Unlock the “Secret Season”! Hike frozen falls, watch ice carvers, and get cozy with mountain views and spicy ginger beer.
McDowell, County, NC
January, 2025
Forget the rumor that the Blue Ridge sleeps after October. In McDowell County, North Carolina, January and February aren’t the off-season; they are the Secret Season. This is when the landscape strips down, revealing rugged profiles and trails that literally glitter with crushed mica.
Your winter odyssey begins with the Lake James Ice Festival on January 10, 2026. It is a surreal spectacle where chainsaws carve crystal-clear ice into farm-themed masterpieces against the backdrop of the silent lake.
For a historic treat, drive the winding Diamondback route up to Little Switzerland. In a first for the iconic property, the Switzerland Inn is keeping its Main Lodge and Fowl Play Pub open into the new year. Trade the cold wind for a craft cocktail and a seat by the fire, enjoying sweeping mountain views that are usually reserved for summer guests.
Back in the valley, Marion’s Main Street offers a warm refuge for antique hunters at shops like the Vintage Market and The Pickle Barrel, where you can dig for vinyl and cast iron. While you’re there, toast to the earth at Mica Town Brewing, which honors the region’s mining roots. Sip a “Stumptown Stout” by the fire, or sneak upstairs to “The High Dive,” a retro-inspired bar where the spicy “Ginger Beerd” pairs perfectly with a game of pool.
For the adventurous, the newly restored Catawba Falls is mandatory. The 540-step climb up the massive staircase tower will burn your quads, but the 100-foot frozen roar is a winter trophy worth the effort. Afterward, thaw out in Old Fort with a massive cinnamon roll from Gogo’s. Winter here isn’t a task; it is a celebration.
