If you are a fan of cross-country skiing, you will love the unique opportunity to explore Kuwohi Road! This scenic, 7-mile road leads to Kuwohi, the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the third highest mountain east of the Mississippi! If you are up for the entire journey, the observation tower on the summit of Kuwohi offers stunning panoramic views of the Smokies. Here are 3 more reasons to go cross-country skiing on Kuwohi Road:
1. Ideal Snow Conditions
Although Kuwohi Road is a popular tourist destination in the warmer months of the year, it is closed to all motorized vehicles from December 1st to March 31st. This means that you can practically have the road to yourself while enjoying the spectacular winter scenery! Due to the high elevation of the road, it usually gets more snow than anywhere else in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Since the road is closed all winter, it is never plowed and offers spectacular snow conditions for cross-country skiing! Note that Kuwohi Road is accessed via Newfound Gap Road, so just make sure that road is not closed due to snowy or icy conditions during your visit!
2. Visit the Observation Tower
Although you can hike to the observation tower at Kuwohi during warmer times of the year, there is something special about reaching the site on your cross-country skis! While the 14-mile roundtrip excursion is certainly an ambitious one for even the most avid cross-country skiers, the reward is well worth it. After all, there is virtually no other time of year when you can have the observation tower completely to yourself. Of course, you shouldn’t be completely on your own, as it is safer and fun to have a partner with you on your journey. As with any outdoor sport in the Smokies during the winter, be sure to stay hydrated and dress in layers. Also, remember to let a friend or family member know when you are going cross-country skiing and when you expect to return.
3. Free Activity with Many Perks
Since there is no entrance fee to access the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at any time of year, all you have to do to enjoy cross-country skiing on Kuwohi Road is pay for your parking tag! This is much better than paying for expensive lift tickets at a ski resort and dealing with crowded lift lines. While you are cross-country skiing in the Smokies, you will also have the opportunity to spot some wildlife! Keep an eye out for tracks in the snow and look deep into the forest, as you never know what you might see. Other bonus perks of cross-country skiing are that it is easy to learn, excellent exercise, and helps you to beat the winter blues!
Now that you are motivated to go cross-country skiing on Kuwohi Road, we hope that you have a fabulous time enjoying the beautiful winter scenery and crisp mountain air! For more fun activities, be sure to read more about visiting the Smoky Mountains National Park during the winter!
