The Best Winter Scenery in The Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee

Whether or not you have ever walked the Great Smoky Mountain trails of Tennessee, there is nothing quite like visiting these trails in the winter. During the coldest months of the year, the Great Smokies get a healthy coating of snow, drastically changing the look, feel and landscape of the mountain trails. Visiting in the winter offers a very refreshing change from what may have otherwise been a drab and dull winter. If you choose to visit the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee during the winter, here are the best winter spots that offer the best scenery.

Laurel Falls Trail

Laurel Falls is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As a result, visiting this trail during the peak season makes it hard to find a parking spot. However, visiting during the winter months makes this trail much more enjoyable. You are also greeted by some of the most breathtaking scenery you have ever seen.

The Laurel Falls Trail was first established in 1932. It helped provide fire crews with easier access to the Cove Mountain area in case of a forest fire. By the 1960s, this spot became a popular hiking area because of its amazing views. Another thing that made it a popular trail was that it was paved in 1963 to prevent erosion. This has made it a go-to spot for families with young children and an easy place to hike during the winter.

Despite being paved, there are some high drop-offs along the trail that make it perfect for sightseeing. If you follow the trail for 2.3 miles, you eventually come to the 80-foot waterfall after which the trail was named. This is a beautiful site to see no matter what time of the year it is.

Rainbow Falls Trail

The Rainbow Falls Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a fan favorite. Located in Sevier County, Tennessee, this trail ascends Mount Le Conte. No matter what time of the year you hike up the Rainbow Falls Trail, you are in for some fantastic scenery because Mount Le Conte is the sixth-highest mountain on the east side of the Mississippi River.

The first part of the Rainbow Falls Trail is a steady climb. Thankfully, there are some great opportunities along the way to stop for picnics and take in the scenery. Further along the trail, as you come up to LeConte Creek, you come across two footbridges. The view from there is always amazing, but even more so in the winter. Just 2.7 miles from the start of the trail, you come across a waterfall that is 80 feet high. Few things in life are as grand as laying your eyes on this beauty during the winter. Don't climb the rocks near the waterfall because, even during the summer months, they are slippery.

Alum Cave Bluffs Trail

Another trail that leads up Mount Le Conte is the Alum Cave Bluffs Trail. Hiking this trail in the snow is simply wonderful. During the early hours of the morning, it's unlikely that you will encounter other hikers, which really adds to the charm. One great thing about this trail is that it's covered in evergreens. This breaks up the scenery to create a view that you usually don't see during the winter. Just don't go down this trail expecting to find a cave. In fact, this trail got its name from a very unusual concave that formed along the trail, creating an overhang that goes right over the trail and heads up to a bluff.

This is an example of a trail that isn't too difficult to hike during the winter. The hardest part of the trail is near the natural arch. Here, there are stone steps that lead up to the rest of the trail. This part of the trail is known for getting really icy. There are cables that you can use to help climb the trail, but these get icy as well. Just take it one step at a time, and make sure of your footing before moving on.

Chimney Tops Trail

Chimney Tops is another popular area in the Great Smoky Mountains. This area is most well known for being one of the very few summits of bare rock. As you may know, most of the summits in the Great Smoky Mountains are covered in trees. Natural weathering has cleared and exposed the rock by stripping away soil. One reason why this is such a popular place to visit during the winter is because it doesn't require any kind of special gear to climb. Also, on clear days you can see the Sugarlands Valley to the north of the trail. Finding a clear day in the winter isn't too difficult.

Before heading out during the winter months to hike the trails of the Great Smoky Mountains, remember that it can be risky business hiking in the winter. Two of the most serious risks that you will face include dehydration and hypothermia. The best way to prevent running into any problems is to stay dry. This is a tip that is particularly helpful in the winter because the rise in elevation makes the air cooler than what most people expect. However, this doesn't mean you can't enjoy the Great Smokies in the winter; you just have to be more careful than normal. In the end, it's worth it because the winter scenery in the mountains is like nothing you have ever seen. Pictures don't do it justice. You have to see it with your own eyes!

Experience Winter Magic on The Gatlinburg Trolley Ride of Lights

Each year over 40 million people visit the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area in Tennessee. The wintertime is not excluded, boasting some fun wintertime amenities for the entire family. The town of Gatlinburg is located at the entrance of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Pigeon Forge is the next town over and between the two towns, the area is bustling year round with travelers and locals alike.

If you live or are visiting the Gatlinburg, Tennessee area anytime from now until January, you may wish to try taking a tour of the town on the Gatlinburg trolley. Every Christmas season the trolley service hosts an event called "Gatlinburg Winter Magic Trolley Ride of Lights", allowing you to visit some of the town's impressive light displays.

What a great idea! You step onto a trolley with your group and enjoy the twinkling light displays that are set up throughout the town. The lights have been provided by the town of Gatlinburg for all to enjoy for the past 23 years. The night becomes magical as you are whisked away in the trolley to enjoy the displays. There is no need to worry about driving yourself through town to see them, risking missing anything while you are trying to concentrate on the road. You can leave that to your trolley driver!

Gatlinburg has replaced its display with LED lights, allowing the town to save money on electricity, and also allowing them to have more lights than ever! The route runs from Route 321, and along Parkway and River Road in the downtown area. The displays this year include an animal theme featuring animals from the Great Smoky Mountain National Park area. Search the lights for fox, squirrel, rabbits and deer!

The older displays have all been converted to the LED light display, and there are a bunch of newer displays that have recently joined the line up. These include fountains, snowmen, a silver rocking horse and an international display of children enjoying their holiday. The town has spent $1.6 million dollars in upgrading the light system for your viewing pleasure for years to come.

When departing, the trolley will run at a leisurely pace, allowing you to soak in the sights and sounds of the Gatlinburg area during the holiday season. This is a great way to get into the holiday spirit and to enjoy time with friends and loved ones. It is a kid-friendly tour, that will leave your children inspired and filled with awe.

Each trolley has a driver that doubles as your tour-guide. You will learn some informative information regarding the history of the Gatlinburg area while viewing some of the area's most impressive displays of light.

To be a part of these festivities, you can purchase tickets online or you can buy them from the departure site. The trolley will start and end its journey at the Mass Transit Center at traffic light #5 next to Ripley's Aquarium. The ride runs three times every night, 6:30pm, 7:30pm and 8:30pm from now until January 25, 2015. There is no service on the first Friday in December, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. In January service will run on Saturdays only. The cost is only $5 per person and the ride lasts approximately 45 minutes.

The Gatlinburg Trolley runs year round, boasting over 100 different routes. It is usually a low price of just 50 cents a ride, or $2 for the day. It allows you to be able to visit the entire area without having to drive. You can leisurely site-see at an expensive price, knowing that the trolley will be able to bring you back to your beginning location when you are ready. With so many trolley stops in the area, the trolley makes maneuvering throughout the area a breeze. There are stops in nearby Pigeon Forge, as well, making the towns join together in the sharing of travelers.

The Winter Magic on The Gatlinburg Trolley Ride of Lights is an extra amenity that the trolley service offers to allow visitors to revel in the work that the town of Gatlinburg does each year. It is an anticipated event and ticket sales run out quickly, so it is recommended to make your reservations in advance if you have a particular date that you would like to ride. Should you wish to reserve a trolley for a large group, please specify when you call that you would like your group to be seated together so the seats can be saved.

Gather up the family and head to the Ripley's Aquarium area to join in with this exciting event! Grab some dinner in town, maybe visit the aquarium, and then jump on the trolley for a holiday experience like no other! You will not believe the number of lights that you will be able to see on the tour! Some displays are very large, with twinkling lights and moving displays to enjoy.

Townspeople like to join in on the fun and put up their own displays on their house fronts, adding to the spectacular light show. Search for your old favorites and enjoy the new additions of the year. Bring the kids out on the town for a night to enjoy as a family, to be remembered for years to come. Sit together enjoying the displays while singing some carols as you ride! The holiday season comes and goes so very fast, that this is a great way to enjoy it together! If you are a history enthusiast, enjoy some of the facts that the trolley drivers know about the town and the light display itself. You will not be sorry that you took the time to enjoy this holiday event! It only happens once a year, so make sure to get in on the action before the holiday season is over!