Outdoor adventure. Iconic attractions. Family fun. Romantic getaways. Superb restaurants.
Editorial supplied by the Town of Banner Elk
For a town of less than 2,000 residents, Banner Elk beckons visitors with a surprising amount of activities for most every type of traveler.
Outdoor adventure is plentiful in this resort town. Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster provides downhill thrill rides 12 months a year. And its next-door attraction, Wilderness Run Adventure Course, challenges visitors to climb, swing and dangle in the treetops from spring to fall. Two of the High Country’s premier outfitters – Edge of the World and High Mountain Expeditions – get your pulse pounding with whitewater rafting, kayaking, tubing, rock climbing, caving and hiking amid the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountain peaks surrounding Banner Elk.
Horseback rides with panoramic views are the specialty of Elk Mountain Riding Company. Choose from a variety of guided tours for both beginners and experienced riders. Another way to soak in the summer views is via mountain bike on the downhill trails at Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain resorts. Both locations convert their ski slopes to bike paths for exhilarating cycling runs served by chairlift.
More relaxing outdoor pursuits include swimming from the sand beach, fishing or kayaking More relaxing outdoor pursuits include swimming from the sand beach, fishing or kayaking at Wildcat Lake, or hiking waterfall trails ranging from half a mile to a mile at Elk River Falls and Crab Orchard Falls.
The most iconic attraction in the North Carolina mountains is less than 20 minutes from Banner Elk. Grandfather Mountain is an admission-based nature park best known for its Mile High Swinging Bridge. Once made of ropes and wood, it’s now a sturdier aluminum bridge that’s one of the highest elevation suspension bridges in the country.
And there’s more to Grandfather Mountain than the bridge. Animal habitats allow for close up viewing of bears, cougars, elk, otters and eagles. There are maintained hiking trails from easy to strenuous, while the mountain’s Wilson Center for Nature Discovery uses high-tech exhibits to teach visitors about the ecosystems of the Appalachian Mountains and the geological diversity of Grandfather Mountain.
A little bit further afield is legendary Linville Caverns. Since 1937, this attraction has allowed visitors to walk inside Humpback Mountain and explore stalactite and stalagmite formations at a comfortable year-round temperature of 52 degrees.
In Banner Elk, romance can blossom any old time with cozy lodging, wine tastings, live theater and one of the best culinary scenes in the NC High Country.
Two of the nicest wineries in the North Carolina mountains are rooted in Banner Elk. Enjoy outdoor tastings at Banner Elk Winery and Grandfather Vineyard & Winery through the warmer seasons, and indoor tastings during High Country winters.
Broadway-style musicals take the stage at Lees-McRae College’s Hayes Auditorium each summer. The 2026 lineup includes Shrek: The Musical, Sister Act and a locally written production, America 250. In honor of the nation’s Sestercentennial, America 250 is an evening of singing, dancing and storytelling with a fresh, entertaining look at America’s journey as we celebrate her 250th birthday.
Ensemble Stage, a professional theater troupe headquartered in Banner Elk, presents a series of small-stage plays at its intimate 99-seat theater in the Historic Banner Elk School. These include comedies, dramas, thrillers and even vintage radio shows.
Outdoor dining is a staple in the village-like downtown from spring through fall, while the town is known year-round as the “Culinary Hot Spot of the High Country” for a surprisingly robust assortment of high-quality restaurants.
Banner Elk transitions into North Carolina’s Ski Town in winter as it’s the only town in the state within five miles of two ski resorts. Visitors enjoy skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing at Sugar Mountain Resort and Beech Mountain Resort, the two largest ski resorts in the Southeast.
A variety of Banner Elk lodging options accommodate getaways of all sizes and styles. Complete details about lodging, restaurants and activities can be found at www.BannerElk.com.
BANNER ELK EVENT NOT TO MISS
Art on the Greene
May 23-24
Historic Banner Elk School
828-898-5398 • BannerElk.com
Singing on Grandfather Mountain
June 28
MacRae Meadows at Grandfather Mtn.
SingingOnGrandfather.com
Star-Spangled Banner Elk Fourth
July 4
Main Street & Tate-Evans Park
828-898-8395 • BannerElk.org
Art on the Greene
July 4-5
Historic Banner Elk School
828-898-5398 • BannerElk.com
Grandfather Mountain Highland Games
July 9-12
MacRae Meadows at Grandfather Mtn.
828-733-1333 • GMHG.org
Art on the Greene
Aug. 1-2
Historic Banner Elk School
828-898-5398 • BannerElk.com
Art on the Greene
Sept. 5-6
Historic Banner Elk School
828-898-5398 • BannerElk.com
Oktoberfest at Sugar Mountain
Oct. 10-11
Sugar Mountain Resort
828-898-4521 • SkiSugar.com
Woolly Worm Festival
Oct. 17-18
Historic Banner Elk School
828-898-5605 • WoollyWorm.com
A Small Town Christmas
Dec. 4-6
Various locations
828-898-8395 • BannerElk.org
2027 Events
Art on the Greene
May-September 2027
Historic Banner Elk School
828-898-5398 • BannerElk.com
