If you’re looking for a family-friendly place to go snow tubing, Sapphire Valley is the perfect option. Kidding Around contributor Kristina took her kids and had quite the adventure, which she is sharing with our readers.
Media tickets were provided for the experience.
Having already gone snow tubing once with my kids, they were more than thrilled to learn we were going to do it again, this time at a place where our family has vacationed twice – but only in the summer. Experiencing the Sapphire Valley in Cashiers, North Carolina has a whole other feel in winter and just as fun!
Looking to hit the slopes near Greenville, South Carolina this winter? Heading up into North Carolina you’ll find so many great ski and snow tube options from full North Carolina ski resorts to super family-friendly North Carolina snow tubing parks.
We also have some great options for snow tubing in Tennesee, including America’s first indoor snow tube park!
So, the cold weather is here and though some may not love it, winter can bring a whole lot of fun if you like to ski, snow tube, or snowboard. If you’re one of those people who see cold temps coming and immediately dream about a ski resort on top of a mountain somewhere, you’re in luck.
We have a list of the closest ski resorts, slopes, and snow tube runs to South Carolina including North Carolina slopes, plus some in Tennessee and Georgia.
Use our list to find the best snow ski slopes for your family!
Blackbear Snow Tubing
Snow Tubing Tips & Tricks
Since we’re in the South, it’s not like we have a long snow tubing season so getting prepared for a snow tubing may seem daunting. But fear not, it’s not a big deal at all and we are going to help you with some quick tips & tricks on making the most of your snow tubing trip:
Be sure you check out the place you want to go on social media/on their website/through a phone call before you make the drive. Snow tubing places are dependent on the weather and weather is fickle here in the mountains. If it’s raining, it’s likely some places won’t open so check before you go.
If your desired place takes reservations, make them. And fill out the waiver online so you can get tubing when you get there. If your desired place doesn’t accept reservations, get there a little before they open or you’ll likely be waiting for hours for a spot.
You don’t need any special clothing like ski pants or a a snow bib. I’ve gone snow tubing many times wearing leggings or jeans. It’s totally fine, just wear things that are warm.
Bring hats and gloves and if you/your kids’ extremities get cold, bring hand warmers.
Bring a change of clothes or just a change of pants. If the snow is wet or it’s a little warm out, your pants may get a little wet or muddy. Sometimes it’s just more comfortable to change your clothes before you ehad out.
If you bring a bag, try to make sure you it is secure. Same with a phone. I have a crossbody bag I use and hang onto my phone really tight when shooting videos. I’ve seen people lose phones, hats, bags, you name it, on the mountain. If it’s busy, you may not be able to get your stuff back right away.
Bring cash. Some places, like Moonshine Mountain, only accept cash. Be sure you have enough for your family just in case.
Lastly, always check the height and weight requirements of your intended snow tubing place. You don’t want to drive all the way to some place only to be told your toddler is too short. These are big liabilities for snow tubing places and they can’t budge on these rules.
South Carolina Ski Resorts and Snow Tubing
Are there places in South Carolina to ski or snow tube? Where are the ski slopes near me?
The short answer is “No.” If you want to ski, snow tube, or snowboard you’ll need to head out of South Carolina. But, the good news is that there is most definitely skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing very near South Carolina. You’ll just need to head up to North Carolina for most of it.
There are some great spots just an hour or two from Upstate, SC, and two to three hours from the Midlands, SC.
Looking for a family-friendly winter activity? Check out Moonshine Mountain in nearby Hendersonville, NC for snow tubing this winter. KAG Contributor Kristina Hernandez brought her children for a day of tubing down the mountain. Check out her review so you’ll know what to expect and plan your visit to Moonshine Mountain.
They are projected to open on December 26th, 2022.
If you see the giant pink elephant, you know you’ve made it to Moonshine Mountain in Hendersonville, NC. Get used to the feeling of being watched by all kinds of mismatched statues of dinosaurs, bears, and the Blues Brothers. But it’s all part of the thrilling fun of this snow tube mecca in Western North Carolina.
Located only an hour from Greenville, Moonshine Mountain offers super fast snow tubing for any age down their mountain. They have a cozy lodge with games, hot chocolate, snacks, and coffee available. If you’d rather skip the tubing part or are done with your time, you can watch all the action from the deck at the lodge or head to the bridge over the tubing area to take photos of your family speeding down the lanes.
Moonshine Mountain is planning to open December 26, 2022, for their 2022-23 season, which extends through February depending on the weather. Before you go, definitely head to their Facebook page for the latest updates on weather, snow report, and wait times. They have the capability to create their own snow so you’ll be fine even if Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate on the white fluffy stuff.
There are bathrooms on site but they are port-a-potties so don’t go there expecting the Ritz of bathrooms. The place is rustic and eclectic, not a fancy ski lodge.
Tickets, Tube, & Lift
Tickets are $40 for each tuber no matter the age and you have to sign a waiver upon arrival – head right to the “Form Shed” and then take your waiver to the lodge for payment and your sticker. You’ll get two hours of tube time. They do not take reservations so it’s first come first serve. If you want a good chance of snow tubing the day you want, you need to get there early. Like anything outdoors since the pandemic, a lot of people want to go. Over Christmas Break last year, they were posting wait times of anywhere from two to six hours.
After leaving the lodge, go to the building with the airplane on top to pick up your giant tube – I don’t know how much they weigh but they aren’t light (I definitely tripped over them a couple of times!) – and head to the mountain after the lodge. There is a pulley system that acts as a lift to get you up. It’s easy and fast.
Your other option, if the line is long, is to take your tube and walk up the mountain. I don’t recommend this if the conditions are icy, which is how they were when I went. I got about 80 percent up and got stuck because I couldn’t get a good grip on the ice. It all worked out but the lift is easy and you don’t get stuck!
Going Down the Mountain
Once you’ve reached the top, you get to choose one of the three lanes. Having never snow tubed before, my two little kids (ages 7 and 4) and I just chose the first lane, which was a good choice since it seemed like the other two were even faster. Moonshine Mountain claims one of the steepest slopes in Western North Carolina. I’m not disputing that after day of snow tubing here.
My kids are small enough where we were arranged so that I could hold onto both their tubes and we could go down together, which made me feel a bit safer. Every tuber, no matter their age, get their own tube. The employees are all great and very friendly. They get you up the mountain and down it safely while having a lot of fun.
I saw a lot of other groups go down in “trains”, where you hook your feet under the arms of the person in the tube in front of you and then slide down together. It looked awesome.
Mom Review of the fun at Moonshine Mountain
We got there before Moonshine Mountain opened so we had plenty of time to get in several runs until a bigger crowd showed up. The most we waited to get to the lift after sliding down was 15 minutes and that was at the most crowded part of the day. It was run efficiently, they play music, have a bonfire near the mountain so you can warm up, and have an on-site photographer to grab your best photo (which we absolutely bought).
The place is very family-friendly and really caters to all ages. We saw people on dates, families, big groups, and friends just having fun together. There are plenty of things for the kids to play with, or on, while there as well. There is a little igloo they can explore or climb on the backs of dinosaurs or sit by the fire and enjoy hot chocolate.
I found it’s run efficiently to move people from one area to the next to get in as many snow tube runs as possible but certainly geared towards safety. If you’re looking for something fun to do as a family this winter or to bring out-of-towners to, Moonshine Mountain is a great choice.
Check hours on website as they are mostly open on weekends and school breaks. They do not offer group rates.
Tips for Moonshine Mountain in North Carolina
1 – Bring cash. Moonshine Mountain doesn’t accept credit cards for anything so you need enough money for the tickets plus whatever snacks or hot chocolate you want. Tickets are $40 per person. If you purchase photos, bring an extra $30-$40. I loved the photos since I couldn’t go down the mountain and snapshots at the same time.
2 – While there isn’t an age requirement, there is a minimum height requirement of 36” to tube and a 250-pound limit on the lift. Tubes can hold up to 300 pounds but you’ll need to walk up the mountain. Ages 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
3 – Check the weather and snow report before you go on their website and/or Facebook page. Rain will usually necessitate closing. You don’t want to drive all the way up there and not be able to go tubing.
4 – Get there early. We took someone’s advice and got there about 20 minutes before opening, which allowed us plenty of time to sign the waiver, get our tube, and hit the mountain before other people showed up. If you get there hours after opening, be prepared to wait for a long time or not get tickets at all.
5 – Bring a change of clothes. There are changing rooms on site and you may get wet or muddy. It’s just more comfortable to change before you head home.
6 – Don’t forget winter hats and gloves and layers are your friends. It can get chilly so just be prepared. You can always ditch layers in the car if you warm up. We don’t have snow gear so we layered leggings under pants and jeans and did the same with shirts. Worked out well.
