Photo: “Asheville City Hall (February 2023)” by DiscoA340, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Most people picture Asheville in October, with the mountains on fire with color. But ask locals when they love their city most, and many will tell you winter. The crowds thin out, the restaurants have room, the mountains open up through bare trees, and every brewery, bookstore and coffee shop feels like it was built for a cold afternoon.
Here’s why you should come anyway – and what to do when you get here.
The Holidays Stretch Into January
Asheville’s holiday season doesn’t end on Dec. 25. Christmas at Biltmore runs through Jan. 10, 2027, and the Holiday Ice Rink at Asheville Yards stays open through Jan. 18, 2027. Winter Lights at The NC Arboretum and the National Gingerbread House Competition at The Omni Grove Park Inn both run through Jan. 3, 2027. A post-Christmas trip lets you see it all with smaller crowds.
Winter Hiking (Yes, Really)
With the leaves down, views you can’t see in summer open up. Some favorites within an easy drive:
- Bearwallow Mountain – an easy-to-moderate climb to wide-open pastures with big views.
- Moore Cove Falls and Looking Glass Falls in Pisgah National Forest – Looking Glass is right off the road, and in a cold snap it can freeze into a wall of ice.
- Bent Creek Experimental Forest – a network of trails for every fitness level, minutes from town.
One tip: sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway close for snow and ice in winter, so check the National Park Service’s road-closure page before you head up.
Hit the Slopes
Western North Carolina has real skiing. Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley is the closest major ski area to Asheville, and snow tubing in the Maggie Valley area is roughly 45 minutes away. For a bigger adventure, Beech Mountain, the highest ski town in the eastern U.S., makes a memorable day trip. Opening dates depend on the weather, so check each resort before you go.
Warm Up Indoors
- Art and history: the Asheville Art Museum, the Thomas Wolfe Memorial and the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center.
- The River Arts District: studios and galleries are open again, with artists at work and plenty to take home.
- Breweries: Asheville’s beer scene is legendary, and riverside favorites like Zillicoah, Wedge and The Bull and Beggar are pouring again.
- Pure relaxation: the Asheville Salt Cave or a soak-and-scrub at Wake Foot Sanctuary.
- Something sweet: a hot chocolate at French Broad Chocolate is practically required.
Eat Like a Local
Winter is when Asheville’s food scene really shines. Asheville Restaurant Week traditionally takes place in the new year, with special menus and prices at dozens of local restaurants (2027 dates to be announced). Even outside Restaurant Week, winter is the easiest time to get a table at the places that are packed in October.
Your Visit Matters
Asheville has worked hard to rebuild since Hurricane Helene in 2024. Biltmore, the River Arts District, a long contiguous stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway and many favorite local businesses are open again, and visitor spending helps keep the recovery going. Coming in the quieter season is one of the best ways to support the small businesses that make Asheville, Asheville.
Stay Cozy Downtown
Our downtown Asheville residence is designed for exactly this kind of trip: a warm, stylish base within walking distance of dinner and music. Spin a record in The Groove, keep up with work in The Workaround, and come back to The Recharge after a cold day on the trail.
Winter is our best-kept secret – and our best rates.
Lewis Jones is the founder of The Highmark Collection, a boutique collection of thoughtfully designed short-term rentals in Asheville, Chattanooga, and Greenville. After a career in leadership roles with IBM and Kyndryl, he created Highmark to bring the same focus on service, detail, and consistency to the guest experience.
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