Posted by Leif Palmer in Seasons Smoky Mountains
A few weeks ago, we mentioned Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort as an option for having wintertime fun in the Smokies. This week, we thought we'd go into a little more detail about what that Gatlinburg attraction has to offer visitors in search of cold-weather recreation. January and February are peak season for the resort, so if you've never been there, or if you have but not actually been on the slopes, we can tell you a little more about what's in store on top of Mt. Harrison.
You can drive to Ober Gatlinburg via Ski Mountain Rd. from downtown Gatlinburg, but if there's been a major snow event and the roads are treacherous, you can still get to the mountaintop by taking the Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway from its downtown boarding station on the Parkway. The cable cars are pretty big and allow room for you to carry your own gear and apparel if you have it.
At the slopes, the resort offers 10 trails, ranging from easy to challenging, and seven ski lifts that service those trails. The trails are open to traditional skiing as well as snowboarding. This time of year, they get a good bit of natural snow, but often, the resort supplements that base with manufactured snow to ensure a good surface.
If you're new to the sport, you need to know that Ober Gatlinburg has a ski school and slopes just for beginners, and their ski shop also sells and rents apparel and gear for those who might be interested in just trying things out for the first time.
But there's more to Ober Gatlinburg than just skiing. Did you know there's a 10-lane snow tubing course where you can make as many runs as you like over the course of an hour and a half? There's even a magic carpet transport that carries riders from the bottom of the course to the top. You'll also find a freestyle terrain park on the slopes, where snowboarders and skiers can put their skills to the test on a variety of obstacles and features.
Ober Gatlinburg's indoor facility features a skating rink, shops and restaurants, and the Ober Gatlinburg chair lift will take you even higher up the mountain, where you'll get spectacular views of surrounding peaks as well as Gatlinburg down in the valley below.
And all this is just what the attraction has to offer in winter. In just a few months, guests will be able to take advantage of warm-weather attractions like water slides, go-carts and an outdoor animal habitat.
If you do plan a visit to Ober Gatlinburg this year, keep in mind that Gatlinburg cabin rentals are the ideal accommodations choice. Our cabins deliver quiet mountain seclusion but also allow you to easily access the ski resort or the Aerial Tramway station by car. Contact us today about making a reservation for you next great adventure in the Smokies!
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.
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