GEM MINING
Highlands Outpost in Scaly Mountain, NC, offers an exciting gem mining experience, perfect for families and aspiring treasure hunters.
At the wooden sluice, visitors can sift through mining rough using running water to reveal colorful gemstones like rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. This hands-on activity provides both fun and education, as guests discover and identify their own sparkling treasures. Whether you’re a child or an adult, gem mining at Highlands Outpost is a thrilling way to experience the excitement of striking it rich in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
GEM MINING STATS
GEMS
ASSORTMENT
BUCKET SIZE
1 GALLON
SEASON
MARCH TO MID-OCTOBER
GEM MINING HOURS
Location is closed random days throughout the year. Be sure to check hours on their website to be sure they are open the day(s) you want to visit.
GEM MINING TICKETS
Tickets are purchase on-site. No reservations required.
DISCOUNTED RATES
- They offer 1/2 price for locals on Fridays with valid ID. (Macon, Jackson, Clay County)
BOOK YOUR EXPERIENCE
Click the link to visit the official website.
AMENITIES AVAILABLE AT THIS LOCATION
ON-SITE CONCESSIONS
Light concessions and drinks are avaialable inside the main building.
RETAIL STORE
There is a retail store on-site that offers keepsake items, concessions, and more.
VISIT LOCATION PAGE
Click the link to visit the location page for this activity and learn all about the location.
OTHER ACTIVITIES AT THIS LOCATION
Mountain Coaster Highlands Outpost NC
Highlands Outpost in Scaly Mountain, NC, is home to the Scaly Mountain Screamer, North Carolina’s longest mountain coaster, featuring over 3,800 feet of track with thrilling 360-degree turns and stunning Appalachian Mountain views.
Fishing Highlands Outpost NC
Highlands Outpost in Scaly Mountain, NC, features a scenic trout fishing pond, offering a relaxing outdoor experience where you only pay for what you catch and they provide everthing you need.
Extreme Tubing Highlands Outpost NC
Highlands Outpost in Scaly Mountain, NC, offers an exciting extreme tubing experience, allowing visitors to enjoy the thrill of snow tubing in the warmer months.
Ice Skating Highland Outpost NC
The outdoor rink provides a smooth, well-maintained surface where skaters can glide under the crisp mountain air, surrounded by stunning Blue Ridge views.
Snowtubing Highland Outpost NC
Highlands Outpost in Scaly Mountain, NC, offers an exciting snow tubing experience perfect for winter adventure seekers of all ages.
ACTIVITY AT OTHER LOCATIONS
Snow Tubing Sugar Mountain NC
The tubing park features multiple lanes carved into the slope, each offering a thrilling ride down on an oversized inner tube.
Ski Sapphire Valley NC
A calm and family friendly ski and snowboard resort that is perfect for beginners and intermediate skiers.
Snowtubing Black Bear Snow Tubing NC
The park features a 600-foot-long tubing hill with an 80-foot vertical drop, delivering fast, exciting descents that are suitable for both kids and adults. What makes it especially unique is the ability to operate in both cold and warm weather seasons—thanks to special synthetic lanes and top-tier snowmaking equipment.
Snow Tubing Beech Mtn NC
The resort’s dedicated tubing hill features 6–8 lanes, each stretching a generous 700 feet and flanked by high-powered snowmaking guns to ensure consistently slick, fast surfaces.
Snowtubing Highland Outpost NC
Highlands Outpost in Scaly Mountain, NC, offers an exciting snow tubing experience perfect for winter adventure seekers of all ages.
Hawksnest Snowtubing and Zipline
Hawksnest Snow Tubing and Zipline, located in Seven Devils, North Carolina, is renowned for being the largest snow tubing park on the East Coast. The park boasts up to 30 lanes, each ranging from 400 to 1,000 feet in length, spread across four distinct tubing areas to cater to various thrill levels.