Although the daylight hours are shorter and the weather is a bit chilly, there is still plenty to do in Gatlinburg during the winter season! The wonderful thing about the Great Smoky Mountains is that you can enjoy the great outdoors at any time of year. The winter is a particularly good time to visit as there are fewer crowds and lots of exciting outdoor activities! So bundle up and get ready to check out these top 3 fun winter activities in Gatlinburg:
1. Snow Tubing at Ober Gatlinburg
If you want a great winter activity that the entire family will love, check out the snow tubing at Ober Gatlinburg! This is a unique opportunity where you can enjoy all the fun of sledding without the walk back up the hill. Your adventure starts with the Magic Carpet, a surface lift that pulls you up the hill while you relax in your tube. At the top of the hill, scream in delight as you race back down in one of the exciting tubing lanes! The only restrictions are that children must be at least 3 years old to ride and children ages 3 to 5 must ride with an adult. Keep in mind that the tubing tickets are limited and tend to sell out in advance during holiday periods and weekends, so be sure to buy your tickets early!
2. Hiking at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The winter season can be a delightful time of year to hike the scenic trails at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is open 365 days per year! The park is the most popular national park in the country, so a winter visit allows you to avoid the high number of visitors that come during the warmer months. The Smoky Mountain weather during the winter is actually warmer than you might expect, with some days reaching daily high temperatures of 50 degrees or more. Of course, there can be some extreme weather fluctuations with an increase in elevation. It is not unusual to have snow in the higher areas while there are warm temperatures in the lower elevations!
3. Ride the Gravity Coaster at Rowdy Bear Mountain
For another one of the fantastic winter activities in Gatlinburg, check out a thrilling gravity-propelled ride through the woods on the Gravity Coaster at Rowdy Bear Mountain! This exciting mountain coaster reaches speeds up to 35 miles per hour as you control the speed of your own coaster cart. After a slow climb on your sled to the top of the mountain, wind your way back down through dips and turns through the woods of Rowdy Bear Mountain! The coaster carts feature the latest Intelligent Distance Control System so that you can enjoy a safe and fun experience. Take a ride down the Gravity Coaster at Rowdy Bear Mountain during the daylight hours, then come back at night to experience a ride while the track is lit up!
Wondering what else you need to know about planning a winter trip to the Smokies? Find out how to plan your winter getaway here!
Check out all of our Smoky Mountain cabin rentals today to stay near these fun winter activities in Gatlinburg! We look forward to seeing you during the winter season at Alpine Chalet Rentals!
