13 Reasons to Visit the Smoky Mountains in Winter
If you need a few reasons to visit the Smoky Mountains in winter, here they are!
Every season in the Smokies has its own personality and appeal, but the arrival of winter brings with it a special kind of magic. The park has a different feel then. It’s unique and wonderful.
Let me elaborate…
Published October 14, 2024
13 Reasons to Visit the Smoky Mountains in Winter
Following are some reasons you should visit the Smoky Mountains in winter…and not just reasons, but very good reasons. Let’s see if you agree.
1. Smaller Crowds
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited park in the United States. The National Park Service reports 13,297,647 guests in the park in 2023. Most of those folks visit in the summer, followed by a couple of weeks of leaf-peeping in the fall. The least busy time in the park, by far, is winter.
It’s quieter. You often have the trails all to yourself, and the stores, restaurants, and attractions are less crowded. There’s less traffic. The pace is just slower and calmer in winter.
And more enjoyable.
Pro Tip
- If you really want the trails to yourself, set out as early as you can. Most people wait for the day to warm up before they begin. It will be colder in the morning, but if you dress in layers, you should be fine. Bring along a thermos of coffee!
2. Snow-Covered Landscapes
According to the National Park Service, the park receives snow 1-5 times each year. Lower elevations usually receive around an inch or two, but the higher elevations, where it snows more frequently, may receive as much as 2′!
If you are fortunate enough to be visiting the park when it’s snowing, grab your camera and go exploring. There are some beautiful photos waiting to be taken!
Pro Tip
- Some areas of the park, including Kuwohi (Clingmans Dome) and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, are closed in winter. Sorry.
- Before setting out, it’s a good idea to check the weather and driving conditions at a park visitor center or online at www.nps.gov.
3. Clear Views of the Scenery
The views are better during winter for a couple of reasons…
First, while summer heat results in hazy days, the winter skies are clear as a bell! The blues are bluer, the clouds and snow are whiter and brighter, and your photos are better.
Second, the hardwood trees (oaks, elms, maples, poplars, etc…) have all dropped their leaves by the time winter arrives. Views that were obscured are now visible!
4. Winter Activities
“Do you want to build a snowman?”
There are many things you can do in winter that are much more difficult when the weather is warmer…
- Build a snowman
- Go snowshoeing
- Crosscountry skiing
- Go sledding or tubing
- Go on a sleigh ride
- Go Snowmobiling
- Have a snowball fight
Use your imagination!
Ober Gatlinburg offers several winter sports options, including skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating. Of course, you can just ride the gondola to the top and enjoy some hot chocolate in front of the fire!
5. Cheaper Lodging
Low season means lower rates. With the exception of Christmas to New Year’s Day week, winter rates are much more affordable for hotels and cabins. Most agree that February and March are the least expensive times to visit the park.
Here’s an example…
A room with a king bed at the Hilton Garden Inn in Gatlinburg, TN, starts at $253/night (before taxes, fees, or special rates). That’s for the first weekend in November, which is considered high season due to the crowds coming to view the fall colors.
That same room for a long weekend in June starts at $283/night.
But in February, the price for that room drops to $194/night. WooHoo! (I checked these prices on Monday, October 14, 2024.)
6. Great Opportunities for Observing the Night Sky
Shorter winter days mean longer winter nights – more time to stargaze because you don’t have to wait so late to begin.
On the longest day of the year, June 21, the sun sets on the Smokies at 8:53 pm. But on the shortest day of the year, December 21, the sun sets at 5:25 pm. That means you get to begin stargazing 3.5 hours earlier!
Winter nights are also more crisp and clear. The stars just seem nearer, bigger, and brighter.
Pro Tip
- The best spot for stargazing is the tower at Kuwohi (Clingmans Dome). However, the road there is closed during the winter due to hazardous driving conditions. You can hike/snowshoe from Newfound Gap Road, but it’s about 15 miles roundtrip, potentially through the snow.
- So a couple of suggestions for prime stargazing…
- Try Cades Cove. The entrance gate closes at sunset, but the exit remains open. There are several spots along the scenic drive where you may park and enjoy unobstructed views of the sky.
- The are several scenic overlooks all along Newfound Gap Road that offer wonderful views of the night sky.
7. Frozen Waterfalls
Well, here’s something you can’t do any other time of the year – visit a frozen waterfall!
There are over 100 waterfalls and cascades in the park, and many may freeze over when the temperature drops. Some require no hiking at all – some do – but it’s worth the walk.
Pro Tip
- Try out…
- The Sinks is about 13-14 miles from Gatlinburg on Little River Road. There is a large parking lot here. No hike is required – just walk over to the viewing area and enjoy!
- Meigs Falls is roughly 14-15 miles from Gatlinburg (depending on where you begin from). It’s just over 1 mile past Meigs Falls. On the “creek side” of the road, you see a large pullout area with a short stone wall. Park and you’ll see the falls. They are easier to see in winter since your view will not be obscured by foliage.
- Toms Branch Falls is on the park’s southern boundary, outside of Bryson City. It is one of the three Deep Creek waterfalls. The waterfall is just a short, easy walk from the large parking lot.
8. Winter Wildlife
I know, I know…you probably won’t see any bears during winter (although bears in the Smokies do not technically hibernate – they just sleep a lot. They will occasionally wake up and leave the den to find a snack.)
However, several species of animals are quite active in the winter, including coyotes, foxes, deer, elk, etc… They will be out looking for food, and the lack of foliage, plus snow, makes them easier to spot.
The best place to spot winter wildlife is in Cades Cove. Be sure to bring along your camera!
Pro Tip
- Never feed wild animals, no matter how cute they look.
- Never try to pet a wild animal. There is a reason they are called wild animals – it is not safe. Stay at least 150′ away from animals at all times.
9. Scenic Drives with Snowy Views
The scenic drives in and around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are beautiful, especially in fall when the leaves are at their peak color. But if you happen to be in the park when it’s snowing, that’s another thing altogether! The landscape transforms into something else entirely, with a peaceful beauty.
Pro Tip
Here are suggestions for a scenic drive through a winter wonderland…
- Cades Cove is an 11-mile loop through a gorgeous valley surrounded by the Smokies. The views are stunning, and it’s a great place to spot wildlife.
- Foothills Parkway – This is a beautiful stretch of road, well worth the drive. The National Park Service has an interesting paragraph about Foothills Parkway on its website…
- “Congress authorized the Foothills Parkway as a scenic parkway on February 22, 1944. Of the seven Congressionally Mandated Parkways, the Foothills Parkway is the only remaining parkway yet to be completed. The entire 72-mile corridor is administered by Great Smoky Mountains National Park, however, only three segments totaling 22.5 miles are completed and open to the public. The parkway is the oldest unfinished highway project in Tennessee. Challenging terrain and funding starts and stops have challenged the completion of the parkway.”
- The Blue Ridge Parkway runs 469 miles, connecting Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. It is best known for its fall colors, but winter on the Parkway can be equally stunning.
- Newfound Gap Road and Little River Gorge Road are two of the park’s main roads. The scenery as you drive either of these roads is amazing at any time, but after a snowfall, it becomes mesmerizing.
10. Amazing Photo Opps!
The views are better, the skies are clearer, the animals are moving – start taking photos!
Plus, if you’re in the park in December, you can get shots of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, all decked out for Christmas!
11. No Bugs!
I really, really don’t like biting, stinging insects.
Like most other outdoor areas, especially in the southern United States, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is plagued by mosquitoes, gnats, no-see-ums, ticks, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, etc…but not in winter!
If this were the only reason to visit the Smoky Mountains in winter, it would be enough.
12. Christmas Festivities
People who live in the Smoky Mountains know how to celebrate the holidays. The towns in the area—especially Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge—really put on a show of lights, decorations, events, festivals, etc.
Theme parks like Anakeesta and Dollywood “pull out all the stops” to create a festive atmosphere.
I would expect nothing less from an area that has several Christmas shops, including Santa’s Claus-et!
Pro Tip
- Finding lodging around Christmas can be quite a challenge. We recommend making your reservations several months in advance…the earlier, the better.
13. A Roaring Fire and a Mug of Hot Chocolate
The best part of any winter trip is sitting down at the end of the day in front of a crackling fireplace with a mug of hot chocolate, relaxing, and remembering all the fun things you did that day. Agree?
Most cabin rentals and several hotels have fireplaces in the lobby or even in your room. Use them!
That’s what a visit to the Smoky Mountains in winter should look like. You don’t have to do anything – just be still and let calm and peace settle into your soul. You’ll be a better person for it.
Any Questions?
- When is the best time to visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park? That depends on your own preferences. But I’m partial to fall and winter.
- How cold does the park get in the winter? High temperatures range from the high 40s to the low 50s, and low temperatures range from the high teens to the low 20s.
- Are there any negative aspects to visiting the park in winter? There are road closures (Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail and Clingmans Dome, to name a couple). The weather tends to be more unpredictable. Winter hiking involves some challenges, including slippery, icy footing and some trail closures.
- What about winter camping? Only two campgrounds are open during the winter months – Cades Cove Campground and Smokemont Campground.
The Wrap-Up – 13 Reasons to Visit the Smoky Mountains in Winter
We recommend a trip to the Smokies in winter. There are just so many good reasons to go then.
Lest you think we don’t practice what we preach, we’ll be there around the end of February – I’ll be looking for you. We can build a snowman together!
Happy Hiking!
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