11/22/2023 0 Comments Banner elk north carolina things to do![]() ![]() Once you get toward the top, there is lots of areas that are super sketch. I suggest one at a time as it's hard when someone behind you is wiggling the rope trying to climb up too. It gets slippery when you're sweaty or it rains. The hand ropes weren't nearly as hard as I thought they would be. Some are straight up and some have a bit of a lean. They are secured well into the rock and seem sturdy. The ladders are all slanted a bit to the left or right, making it feel off. The ENTIRE trail is a mix of scaling rocks, climbing up ladders, using hand lines to climb up and balancing. the first rope area and ladders are just to get you into a false sense of accomplishment. Its straight up and over rocks to get to a trail. This trail gets you right from the start. I was almost in tears at times because of fear (especially when it started to rain) I'm not in the best shape, but amaretto active in kayaking and outdoor activities. This was the longest, most terrifying 2.6 miles of my life. It's mine and my husband's 25th anniversary and we decided to have an adventurous week. I'm not a young person anymore and knew it would be a challenge, but wanted to attempt it. Wasn't sure if icould make it with all the ladders and rope pulls. It is a great educational family outing.I looked up reviews and information on the hike to Gallaway Peak. I highly recommend this tour for all ages! It does require an hour of waking and standing, with some elevation and uneven terrain. Apple Hill Farm is a hidden gem in Banner Elk. All the animals there are seriously living their best lives on this property. This farm is so beautiful and exquisitely maintained. Many made from the fur shaved off the Alpacas.socks, scarves, blankets etc. The farm tour ends in a cute little gift shop with lots of neat things to purchase. They have built a large wooden deck extended off the side of the mountain for an incredible photo opportunity. There is a beautiful scenic overlook area on the farm that the tour guide took us too. The Alpacas were thankfully very friendly this day so we were able to pet several of them. We saw Pigs, donkey, Alpaca, Llama, goats, sheep, horses, chickens, bee hives, barn dogs, working dogs. She walked us through every section of the farm, stopping at each animal location and giving us plenty of time too look around, interact with the animals and take photos. Our tour guide was very sweet and very knowledgeable. After checking in, we waited in a designated area for the tour to begin. Upon arrival we were shown where to park and where to check in for our tour. The farm is pretty high up on a mountain so be prepared for a good windy drive up. We visited Apple Hill Farm yesterday (Aug 2021) for a tour of the farm. We put the to the test hiking in Grandfather State Park the day after our visit. PS The Alpaca Trail socks they sell in the store, were the tour ends, are a first rate buy. If you are anywhere near the Banner Elk, Boone, Blowing Rock area of NC you will not be disappointed if you make a visit to the Apple Hill Alpaca Farm. The support animals that keep the livestock safe, are just as fascinating as the Alpacas. HIs presence in the animals corrals also seemed to make them show off their playfulness for a favored human.Īpple Hill Alpaca Farm is far more than just an Alpaca farm. He also went the extra mile & coaxed the shier animals to to show themselves so we could see the similarities and differences. It's amazing the relationship he has been able to foster in just the 8 short months he's been there. He wasn't fazed by any question and was eager to share his love of the animals, pointing out who held a special place in his heart and why. Our guide,Tyler, was awesome and you could tell how much he truly appreciates the animals and the farm. My son (22) and I really enjoyed our tour of Apple Hill Alpaca Farm. This was such a wonderful experience! Thank you! BTW, this farm is atop a very large mountain and the views are breath taking! We purchased alpaca socks in the gift shop which are soft, warm and very durable. Millie answered all of our questions and is very knowledgeable of this farm. ![]() We learned about, petted and/or fed many of the animals which included donkeys, alpacas, horses, angora goats, miniature cows! lovable barn dogs and 3 astonishingly large Great Pyrenees dogs, the watchdogs of the barn animals. Her love and passion for the animals was very apparent! The 1 hour walking tour around the snow covered farm was just great. Millie showed us the angora goats, the colorful chickens and pot bellied pigs until others in the tour arrive. Thankfully we had 4 wheel drive to get there! We arrived a 1/2 hour early and were greeted by Millie, a cheerful and lovely lady that welcomed us to look around the barn area until tour time. The road to the farm is long and windy through beautiful countryside. Our tour was the day after a major snow and wind event in the area. ![]()
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