These Are the Top 5 Reasons To Visit the Smoky Mountains in the Winter

snow dusted cabin in the smoky mountains

You can still explore most hiking trails in the winter months (photo by Morgan Overholt/TheSmokies.com)

Here are the top 5 reasons to visit the Smoky Mountains in the winter, according to a local

After a relatively mild December, January has been a bit of a kick to the shins this winter. It’s been consistently cold, and while the snow and ice predicted earlier in the month didn’t amount to much, it hasn’t warmed up enough to melt it away. We usually get a handful of days – I call them golfing days – where the weather is mild and you can catch a glimpse of the approaching spring.

But as a Hoosier who moved to the South, winter in the mountains hasn’t bothered me. Except when something like the polar vortex arrives and temperatures or wind chills drop below zero. Nothing good ever happens below zero. That said, there are reasons to visit the Smokies this winter, reasons to see the mountains when the colors are muted and the wildlife less active. It turns out that life is happening year-round in the Smokies, and you should come on down – or up or over – and check it out. With all of this in mind, here are the top five reasons to visit Smokies in the winter:

a skiier at ober mountain in gatlinburg
Ober makes snow for skiing and snow tubing in winter (media photo courtesy of Ober Mountain)

1. Snow skiing, sledding and tubing

How popular are winter sports in the mountains? Well, there’s an entire business model devoted to allowing people to snow tube even in the summer months. As much fun as indoor tubing is, it’s much better in the outdoors. If you love winter sports like sledding, tubing, snowboarding or snow skiing, then there’s no better time to visit the Smokies than when the thermometer dips. The recent consistently cold weather and snowfall have only enhanced the snow-creation capabilities at Ober Mountain, the area’s premiere winter sports destination. Winter in the Smokies, there’s no business like snow business.

a man in downtown gatlinburg looks cold in the snow while wearing a heavy winter jacket and a hat
Winter is the best time to avoid crowds in the Smokies (photo by Morgan Overholt/TheSmokies.com)

2. Fewer crowds

Not everyone is built like us, adaptable to all weather conditions. Want to visit the Smokies and not worry about massive traffic jams and big crowds? The time is now. Waits for restaurants will be quick. And no big lines to a series of indoor attractions. In other words, there are plenty of fun things to do and the elbow room to do them. Keep in mind that some attractions may be operating on a winter schedule, though.

a sleigh in the village in gatlinburg, tn
You might find a good deal in winter and you may still see holiday decor through February (photo by Morgan Overholt/TheSmokies.com)

3. Good deals

There are deals in the Smokies and then there are deals. Businesses that stay open year-round often offer incentives to attract crowds. In other words, a lack of crowds can mean a lack of business, which means shops, restaurants, hotels and attractions can be motivated to lure business with an insanely good loss leader or two.

Mama's Farmhouse Bowl of Chili
Try some hot chili or hot drinks and enjoy the beauty of the Smokies. Pictured is a bowl of chili at Mama’s Farmhouse (photo by Morgan Overholt/TheSmokies.com)

4. Seasonal foods

You know what’s great in the mountains? Bundling up by a fire pit with warm coffee, cocoa, cider or tea and taking in the beauty of the snowy mountains in winter. Sure, you can chug an iced tea while sweat drips into your shoes, but it’s just not the same. There’s something to be said for keeping yourself toasty warm inside while the tip of your nose and cheeks turn red – from the cold, not from whatever you used to “sweeten” your coffee. Also, dishes like chili, stew and other hearty meals are better in winter.

I am a big fan of the Beatles as evidenced by my son, John Paul George Gullion. One of the Beatles’ underappreciated songs is called “Rain.” The song is a metaphor for life in general. It is about how people react when a sunny day turns to rain. And how, from a philosophic difference, nothing has changed. Sure, it’s cold, and you have to be smart if there’s snow or ice. But when winter arrives, most of the changes in the mountain are cosmetic.

a snow covered rainbow falls trail sign
The trick to snow-spotting in the Smokies is a combination of luck and actively seeking out higher elevations (photo by Morgan Overholt/TheSmokies.com)

5. Snow in the mountains

When it snows, the mountains are beautiful. We move through the days, months, years and decades collecting a variety of experiences that will ultimately tell the tale of our time here. The mountains exist from January through December. There are experiences to be had. There are memories to be made.

We’re not bears. We don’t hibernate. Grab your coat and moon boots and get out there and explore. Do the things you love. For instance, go hiking and visit a babbling stream moving too fast to freeze over. Check out the icicles as they form where water leaks out of the rocks, or go shopping and dining and do all the things. Then come back to your hotel or cabin and warm yourself with a hot beverage or a warming spirit.

Are you planning a trip to the Smoky Mountains soon? Make sure to check out our coupons page before your trip!

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