating six days a week (closed Tuesdays) so long as weather permits. Plan to make a day of it here as they also have onsite dining and refreshments at the Outpost Café, which offers something for everyone’s tastes. Plans are also in the works to open North Carolina’s longest gravity powered mountain coaster, the Scaly Mountain Screamer, this spring. For more information call (828) 526-3737 or visit highlandsoutpost.com.
Downtown Highlands offers ice skating in the picturesque Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park through the first weekend in March, so don’t miss your opportunity for one last turn around the rink before the season ends.
It’s open Thursday through Sunday, March 3-6. Hours are Thursday 1:00 until 8:00 P.M.; Friday and Saturday from 1:00 until 10:00 P.M. and Sunday from 1:00 until 5:00 P.M. Rentals are available and reservations are not required.
Ski Sapphire Valley offers activities for everyone. Skiers and snowboarders can enjoy a fun day on the slopes. Beginners and novices will enjoy their learning center slope with available lessons and guidance, while more experienced boarders and skiers will enjoy the main slope and short lift lines. Snow tubing enthusiasts will enjoy the Frozen Falls Tube Park.
Food and beverages are available at the Slopeside Tavern. There’s also an aerial zipline if sailing among the treetops is more to your liking. For more information call (828) 743-7663 or visit their website at sapphirevalleyresorts.com.
