Great Smoky Mountains National Park is open all year long and winter can be one of the best times to explore the park! There are far fewer visitors during the winter months, making it the perfect opportunity to hike along some of the more popular trails. As a bonus, you’ll be treated to some spectacular winter scenery including icy formations in the forest, snow capped mountains and much more! If you have just one day available to explore the park, here are the top 3 tips for planning a perfect day when visiting the Smoky Mountains in the winter:
1. Start Your Morning at a Smoky Mountain Visitor Center
The best way to start your morning is with a visit to one of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Visitor Centers! These well-maintained facilities offer historical exhibits, bookstores, restrooms and everything you need before exploring the park. This is an excellent opportunity to talk to a park ranger about the current road and trail availability, as some parts of the park may be closed temporarily due to winter conditions. Note that the Cades Cove Visitor Center, Sugarlands Visitor Center and Oconaluftee Visitor Center all open at 9 AM during the winter months, while the Kuwohi Visitor Center is closed until spring.
2. Select a Few Hiking Trails for the Morning and Early Afternoon
Another one of the top tips for planning a perfect day when visiting the Smoky Mountains is narrowing down which hiking trails that you want to explore! Consider selecting a few shorter trails or one long trail for the late morning and early afternoon hours when the sun is at its peak. Since there are more than 850 miles of trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it can be a bit overwhelming to decide on which one(s) to pick! Some of the recommended winter hikes in the Smokies include the Alum Cave Trail, Schoolhouse Gap Trail and the Porters Creek Trail. Before heading out, check out these important tips for hiking in the Smoky Mountains in the winter!
3. Take a Late Afternoon Drive Along Cades Cove Loop Road
After hiking a few miles, take some time to relax in the car for a bit! The best way to spend the late afternoon is with a scenic drive along Cades Cove Loop Road, a 11 mile one-way road that features many of the highlights of Great Smoky Mountains National Park! Cades Cove is a scenic valley surrounded on all sides by mountains, which is particularly striking during the winter months. You’ll find many preserved historical buildings along the road, including the John Oliver Cabin, Primitive Baptist Church and the Carter Shields Cabin. Cades Cove is also a fantastic destination for wildlife viewing, so keep your eyes open for black bears, white-tailed deer, wild turkeys and other critters!
Now that you know how to plan the perfect day when visiting the Smoky Mountains in the winter, you’ll just need to find some accommodations near the park. In addition to a wide variety of hotels, condos and cabin rentals, you can also camp at the Cades Cove and Smokemont Campgrounds that are open year round. Here are the top tips for winter camping in the Smoky Mountains!
