Megan & Tanner
Things To Do
Woolly Worm Festival October 18-20
The Woolly Worm Festival also includes about 175 craft vendors, food, live entertainment, and rides. This two-day family event annually draws more than 20,000 attendees and takes place during the traditional peak weekend for autumn leaf viewing in Banner Elk and the Blue Ridge Mountains. In addition to checking out our lodging page and local attractions page, you can learn more about the festivities by visiting the festival website.
Emerald Outback Trails
Hikers, and bikers, and trail runners… oh, my! Adventure seekers flock to Emerald Outback at Beech Mountain, a trail park which features more than eight miles of outstanding trails near the summit. From the Oz Forest Run to Wizard’s Way, and the other six trails in between, there’s a path for every skill set, and don’t forget to stop and enjoy breathtaking views from any of our three designated overlook areas. The park offers safety features, such as LID markers and well-blazed trails.
Upper Pond Creek Trail
Easy (1 mile) – Welcome to Beech Mountain’s favorite trail. Fifteen different stations located along the trail provide interesting information about creek life, trees, animals, and wildflowers. Each season brings change to the trail. Winter, when the ground is covered with snow, is a good time to look for animal tracks. Spring brings wildflowers, with the Trout Lily among the first to bloom. During summer, the rhododendron fill the shaded sections with gorgeous color, and when the leaves begin to fall, a walk down the trail can often scare up a wild turkey, white tail deer or grouse.