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 experience the best winter activities in Gatlinburg:
1. Snow Tubing at Ober Mountain
If you want a great winter activity that the entire family will love, check out the snow tubing at Ober Mountain in Gatlinburg! This is a unique opportunity to 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 tubing tickets are limited and tend to sell out in advance during holiday periods and weekends, so be sure to buy your tickets early! Other fun things to do in the snow at Ober include skiing and snowboarding, and they even have an indoor ice skating rink!
2. Hiking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The winter season can be a delightful time of year to hike the scenic trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is open 365 days a 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! Here are a few of our favorite winter hikes:
3. Winter Magic at Gatlinburg SkyPark
Another great way to have fun outdoors during winter in Gatlinburg is by riding the SkyLift and spending the day up on the mountaintop at Gatlinburg SkyPark! Their Lights Over Gatlinburg Winterfest event continues until the end of January, so you can walk the SkyBridge when it’s decked out in dazzling lights at night. Their SkyTrails and observation tower are also fun to explore, and you’ll love admiring the snow-capped mountains and stunning panoramic vistas of the Smokies! Plus, their brand-new expansion, Clayton’s Landing is now open, with more decks and seating areas, firepits, food vendors, and more.
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!
