Great Smoky Mountains Winter Activities






				Great Smoky Mountains Winter Activities Snow-capped peaks, crisp air and clear vistas – that's just the beginning. After the explosion of fall color in the mountains, leaves drop, panoramas open, and forests become transparent – it's a great time of year for hiking in the Smokies. Around Thanksgiving, the ski areas begin to open and bring a new wave of visitors to the mountains. Skiers and snowboarders of all ages take to the slopes for some high elevation thrills. When natural snow is at a premium, ski areas can turn on the big guns and churn out plenty of snow to create a smooth, groomed surface. Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley has one of the longest-running ski seasons in the Southeast thanks to their snow-making capacity.







			Cataloochee is ideal for novices, while advanced skiers and boarders can test their skills on black diamond runs and the freestyle terrain park. If you're not quite ready for the big slopes, snow tubing at the entrance to Cataloochee may be more your speed. Ober Gatlinburg on the Tennessee side of the Smokies complements its slopes with an ice skating arena and an alpine slide. When there's snow on the ground, you can always grab a sled and find your own hill. Links to Winter Activities Cataloochee Ski Area Tube World Maggie Valley To keep up with ski area conditions, go to skinc.com.