Snowy Ober Gatlinburg Enjoy It Without Four-wheel Drive

Ober Gatlinburg has everything you need to enjoy a ski trip without a four-wheel drive vehicle or stress of driving on a snowy mountain if you don’t enjoy that part. You can get up the mountain on the aerial tramway if you don’t want to drive up the mountain road.  Part of the fun of the ski resort can be taking the authentic ski resort style aerial tramway that takes you from the main parkway of Gatlinburg to Ober Gatlinburg.

The aerial tramway takes 120 passengers at a time up to the ski resort. Passengers can board in downtown Gatlinburg at the corner of Parkway and LeConte Streets. There is a $5 rebate on the tram ticket for daytime trail areas. It’s a little more than a two-mile ride up the mountain and takes about 10-20 minutes. The scenery is well worth the ride.

The road to the ski resort is kept in good driving condition all winter since skiers come in steadily. Clearing away snow and ice from the road is done as quickly as possible so skiers can take advantage of the snow-covered trails. So if you do prefer to drive to the resort or stay near by you can be sure that the main road leading to Ober Gatlinburg will not require special snow tires or four wheel drive.

The skiing on Ober Gatlinburg is challenging for all levels and there are classes for those just learning to ski. Nine trails accommodate a lot of skiers without congestion and the Freestyle Terrain Park puts advanced snowboarders to the test. There are several different surfaces where snowboarders give it what they’ve got.

There are two quad-chair lifts, a double and a surface lift at Ober Gatlinburg so your day is spent skiing and not waiting. The ski resort also has plenty of rental equipment including ski pants, helmets and ski jackets. The staff will make sure you get the right size skis or snowboard and get you ready to go.

It is mandatory for first-timers in skiing and snowboarding to have a lesson for their own and others’ safety before hitting the slopes. Safety and skills are taught to get skiers going the right way for more enjoyment.

The new Ski Mountain Sports store carries everything you need for skiing and snowboarding, including the clothes, and it’s right in the resort mall. “Tune-up” services are available to make sure equipment is safe and performance-ready.

The skating rink in the mall on the mountain is another possibility for fun and activity. It is indoors so no worries about apparel. Yet another snow activity is snow tubing. Inflatable bobsleds take riders down the chutes on the tubing hill, and the lanes are 400 feet in length for a good long ride.

Ober Gatlinburg and the town of Gatlinburg have whatever you need for a great snow-sport vacation. With snow making machines the slope conditions are kept at optimal conditions extending the season as long as possible each year.  Clothing and gift shops and plenty of restaurants fill in the non-snow time and no one is at a loss for entertainment. The Wildlife Encounter is great for families of all ages and there are two new bear cubs this year.

Visit Ober Gatlinburg this season and enjoy the snow, even if it is only from the great view inside the restaurant.