Sports & Recreation in Boone, NC: Golf, App State Football, Trail Rides & More
DISCOVER
Sports & Recreation
Boone's personality is built on being active, and you'll feel that the moment you arrive. Between Appalachian State's game-day energy, a surprisingly deep network of golf courses tucked into mountain valleys, and a recreation center that would be the envy of towns three times this size, there's something here whether you're competitive, casual, or just looking to move. Most of what's listed below is right in town or a short drive into the surrounding High Country.
Golfing
Boone Golf Club The most accessible course in the area and the one locals actually play. An 18-hole public course right in town with mountain views from nearly every hole and a welcoming atmosphere for visitors.
📍 433 Fairway Dr, Boone, NC 28607 🔗 Boone Golf Club
Hound Ears Club A private 18-hole George Cobb–designed course on 860 acres between Boone and Blowing Rock, consistently rated among the most scenic mountain courses in the state. Access is through membership or lodging rentals.
📍 328 Shulls Mill Rd, Boone, NC 28607 🔗 Hound Ears Club
Linville Ridge Country Club A private mountaintop club off the Blue Ridge Parkway with an award-winning championship course, croquet, tennis, and panoramic ridge views. Membership or guest access required.
📍 2245 Hwy 105 South, Linville, NC 28646 🔗 Linville Ridge Country Club
Racquet Sports
Deer Valley Athletic Club 🏆 Don't Miss — Boone's premier multi-sport club, with indoor and outdoor tennis, pickleball, racquetball, pools, a full gym, and an on-site bar and grill. Day and weekend packages available for visitors.
📍 507 Bamboo Rd, Boone, NC 28607 🔗 Deer Valley Athletic Club
Hound Ears Club Six tennis courts in a gorgeous mountain setting as part of the private Hound Ears community. Available through membership or lodging.
📍 328 Shulls Mill Rd, Boone, NC 28607 🔗 Hound Ears Club
Watauga Community Recreation Center A state-of-the-art 100,000-square-foot public facility opened in 2021, with indoor basketball courts, pools, a fitness center, an indoor track, and outdoor tennis and pickleball courts. Memberships and day passes available.
📍 231 Complex Dr, Boone, NC 28607 🔗 Watauga Community Recreation Center
Equestrian
Banner Elk Stables The easiest option for visitors wanting a guided mountain trail ride. One-hour rides follow ridgeline trails on the flanks of Beech Mountain, open year-round, all ages and experience levels welcome. About 25 minutes from Boone.
📍 796 Shoemaker Rd, Banner Elk, NC 28604 🔗 Banner Elk Stables
Yonahlossee Stables A professional lesson and boarding facility between Boone and Blowing Rock with indoor and outdoor rings, 34 stalls, and miles of riding trails. Focused on instruction rather than casual trail rides.
📍 223 Pine Hill Rd, Boone, NC 28607 🔗 Yonahlossee Stables
Leatherwood Mountains A 4,000-acre gated resort and equestrian community about 45 minutes south of Boone in Ferguson, with guided trail rides, a 60-stall equine center, and some of the best mountain riding trails in the state. Bring your own horse or ride one of theirs.
📍 512 Meadow Rd, Ferguson, NC 28624 🔗 Leatherwood Mountains
Spectator Sports
App State Football — Kidd Brewer Stadium 🏆 Don't Miss — Fall Saturdays in Boone revolve around Mountaineer football, and the energy at "The Rock" is genuinely electric for a Sun Belt program. The stadium sits at 3,333 feet — one of the highest in college football — and the backdrop of autumn color against the Blue Ridge is hard to beat.
📍 1320 Stadium Dr, Boone, NC 28608 🔗 App State Sports
App State Basketball & Watauga High Athletics App State's Holmes Convocation Center hosts men's and women's basketball with a passionate student section, and Watauga High's football and basketball games are a great way to experience small-town High Country community spirit. Search online for current schedules and venues.
📍 Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608 🔗 App State Sports
Motor Sports
North Wilkesboro Speedway A legendary NASCAR short track that reopened after decades of dormancy, about 45 minutes east of Boone. The revived speedway hosts major racing events and carries deep roots in stock car history — a pilgrimage-worthy drive for motorsports fans.
📍 801 Speedway Ln, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 🔗 North Wilkesboro Speedway
Shooting Sports
Watauga Gun Club A private members' club just outside Boone with pistol and rifle ranges (including a 300-yard rifle range), ATA-sanctioned trap fields, and monthly competitive shooting events. Public competitions and concealed carry classes are offered regularly.
📍 232 Appaloosa Trail, Boone, NC 28607 🔗 Watauga Gun Club
Mountains to Coast Outfitters A guide service based near Boone offering clay target shooting, private-range pistol and rifle sessions, plus guided upland bird hunts and fly fishing. All ages and experience levels, groups from 1 to 300.
📍 305 Celtic Way, Boone, NC 28607 🔗 Mountains to Coast Outfitters
Pro Tips: App State football tickets sell out for marquee games — buy early and arrive with time to tailgate in the lots around Kidd Brewer Stadium. For golf, weekday tee times are easier to book and far less crowded than weekends, especially during leaf season. The Watauga Community Recreation Center offers affordable day passes if you just need a pool, a gym, or a pickleball court for a day. Trail rides at Banner Elk Stables and Leatherwood Mountains book up in summer and fall — call at least a week ahead for reservations.
