12 Photos Of North Carolina Covered In Snow In The Winter

Compared to our neighbors up north, North Carolina has pretty mild winters. Sure, we can see some amazing snow storms and nasty ice storms, even the occasional flurries on Christmas. Yet, it can be pretty challenging to recreate that whole ‘winter wonderland’ feel with temps sometimes reaching the high 60s in December. Though these 12 places in North Carolina, catch them with the right weather (or altitude) and you’re guaranteed to feel transported to the North Pole.

Wandering beneath Dry Falls on a below-freezing day.

Flickr / GRYGRGN

Saying hello to the polar bears at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro.

Flickr / Valerie

When the water freezes along the NC Coast and Intracoastal towns - pure magic!

Flickr / Zach Frailey

Flying down Beech Mountain in a tube - bonus, their ice skating rink is also amazing!

Beech Mountain Resort

Or hitting the slopes at one of North Carolina’s many great ski resorts, and even cross country skiing in the back country or Blue Ridge Parkway.

Flickr / Jeff Moore

If Santa had a palace I’m 100% sure it would be Biltmore Estate.

Flickr / Possum1550

Finding an outdoor ice skating rink in your city or town - like Charlotte’s ‘Holiday on Ice.’

Facebook / Holiday On Ice

The higher the elevation, the more guarantee for a chance of snow - Mount Mitchell saw flurries within the first two weeks of October.

Flickr / Alex Ford

Nowhere else channels the North Pole spirit quite like Christmas Town USA in McAdenville.

Yelp / Natalie R

Hopping on board Great Smoky Mountain’s Polar Express ‘basically’ takes you to the North Pole!

Facebook / Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

Sometimes we even get lucky with a pre-Christmas snow, then let the scenery and the wildlife complete the magic!

Only In North Carolina Facebook / Terrah Hewett

Sometimes the beach even gets in on the snowy spirit too - a frozen pathway at Emerald Isle? This is enchanting!

Only In North Carolina Facebook / Rhonda Looper Hunter

Now I’m ACTUALLY crossing my fingers for a Christmas Eve Snow – how amazing to have a White Christmas in the Tar Heel state. If you’re in the mood for more North Pole scenes – here are 15 times snow transformed North Carolina’s scenery into pure magic.