The 10 Best Things to Do in the Great Smoky Mountains in Winter

Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee

1. Play in the Snow at Ober Mountain Gatlinburg

There are loads of fun things to do in Gatlinburg in Winter. Main Street is packed with plenty of museums, restaurants, shops, and breweries to keep you busy indoors.

But if you’re looking to play in the snow, head up to Ober Mountain Gatlinburg. For snow skiing in Tennessee, Ober Mountain is not just the best, but the ONLY option!

This beloved mountaintop attraction offers fun Winter activities such as snow tubing, snowboarding, ice skating, and a Family Snow Zone where everyone can make snow angels, snowmen, snow forts, and more.

When Jack Frost starts nipping at your nose and toes, just pop into one of the Ober Mountain restaurants to grab a bite and/or sip some hot cocoa to get warm.

READ MORE: The 10 Best Things to Do in Gatlinburg TN

2. Get Great Views at Gatlinburg SkyPark

Imagine seeing snow-capped mountains and forest canopies from a bird‘s eye view. You can at Gatlinburg SkyPark, where you’ll find the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America!

Walk across the bridge for magnificent scenic views and hike the SkyTrail up to the Tulip Tower observation deck. There you can enjoy panoramic vistas of the city of Gatlinburg TN and the Smoky Mountains. 

If you’re there in the evening, take a ride on the SkyLift to see stunning nighttime views of the city below lit up like the stars. This is especially heartwarming if you’re visiting Tennessee for Christmas. 

This popular Gatlinburg attraction will stay open if it snows, but will close for safety reasons if there is too much ice build-up. We recommend calling before you visit in order to avoid disappointment.

READ MORE: The 10 Best Romantic Getaways in Tennessee

3. Festivities at Pigeon Forge Winterfest

Pigeon Forge’s Winterfest runs until February 18, 2024, offering endless attractions (including myriad Christmas-themed events) to keep you busy this Winter.

One of our favorite attractions during Winter in Pigeon Forge TN is SkyLand’s Festival of Lights, which runs from early November through mid-February.

Guests can marvel at hundreds of thousands of Tennessee Christmas lights and enjoy decadent sweet treats at the SkyLand Café & Bakery (which is decorated as the North Pole for the holidays).

If you want to be part of a magical New Year tradition, ring in the New Year at The Island in Pigeon Forge on December 31, when they host a magnificent fireworks display as the clock strikes midnight. 

READ MORE: The 10 Best Tennessee Mountain Towns to Visit

4. Rowdy Bear’s Smoky Mountain Snowpark 

Rowdy Bear’s Smoky Mountain Snowpark in Pigeon Forge TN is the place to go for top-notch snow tubing in the Great Smoky Mountains.

Guests can experience the longest hill (500 feet) and fastest snow tubing in TN, with a 70-foot drop along the way. You can also take an exhilarating ride on the Avalanche Snow Coaster, where you control the speed. 

They also have an outdoor playground for kids, while grownups can try their hand at axe throwing with help from Rowdy Bear’s trained staff. 

There aren’t any restaurants at the park, but nearby eateries include the Local Goat, Blue Moose, and Sunline Diner. 

READ MORE: The 10 Best Campgrounds in Tennessee to Visit

Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Winter

5. Winter Hiking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Winter in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is simply breathtaking. If you’re fortunate enough to see it covered in snow, it’s a picture-perfect Winter wonderland!

With the leaves from the deciduous trees gone, many of the national park’s 100+ hiking trails offer magical vistas that are usually hidden in summer. 

The Allum Cave Bluff Trail and Metcalf Bottoms Trail (to the quaint ghost town of Little Greenbrier) are especially pretty in the snow. 

Although the popular Roaring Fork Motor Trail is closed to cars in Winter, you can still hike some amazing trails, including the picturesque Grotto Falls Trail.

Note that Smoky Mountain waterfalls can get very slippery in Winter. So be cautious, and be sure to check the official NPS official site for info on trail closures and weather warnings. 

READ MORE: The 15 Best Things to Do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

6. Drive Through Cades Cove

If you prefer to stay in the car on cold Winter days, we recommend taking a ride through Cades Cove. It’s a wonderful drive at any time of year, but the 11-mile road is especially magical in the snow. 

You can easily spend two hours here, especially if you stop to look at some of the historic buildings, enjoy spotting wildlife (including Black Bears and birds), or get out to take a stroll. 

This area was settled by Europeans between 1818 and 1821, and holds the widest variety of historic buildings in the park. Visitors can see churches, a grist mill, barns, log cabins, and more. 

Guests are encouraged to pick up a tour booklet at the entrance to the loop road and take their own self-guided tour.

READ MORE: The 15 Best Great Smoky Mountains Campgrounds to Visit

Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina

7. Visit Mingo Falls & Soco Falls in Cherokee NC

Located in Cherokee NC (a.k.a. the Qualla Boundary), Mingo Falls is one of the tallest and most magnificent waterfalls in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

The hike is just 1/4-mile, but it’s straight up 161 steps. At the top you can see water cascading down a 120-foot drop into the pool below, with a spectacular view from a wooden observation bridge. 

Soco Falls is another one of our favorite waterfalls in Cherokee NC, offering two falls for the price of one. The great thing about visiting in Winter is that you can see both falls without having to scramble down to the bottom.

There’s a small roadside parking area, with a very short walk to reach the viewing platform. Sure-footed visitors can climb down to the base of the falls, but we recommend using the guide ropes, because the rocks are really slippery! 

Note that these and other North Carolina waterfalls can be slick at the best of times. Be especially cautious when there is snow and ice on the ground.

READ MORE: The 10 Best Waterfalls Near Cherokee NC to Visit

8. Tour the Museum of the Cherokee People

If you find yourself wanting to be indoors on a cold Winter day, the Museum of the Cherokee People in Cherokee NC is an excellent place to start. 

This is one of the longest-operating tribal museums in the USA, and it’s packed with fascinating info about Cherokee culture and history. 

Extensive exhibits tell the story of the Cherokee people and Cherokee legends. The museum is a great place to take children, too, who will enjoy the immersive and interactive environment.

They also have a large gift shop stocked with art, books, clothing, jewelry, and home decor, many of which have been made by local Cherokee artists and craftsmen.

READ MORE: The 15 Best Cabins in Cherokee NC for Rent

9. Explore The Road to Nowhere in Bryson City

If it’s too chilly outside, a scenic drive offers a great opportunity to learn about Bryson City‘s “Road to Nowhere.” This unusual landmark came about after the Fontana Dam flooded other access roads, and a replacement road was started.

Due to environmental concerns, construction was stopped at the end of a one-mile tunnel. But the road is now considered a beautiful hiking destination.

Taking the drive to reach it will offer you many breathtaking overlooks of Fontana Lake, which we consider one of the most beautiful lakes in North Carolina.

Once you reach the tunnel, you must get out of your car and go through the tunnel on foot.

On the other side, you’ll find trailheads for the Noland Creek Trail, Goldmine Loop, and Lakeshore Trails, all of which offer a wonderful way to spend a day during Winter in the Great Smoky Mountains.

READ MORE: The 20 Best Things to Do in Bryson City NC

10. Take a Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Train Ride

Whether you visit Bryson City for the Polar Express Train at Christmas or to take a train ride along the Nantahala River on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, both are fun Winter activities.

The 4.5-hour Nantahala Gorge trip departs from Bryson City, traveling 44 miles to the Nantahala Gorge and back.Along the way, you’ll enjoy breathtaking sights of the Great Smoky Mountains and Fontana Lake.

Once you reach the Nantahala Outdoor Center outpost, there’s a one-hour layover where you can grab a bite to eat or chill by the river while awaiting your train ride back to the train depot. 

There are various tour packages available, ranging from traveling in First Class (which includes dining) to open-air gondolas where guests are invited to bring a pre-packed box lunch.

Don’t forget to bring blankets to snuggle up in if you’re taking the open-air cars. But the First, Crown, and Coach Class cars all have heating.  -by Emma Gallagher; featured photo of Great Smoky Mountains in Winter via Canva