Tucked into the rolling Blue Ridge Mountains of Wilkes County, North Carolina, Leatherwood Mountains is more than a destination. It is a place where visitors can slow down, reconnect with nature, and experience mountain living at its finest. With breathtaking scenery, unforgettable horseback riding, cozy luxury cabins, a peaceful campground, live music, and warm Southern hospitality, Leatherwood offers an escape that feels both refined and refreshingly relaxed.
Leatherwood Mountains encompasses nearly 3,000 acres, with approximately 275 tracts ranging from 1 acre to 30 acres nestled throughout the community. The thoughtfully planned mountain retreat showcases the natural beauty that makes Wilkes County one of North Carolina’s most scenic destinations. Winding mountain roads lead to panoramic overlooks, hardwood forests stretch across the hillsides, and quiet valleys invite visitors to leave behind the noise of everyday life. Every season transforms the landscape, from colorful spring blooms and lush summer greenery to vibrant autumn foliage and peaceful winter vistas.
Whether you are planning a romantic getaway, a family vacation, an outdoor adventure, or a weekend with friends, Leatherwood Mountains offers an experience that captures the very best of the Blue Ridge.
Breathtaking Views Around Every Corner
The scenery at Leatherwood is one of its greatest attractions. Everywhere you look, rolling mountain ridges create postcard-worthy views that seem to stretch forever. Early mornings often begin with a blanket of fog drifting through the valleys before giving way to crisp blue skies, while evenings bring some of the most spectacular sunsets in the North Carolina mountains.
As the sun dips below the ridgelines, the sky transforms into brilliant shades of orange, pink, purple, and gold. Guests often pause whatever they are doing to take in the view, whether they are relaxing on the porch of a luxury cabin, finishing a horseback ride, enjoying dinner at the restaurant, or gathering near the horse barns. These unforgettable sunsets have become part of the Leatherwood experience, creating moments that visitors remember long after they return home.
Luxury That Feels Like Home
Leatherwood Mountains offers an elevated mountain getaway without the formality often associated with luxury resorts. Here, comfort comes naturally.
The community features beautifully appointed mountain cabins and vacation homes, each designed to embrace the surrounding landscape. Many offer expansive decks, stone fireplaces, spacious kitchens, and sweeping mountain views that invite guests to settle in and stay awhile.
The atmosphere is relaxed, welcoming, and authentic. Guests arrive in hiking boots, cowboy boots, or flip-flops, and everyone feels equally at home. Days are spent exploring the outdoors, while evenings are reserved for gathering with family and friends, sharing stories around a fire pit, or simply enjoying the quiet sounds of the mountains.
It is luxury without pretense, where the greatest amenities are fresh mountain air, breathtaking views, and the opportunity to truly unwind.
Horseback Riding at the Heart of Leatherwood
Horseback riding is what truly defines Leatherwood Mountains. Recognized as one of the Southeast’s premier equestrian destinations, the resort welcomes riders of every experience level, from first-time trail riders to lifelong horse enthusiasts.
Miles of scenic trails wind through forests, across open meadows, beside streams, and up mountain ridges where spectacular vistas reward every climb. Guided trail rides offer visitors the opportunity to experience the Blue Ridge Mountains from a unique perspective, while experienced riders can bring their own horses and enjoy the extensive trail system that has earned Leatherwood its outstanding reputation.
The horse barn area serves as the heart of the resort. Throughout the day, guests gather to watch horses being groomed and saddled before heading out onto the trails. The barns create a welcoming atmosphere where conversations happen naturally, friendships are formed, and visitors experience the close-knit equestrian culture that makes Leatherwood so special.
Throughout the year, Leatherwood also hosts horse shows, clinics, organized trail rides, and special equestrian events that attract riders from across the country. Whether you are an experienced rider or simply looking for your first trail ride through the mountains, the equestrian experience at Leatherwood is unforgettable.
Camp Beside a Premier Trout Stream
While many visitors choose the comfort of Leatherwood’s luxury cabins, others prefer sleeping beneath the stars.
The resort’s peaceful campground sits alongside Elk Creek, one of North Carolina’s renowned Delayed Harvest trout streams. The gentle sound of flowing water creates the perfect backdrop for a relaxing camping experience, while anglers appreciate the opportunity to fish one of the region’s premier trout destinations.
The campground accommodates both RV and tent campers, offering a peaceful retreat surrounded by towering trees and fresh mountain air. Mornings begin with birdsong echoing through the woods, afternoons invite guests to explore the trails or cast a fishing line, and evenings are made for campfires beneath a sky filled with stars.
For outdoor enthusiasts, it is difficult to imagine a better place to spend a weekend immersed in the beauty of Wilkes County.
Fishing, Wildlife, and Quiet Moments
Leatherwood’s outdoor experiences extend far beyond horseback riding.
The property’s peaceful bass ponds provide another opportunity to enjoy the outdoors at a slower pace. Whether casting a line from the shore, watching wildlife along the water’s edge, or simply taking in the reflections of the surrounding mountains, the ponds offer a tranquil setting for guests of all ages.
Wildlife is abundant throughout the property. Deer, wild turkey, songbirds, and other native animals are common sights, making every walk or drive through the resort feel like an opportunity to connect with nature.
For many visitors, these quiet moments become the most memorable part of their stay.
Great Food and Live Music
After a day of exploring the mountains, guests naturally find themselves gathering at Leatherwood’s welcoming on-site restaurant.
The restaurant serves hearty meals in a relaxed atmosphere where families, horseback riders, campers, and cabin guests come together to unwind. Whether stopping in after a trail ride or enjoying dinner before an evening concert, visitors are welcomed with genuine mountain hospitality and satisfying comfort food.
Many weekends, the restaurant becomes the center of the resort’s social scene as talented local musicians take the stage. Live performances featuring bluegrass, country, classic rock, and regional favorites create a lively atmosphere that perfectly reflects the musical traditions of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
There is something uniquely special about ending a mountain day with good food, live music, and conversations that continue long after the last song has been played.
The Spirit of Wilkes County
Leatherwood Mountains embodies everything that makes Wilkes County such a remarkable place to visit. Rich Appalachian traditions, breathtaking scenery, outdoor adventure, and genuine hospitality come together to create an experience unlike anywhere else in North Carolina.
Visitors can spend the morning riding horseback through mountain trails, enjoy an afternoon fishing Elk Creek or the bass ponds, relax in a luxury cabin overlooking the valleys, gather with friends around a campfire, and finish the evening listening to live music beneath a spectacular mountain sunset.
It is this balance of adventure and relaxation that keeps guests returning year after year.
Whether you are looking for an unforgettable horseback riding vacation, a peaceful camping getaway, a scenic fishing retreat, or simply a place to experience the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Leatherwood Mountains offers an authentic escape where luxury feels natural, the pace of life slows down, and every day ends with a view worth remembering.
In the heart of Wilkes County, Leatherwood Mountains is more than a resort. It is a place where lifelong memories are made, traditions begin, and the timeless beauty of North Carolina’s mountains is always waiting to welcome you home.
For more information visit them at: leatherwoodmountains.com or on instagram at @leatherwoodmountains
