Ski Season Is Here!
Posted by Leif Palmer in Gatlinburg
The months of January and February are generally considered the off season here in the Great Smoky Mountains. But for the folks who work and play up at Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort, the next two months are peak season for winter fun! The cold weather that comes on the heels of winter means the conditions are ideal for all the fun that this long-time Gatlinburg attraction has to offer.
To get to Ober Gatlinburg, you can either drive up Ski Mountain Rd. from downtown Gatlinburg to the top of Mt. Harrison, or you can take the Aerial Tramway from its Parkway boarding station downtown and ride 2.1 miles to the amusement park and ski area. The views of downtown Gatlinburg and the surrounding Smoky Mountains you'll see on the ride up are incredible.
Once you're there, you'll find skiing opportunities aplenty. There are nine trails total, four of which are open this week, running on a 10- to 12-inch base with a machine-groomed surface. Look for daytime highs in the mid 30s up there for the next few days. Three lifts are currently servicing the open trails, which means you shouldn't have any trouble getting lots of downhill skiing and snowboarding time.
Even if you've never done either activity before, Ober Gatlinburg has a ski school to help beginners get started, and they have plenty of gear and even some snow-wear available for rent in their pro shop.
Elsewhere at Ober, you can find more downhill thrills on their 10-lane snow-tubing course, which features a “magic carpet” escalator for easily getting back to the top of the hill. For a flat fee, you can enjoy a 90-minute session on the course and coast down the multiple dips as many times as you can. For more winter fun, you might even head inside to the main facility to lace up some blades for some year-round indoor ice skating.
Ober Gatlinburg also has several other attractions that are open throughout the year, including a scenic chairlift, which offers stunning mountain views, a wildlife encounter that's home to bears and all sorts of nocturnal critters, a ski mountain coaster, a number of specialty shops and a full-service restaurant.
If you're thinking about heading to Ober Gatlinburg in the next couple of months, plenty of cabins in Gatlinburg, TN available for rental, putting you within an easy drive of the slopes. This is a great time of year to book, because many of our cabins have more availabilities than in summer, and you can also take advantage of some great winter deals.
We hope to see you soon!
About Leif Palmer
Leif Palmer loves residing in the Smoky Mountains. He is an avid outdoorsman: rowing for exercise on the lake, trail hiking, and free climbing rocks in the mountains. He indulges his arty side by periodically beating up pieces of marble by sculpting. He is always frustrated by his inability to sink long putts, and hates his curly hair (but his wife loves it). Leif has been known to muster enough courage to change a diaper, and hopes his son will become a chip off the old block.
Other blog categories:
Gatlinburg Hiking Pigeon Forge Pigeon Forge Attractions Places To Eat Places To Eat Rental Cabins Seasons Smoky Mountains Sevierville Smoky Mountain Attractions Smoky Mountains Things to Do Wears Valley