The Great Smoky Mountains offer a variety of locations for winter activities such as snow skiing, snow tubing, and snowboarding. Whether you're in North Carolina or Tennessee, you'll find a nearby spot to enjoy winter sports or simply admire the beautiful winter scenery.
Looking for the perfect places to ski or snowboard in the Smokies? Book a cabin rental in Gatlinburg and venture to Ober Gatlinburg, or book a cabin rental in Maggie Valley, North Carolina and check out the Cataloochee Ski Resort. Both places feature incredible views and are great for both amateur and experienced skiers and snowboarders.
Here are some of the top ski resorts in and around the Smoky Mountains:
Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort
Gatlinburg is renowned for its skiing and snowboarding, particularly at Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort. Gatlinburg is home to the only ski resort in the entire state of Tennessee: Ober Gatlinburg. At Ober Gatlinburg in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, winter sports are a fascination that attracts couples and families to the zone to appreciate the virus air, day off the rush of quick downhill development. The resort is home to a terrain park with boxes, rails, and tabletops, as well as eight different trails for skiing and snowboarding.
Ober Gatlinburg’s trails include two green slopes, four blue slopes, and two black diamond slopes. Its peak elevation is 3,300 feet, with a vertical drop of 600 feet.
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Rental prices for a snowboard and boot packages cost $25.00 for a night session and $30.00 for a full or twilight session. Helmets, jackets, and pants can be rented for $6.00 to $12.00 per day. If you have your own snowboard that you’re bringing with you, Ober Gatlinburg has a useful tuning shop where you can have your snowboard “tuned,” or sanded and waxed.
Skiing proceeds until climate conditions never again enable the snow to be made effectively. Ober Gatlinburg Skiing is available to grown-ups, adolescents and kids as youthful as age six. Kids five years of age and more youthful can exploit the inclines, however, they should be joined by a grown-up.
Lessons are priced at $19.00 per hour per person for a group lessons or $60.00 per hour per person for a private lesson.
November to April Ober Mountain transforms into a winter wonderland in the colder months, offering snowy slopes, crisp mountain air, and panoramic views of the Smokies. With ski season in full swing, visitors can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, and the Family Snow Zone for younger adventurers. It's the perfect spot for winter fun the whole family can enjoy.
With trails for every level-from beginner greens to challenging black diamonds-there’s snow-filled fun for everyone. Ski and snowboard rentals, lessons, and gear are all available, so you can show up and shred.
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Skiing Ober Mountain in Gatlinburg, TN - January 2025
Get updated stats on slopes and weather conditions. We offer ski, snowboard, and gear rentals, ensuring that you have the best equipment for a safe and exciting ride. Get the most out of your Ober Mountain winter experience by learning to ski or snowboard from our expert teaching professionals.
Cataloochee Ski Area
Cataloochee Ski Resort lies only outside of the extraordinary Smoky Mountains National Park. The view from the highest point of the mountain is staggering and looks over Cataloochee Valley. The Cataloochee Ski Area is a popular resort in North Carolina that offers daytime and nighttime skiing options. While it’s more geared towards beginner and intermediate skiers, they do have a couple black diamond slopes for more advanced skiers. If you’re new to the slopes, you can book ski lessons at the Cataloochee Ski Area for anyone over four. The resort sits straightforwardly at the base of the mountain and hosts a café and bar with a gigantic deck overlooking the inclines.
"The Looch" has a great snow-production framework and can cover 100% of the landscape. This capacity prompts a long season for one of the southernmost ski resorts on the east coast.
Cataloochee Ski Area - Important Dates and Updates (2025-2026 Season)
- November 12th: Official opening date for the 2025-2026 season.
- November 17th - 21st: Operations paused for necessary projects.
- November 22nd: Reopening of Cataloochee Ski Area and Tube World.
- November 28th: Lifts start spinning at 8:30 AM for the holiday period.
- December 6th: Ski Patrol gear sale, and registration opens for After School, Racing, and Women on Wednesday programs.
Other Ski Resorts in the Smoky Mountains
The Smoky Mountains run through North Carolina and Tennessee, and there are several worthwhile ski resorts between the two states. Here are a few more options:
- Sugar Mountain: A well-known ski resort with 125 acres of skiable terrain and North Carolina’s largest ski slope. It has 14 well-lit trails for night skiing.
- Appalachian Ski Mountain: Keeps the slopes fresh with a deep snow base and grooming the trails. All trails are lit for nighttime skiing.
- Beech Mountain Resort: Has 95 acres of skiable land, rents out ski gear, and offers skiing lessons. Hosts movie screenings and Santa meet-and-greets during the winter holidays.
Planning Your Ski Trip
Whether you’ve decided on a ski resort or you’re still waffling, you should start thinking about the financial aspect of your upcoming winter vacation. Start by deciding what you want to see, do, and spend on your trip.
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Cost Considerations
- Lift and slope tickets: Most vacationers will pay $30 - $96 for a single ski pass in the Smokies.
- Ski gear: Most ski resorts offer equipment rental bundles for $19 - $55 per person.
- Transportation: Price the cost of plane tickets, rental cars, public transit, rideshare services, taxi cabs, and other ways of getting around Gatlinburg and the surrounding areas.
- Accommodations: Figure out the average local cabin rental or hotel room cost. You might be able to find a budget-friendly stay for around $100 a night.
- Food and dining: You can typically expect to pay $68 daily to feed one adult if you eat out for every meal in Gatlinburg. If restaurant dining isn’t particularly important to you, consider making your own dinner - breakfast and lunch prices tend to be considerably lower.
Enhance Your Ski Trip with a Cozy Cabin
Enhance your ski trip in the Smokies by booking a cozy mountain cabin with unmatched views. Make sure you get the best deal by reading reviews and looking for lavish amenities like hot tubs, saunas, and fireplaces.
Here are a few cabin rental options:
- Budget-friendly Cabin: Ideal for a fun family getaway, this stay boasts a jetted tub, a King bed, bunk beds for the kids, and a gas fireplace.
- Spacious and Unique Cabin: Reserve this spacious and unique cabin that accommodates up to six guests. With a circular design, you can enjoy unencumbered views of the Smoky Mountains.
- Luxurious Chalet-Inspired Retreat: Elevate your ski trip with a stay at this luxurious chalet-inspired retreat. This 2-acre estate offers a private escape with convenient access to popular attractions and local slopes. The property also has a heated pool house, hot tub, theater, and kitchen.
With so many great Smoky Mountain ski resorts in the area, you can’t go wrong. Wherever you choose to go, have fun basking in the wintery wonderland and creating lasting memories.
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