If you are looking for something exciting to do in the Smokies during the winter months, check out all of the winter sports action at Ober Gatlinburg! This popular attraction is home to Tennessee’s only ski resort and has plenty of fun activities for the whole family to enjoy. A huge part of the fun is just getting to the top of the mountain on the Aerial Tramway, a scenic tram ride that departs directly from downtown Gatlinburg! After reaching the peak, you’ll find so many fun things to do, you may not know where to start! To help you out, you should start by checking out one of these 3 fun winter sports at Ober Gatlinburg:
1. Skiing and Snowboarding
The Ober Gatlinburg ski area offers 10 trails for skiing and snowboarding, including 3 beginner trails, 6 intermediate trails, and 2 advance trails. If you are hitting the slopes for the first time, this is the perfect place to give skiing or snowboarding a try! You can sign up for a lesson at the Gatlinburg Ski School, where certified ski instructors will guide you through the basics. Skiers and snowboarders are also welcome to take a refresher course or try a more advanced class. There is no need to worry if you don’t have your own equipment because equipment rentals are available in the rental shop. The ski slopes are normally open from mid-December to mid-March, but check the official Ober Gatlinburg slope report before your visit to confirm the current conditions.
2. Snow Tubing
Another one of the awesome winter sports at Ober Gatlinburg is snow tubing, an exciting activity that features all of the fun of sledding without having to climb up hills! After enjoying your tubing run down the slope, Ober Gatlinburg’s Magic Carpet takes you back up the hill where you can slide again and again to your heart’s content! The snow tubing sessions are 90 minutes each and can be reserved in advance as some sessions may sell out on weekends and holiday periods. The only restrictions are that children ages 3 to 5 must ride with an adult, and tubers must be at least 6 years old and 42 inches tall to ride solo. Please note that children under 3 are not permitted to snow tube.
3. Ice Skating
Strap on a pair of skates to go ice skating at Ober Gatlinburg’s indoor ice arena! This huge ice arena is the centerpiece to Ober Gatlinburg’s enclosed mall, which showcases over 15 shops with slope side apparel, tramway gifts, and other cool merchandise! The skating rink is ideal for both beginner and professional skaters as it features a handrail around the perimeter, which can help novice skaters keep their balance. The ice arena at Ober Gatlinburg is large enough to have hosted the Ice Skating Institute Team competitions in the past and is host to the Tennessee Special Olympics ice skating competition every year!
You’ll have a blast spending time at Ober Gatlinburg on your next winter trip to the Smoky Mountains! This isn’t the only fun attraction you can visit when you stay with us, though. Look at these other fun things to do in the Smoky Mountains for your next vacation!
