While you may know Gatlinburg, Tennessee as a fabulous place to visit during warm weather for outdoor adventures, did you know it’s an equally amazing place in visit in the winter? It is!
Ober Gatlinburg ski resort on Ober Mountain, has everything you need for tons of winter fun! Skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, and ice skating are just some of the ways you can enjoy Gatlinburg, Tennessee during the colder months. This is the only ski resort in Tennessee currently!
We’ve gathered a list of activities that are perfect for a winter escape to Ober Gatlinburg! Pack your coats and scarves, and get ready for some picture-perfect fun.
OBER GATLINBURG AMUSEUMENT PARK & SKI AREA
1339 Ski Mountain Road | Gatlinburg, TN | 800-251-9202 | Website
The skiers and snowboarders in your group will be in heaven on the slopes at Ober Gatlinburg, but if flying down a snowy mountain isn’t your thing — don’t worry! Ober Gatlinburg has tons of activities to choose from, so every member of your group will find something to love.
In addition to winter sports and attractions, there are several places for shopping and dining, and annual special events you can’t see anywhere else. Let’s check out the list!
SKIING, SNOWBOARDING, AND SNOW TUBING
Summer tubing is a blast in the mountains, but have you tried snow tubing or skiing? From its beginning as a private ski resort in 1962, Ober Gatlinburg has always been about skiing. While the resort now offers so much more, it never lost its original focus.
Ski and snow season starts around mid-December and ends sometime around mid-March, depending on the weather. Mother Nature is in charge! There are 10 ski trails with one double chairlift and two quads. Skis, boots, poles and snowboards are available for rent, as are jackets, helmets and pants for adults and children.
Never skied before or maybe you need a refresher? Enroll in the Ober Gatlinburg Ski School to learn how to experience those adrenaline thrills while getting safely down the slopes.
No instruction is needed for a ride down the mountain on a snow tube, though. Just hop on and enjoy the ride!
Their snow tubing park opens the Saturday before Thanksgiving (November 19, 2022) and runs until March 2023. Purchase a 90-minute session, then hop on the Magic Carpet — which is an outdoor escalator — to take you up the mountain for some snow tubing fun. Children ages 3-4 can ride for free with a paying adult, but children 2 and under aren’t allowed on this one. Sessions may sell-out well in advance for holiday periods and most weekends, so book early if you want to experience this!
Kick off snow season with the annual, free Back in Blue Rail Jam. Have those cameras ready to capture photos of the unbelievable tricks these skiers and snowboarders from several states perform on the frozen rails. Snow is guaranteed with Ober Gatlinburg’s “Snow Magic” refrigerated snow making system.
Participants can dust off their Snowboards and Skis and jam on Rails, Boxes, and Jumps. The snow in our Tubing Park will be ready to rock for one night only, and Snow Tubing will begin the following morning.
You don’t have to participate in the rail jam to enjoy the event. There will be fabulous prizes, Awesome Music and vendors set up to make it just as much fun for spectators.
Insider Tip: If you bring your own snowboard or ski equipment, you can get it tuned up at Ski Mountain Sports and lock it up for free at the Courtesy Booth. Leave it overnight for a small fee.
PLAY AT CUBBIES SNOW ZONE
Some little ones will experience snow for the first time at the Cubbies Snow Zone, an enclosed area at Ober Gatlinburg created just for them! Cubbies Snow Zone is the perfect place for small children to play in the snow and discover winter excitement!
Remember how much fun it was to make snow angels? Show your kids how it’s done and then share your best snowman-making techniques.
This fun play area for little ones under 48″ tall is open during ski season weekends.
GLIDE ON THE ICE SKATING RINK
Want to ice skate? Ober Gatlinburg has the perfect rink!
The large (140’ x 75’!) indoor ice skating rink is at the center of the enclosed Mountaintop Mall, making it a perfect place to glide along any time of year — but it’s especially great during the winter months.
This large skating rink is great for beginner and professional skaters alike! There is a handrail around the perimeter which can help novice skaters keep their balance but the rink is large enough to have hosted the Ice Skating Institute (ISI) Team Competitions in the past
If you need a break, there are plenty of places to relax around the rink during your 3-hour session.
Rental skates are available from Toddler size 6 to Adult size 15. Children four and under are FREE with a paying adult.
SPIN ON ICE BUMPER CARS
If ice skating isn’t your thing, you can still get out on the ice and have a blast on the Ice Bumper Cars! These things look like the coolest things ever — you have to do it.
No athletic ability required, just hop on board one of the colorful tubes for 10 minutes of non-stop giggling while you bump, spin and zoom around the ice.
These are located on 1/3 of the ice skating rink, and it pretty much makes you feel like you’re in a video game. I mean, a motorized tube on ice? Sign me up! (Note: It’s closed during winter holiday periods.)
RIDE THE OBER GATLINBURG AERIAL TRAMWAY
For breathtaking views of the Great Smoky Mountains, get on board the Aerial Tram! The tram leaves from downtown Gatlinburg for a 2.1-mile trip up, up, up the mountain to the Amusement Park and Ski area.
After boarding one of the two 120-passenger trams, you’ll glide slowly up above Gatlinburg with magnificent views all around through the large glass windows during the 10-minute ride. The Aerial Tramway departs from downtown Gatlinburg and will whisk you up directly to our Amusement Park and Ski Area.
When you’re visiting in the winter, it gets dark earlier so you have more time to take a nighttime trip and experience beautiful views of the sparkling lights in downtown Gatlinburg.
You’ll definitely want to ride the aerial tramway, built in 1972. It’s one of the country’s largest Aerial Tramways and can carry 30,000 people a day, which translates to millions of passengers over its 45-year history. The ride is suitable for all ages.
SKI TO CHURCH
No need to get off your skis to attend church at Ober Gatlinburg.
Every Sunday at 12:30 p.m. during ski season, a church service is conducted at the top of Castle Run by Smoky Mountain Resort Ministries.
RACE ON THE SKI MOUNTAIN COASTER
Do you have some family members who are speed devils, while others may be a bit more cautious? This is the ride to please everyone.
The more cautious folks don’t have to worry about zooming down a mountain out of control – you control your own speed on the Ski Mountain Coaster, the highest mountain coaster east of the Mississippi.
And the speed demons can zoom as fast as they’d like – well, at least up to 25 miles per hour – down the mountain and around the corkscrew turns, through dips and turns. You can ride one or two people per cart, and the driver can apply the brakes at any time for a calmer ride. (There is a 300 lb limit per cart.)
An average ride is 5-7 minutes.
RIDE THE SCENIC CHAIR LIFT
The chair swings may be closed in winter, but don’t worry! The (much, much different) chairlift is open! Ha! While you may need to bundle up a bit more during winter, the year-round Scenic Chairlift is a relaxing way to see amazing mountain views.
The Scenic Chairlift is the longest chairlift of its kind in the U.S., and it makes its way up to the top of Mount Harrison!
This 15-minute ride is definitely a must-do activity when you’re in Gatlinburg.
ZOOM DOWN THE ALPINE SLIDE
Missing the water raft rides that summer brings? Try the Alpine Slide instead! Since 1976, kids have been zooming down the Alpine Slide at Ober Gatlinburg.
For this fun, kid-friendly adventure, take the Scenic Chairlift to the midway point, where the slide awaits! The sled-like cars have push and pull levers, so you can control your speed down the 1800′ tracks.
Race your friends! Or take a relazing ride down and enjoy the view. The choice is yours!
BECOME KING (OR QUEEN!) OF THE MOUNTAIN
Test your technical snow skiing skills and your freestyle creativity in this annual competition on the Mogul Ridge and Castle Run.
Competitors will be judged on 5 categories and will get 2 runs to show what they’ve got! At the end, a King of the Mountain skiier and snowboarder, and Queen of the Mountain will be crowned!
The third annual event it free, and is held January 12, 2023.
VISIT ANIMALS AT WILDLIFE ENCOUNTER
While some animals, like black bears, may be asleep for their long winter’s nap during the colder months, there’s still plenty of wildlife to view at the Wildlife Encounter!
All of the animals here are rescues who wouldn’t have survived in the wild.
You can expect to see river otters playing in their underwater viewing area, bobcats, and birds of prey in their enclosed aviary. They also have a Nocturnal House, which features raccoons, skunks, flying squirrels, turtles, and snakes.
WINTER MAGIC EVENTS
Gatlinburg — and the neighboring towns of Pigeon Forge and Sevierville — celebrate an annual Smoky Mountain Winterfest, lighting up Eastern Tennessee with 30 miles of holiday lights across Sevier County.
Each city has its own celebration, and Gatlinburg hosts a variety of events at its annual Winter Magic events.
VISIT THE FESTIVAL OF TREES
W. L. Mills Conference Center at stoplight #8 | Historic Nature Trail | Gatlinburg, TN | Website
Be dazzled by the display of dozens of decked-out trees, hear carolers and visit Santa at the annual Gatlinburg Festival of Trees.
This free event has brought the joys of the season to residents and visitors for nearly 50 years, while simultaneously supporting the Boys & Girls Club of the Smoky Mountains and the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fund.
The Festival of Trees runs from November 23rd to 27th and kicks off with Candy Canes and Cocktails Reception on the evening of Tuesday, November 22nd. The Festival will feature a children’s craft and play area, photos with Santa Claus and, of course, the beautifully decorated Christmas trees and wreaths.
The Festival will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 23 through Saturday, November 26 and on Sunday, November 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
ENJOY MUSIC WINTER SMOKY MOUNTAIN TUNES & TALES
Winter Magic Tunes & Tales will once again present strolling Christmas entertainment on the streets of Gatlinburg. Holiday music will fill the air with a sacred-secular mixture of Appalachia, Bluegrass, and Country.
Visitors will also enjoy visiting with Santa’s Elves, Frosty, Rudolph, a little bit of history, humor and more! This interactive program is a Holiday favorite, staged against a backdrop of millions of lights, making it truly a Winter Magical experience in Gatlinburg!
Holiday music fills the air, with millions of Christmas lights as a backdrop. How magical is that?!
DATES: November 25-26 & December 2-17, 2022
EXPLORE THE GREAT SMOKY CHRISTMAS ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOW
Find unique, hand-crafted gifts at the annual Great Smoky Christmas Arts and Crafts Show presented by our country’s largest organization of independent artisans, The Gatlinburg Arts and Crafts Community. These artisans are located along the 8-mile-long Arts and Craft Loop.
Delight the people on your holiday list (or yourself!) with items like ceramic pitchers, stuffed bears, hand-woven baskets and quilts made with techniques that have been passed down for centuries.
DATES: November 22 – December 4, 2022 and daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
SEE THE FANTASY OF LIGHTS CHRISTMAS PARADE
Who doesn’t love a parade? Especially one that features floats with one -of-a-kind LED displays, marching bands, dancers, huge balloons, and fun holiday characters!
And of course, Santa does make an appearance at the Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade!
Date: December 3, 2021
Insider Tip: If you go early you can snag a seat on the Parkway, or you can purchase a bleacher seat for guaranteed good views.
GATLINBURG’S BEST WINTER EXCITEMENT
Have you figured out yet why winter is one of our favorite seasons in Gatlinburg?
Well, here are even more fun activities to enjoy in Gatlinburg in the winter, and some are even available year-round.
SAY HOWDY TO THE GATLINBURG SNOW PEOPLE
To snow them is to love them. (Sorry, couldn’t resist!)
The popular scarecrow and pumpkin people who delight visitors with their chic fall attire throughout Gatlinburg in the fall, officially change to Gatlinburg Snow People on December 1.
SHOP AT THE VILLAGE SHOPS
634 Parkway | Gatlinburg, TN | 865-436-3995 | Website
You’ll feel like you’re strolling through a European village when you visit The Village Shops in Gatlinburg. This charming collection of 27 shops will have unique gift items not found in every shop back home. You’ll find everything from trekking poles to candles to monogrammed items to Celtic gifts.
Insider tip: Warm up with a steaming cup of hot chocolate and a freshly made donut from The Donut Friar. Good luck deciding between the flavors…or maybe try them all?
VISIT SANTA AT ANAKEESTA
576 Parkway | Gatlinburg, TN | 865-325-2400 | Website
Visiting Anakeesta, Gatlinburg’s newest theme park, is an adventure in itself! Your admission includes a ride in a Chondola to this outdoor family-focused adventure park.
While you may not spot any fireflies in the treehouse-themed Firefly Village in the winter, you will see Santa enjoying a delightfully enchanted breakfast this winter season, shop cute shops and dine at one of the restaurants or grab a snack from one of the snack bars.
There are tons of activities here for kids too! From gem mining, to zip-lining, to mini golf, you’ll run out of time before you run out of things to do!
COUNT DOWN AT THE NEW YEAR’S EVE BALL DROP
Bid good-bye to 2022 and hello to 2023 at the annual New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and Fireworks Show!
Fireworks will pierce the sky from the top of the Space Needle right at the stroke of midnight, accompanied by music and a light show.
This family-friendly event is held at the Historic Nature Trail.
GRAB A DRINK AT A BREWERY
There’s a good time a-brewin’ in Gatlinburg.
Make time for a stop at one of Gatlinburg’s breweries, and discover the handcrafted beers and ciders made in this mountain town.
Gatlinburg Brewing Company has some great offerings!
ESCAPE THE COLD IN A COZE CABIN
While we love the outdoors in winter, equally enchanting is snuggling up in a cabin with your family in front of a roaring fire.
Gatlinburg has a huge selection of cabins of any size to choose from, many with magnificent views of the Great Smoky Mountains.
HIKE TO RAINBOW FALLS
You may not be able to view the beautiful rainbow produced by mist from an 80-foot-high waterfall on a cloudy winter day, but if it’s cold enough, you will be able to see those same magnificent waterfalls partially frozen.
Embrace your inner Elsa, and enjoy the icy goodness!
MORE INFORMATION FOR YOUR TENNESSEE VACATION
- YOUR TENNESSEE VACATION
- FREE NASHVILLE: 21+ Cheap and Free Things to do in Nashville
- GATLINBURG RESTAURANTS: 29 Delicious Gatlinburg Restaurants & Foodie Treats
- PIGEON FORGE: 12 Exciting Things to do in Pigeon Forge TN
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She relishes the discovery of obscure, offbeat and unwonted places, and she will chat up any willing stranger to uncover a new secret locale. If she’s not exploring in the RV, she’s either hiking the trails or checking out the whiskey scene at their current location.
Lesli lives and travels with her two kiddos -Cooper and Elliot- and her soul mate, husband and business partner, Dan. They call Colorado home, at least for the moment.
