Everything You Need To Know About Snow Tubing Ober Gatlinburg
Love a little Winter excitement that requires zero skill? If you said yes, then flying down the snow tubing slopes of Ober Gatlinburg is a perfect adventure.
Make the most of a 90-minute snow tubing session with everything you need to know about snow tubing – Ober Gatlinburg. You could show up like almost everyone else or take these helpful tips to make the most of this exciting good time—one of the top Gatlinburg attractions and outdoor activities that will have you coming back year after year.
How Much Does It Cost To Snow Tube Ober Gatlinburg?
$25 will purchase a 90-minute crazy good session at Ober Gatlinburg’s popular snow tubing attraction. Multiple times are available throughout the day, and the fun continues from November through mid-April (holiday pricing may vary).
We found the cost to be well worth the exhilarating experience and highly recommend it. If tickets are purchased online, an actual laminated pass is required before you slide.
Be sure to visit the ticket booth before getting in line, or you’ll be left feeling out in the cold when asked to leave the line. Purchase tickets early to get the most convenient time slot for you, since this popular activity sells out fast.
Getting Up The Mountain:
Visitors find two ways to reach the top of Ober Gatlinburg. 1 -By car, which I find a little scary on the back mountain roads. Not to mention it’s not as scenic as option # 2- The aerial tramway! Soaring from downtown Gatlinburg up to Ober Gatlinburg is the best way to arrive and take in all the stunning surroundings.
Expect $15 for an adult rider and $12 per child for a breathtaking view like no other. Before tubing, plan on spending a little time taking in the sights of the mountain.
We always hit the comfort of the Ober Loft Lounge, have a drink, and watch the skiers glide down the slopes. Sometimes it’s more of a roll, than a glide, but dang I give them so much credit for doing it.
What To Wear When Snow Tubing Ober Gatlinburg?
Warm clothes and shoes are a must to ensure a great day. I encourage you to wear insulated socks, boots, and winter attire. As a guest of Ober Gatlinburg, you will find yourself transported into a winter wonderland. So release your inner Elsa and act like you are about to hit the slopes of Vail, Colorado.
Plan and dress for frozen, but know you can always take off layers if needed. We are in the South, and not all accustomed to fridge temperatures. Anything under 40 degrees and Tennesseans is about to claim Hypothermia.
Why the last 45 minutes of your snow tubing session are the best.
You soon realize upon arriving that sailing down the blustery, snowy lanes is a group activity. The opening lines you wait in to obtain a tube and ride the escalator to the top seem long. I found myself wondering on all the occasions I visited, is this line worth it? Trust me, it is!
On every trip to the Ober Gatlinburg‘s snow tubing attraction, I found that after the first trip down the slide, the line kept moving faster. Halfway through the session, you start to realize you get to speed down one of the ten 400-foot lanes and go right back to the top doing it all again.
First rides down the icy paths take extra time to get everyone on board with safety and the occasional apprehension of Ober’s first-time visitors. Some visitors, unlike you, because you’re reading this, did not dress appropriately. Yes, they got too chilly and stopped early. Take advantage of the quick trips up and down laughing all the way.
Inside Tip To Navigate The People Mover
Hauling a sizable inflatable tube up a mountain would be downright exhausting if not for Ober’s covered escalator system. However, as a fifty-plus gal, I did have some challenges with the jerky movement of the conveyor belt. It’s a finicky bugger that stops and starts if someone moves the wrong way.
Here’s the trick to steady yourself and get to the top comfortably. Don’t do like everyone else by dragging the snow tube behind you. Stand the inner tube straight up in front of your body, leaning against it to steady yourself. Oh my goodness, it made it so much easier to reach the top.
At the top of the conveyor, team Ober will instruct you to step to the left. In case you are wondering, the escalator stops when someone doesn’t follow that direction. Don’t be that person.
Now That You Are looking Down
Don’t assume you need to wait in line for lane number one. It takes a minute for everyone to realize the shortest path to excitement resides in lane number ten. Just like picking a lane at the grocery store, look for the shortest line. Steve and I tried to get in lanes next to each other so we could have some friendly competition.
Remember it’s icy. Ober Gatlinburg does its best by placing traction down on parts of the slick surface, but ultimately it’s up to you to walk with care. By the way, you will sign a waiver before gravity is going to propel you down the slope. After these tips, you are ready to sit down, wait for your mark to go, and ride.
No Experience Needed For Pure Happiness And An Adrenaline Rush
As I watched the snowboarder’s high-speed adventures next door on the slopes, I realized I’m not that person, and I’m okay with that. My best Winter version of myself is sitting in this snow tube and loving it. I’ve got Steve with me, and we are laughing like children. I was perfectly capable and only needed to overcome that first hesitation of speeding down the mountain.
Everything You Need To Know About Snow Tubing Ober Gatlinburg Conclusion: What Did Kathy Brown Find?
Finding my inner little girl, I remembered growing up in New Jersey and hitting the local park sled in hand. Ober’s experience is a high-flying, slip-sliding, spinning good time for adults who never want to grow up. The rush of the wind as I laugh and scream is the winter’s redeeming quality since I typically hate being cold. Steve is sitting in that tube next to me, smiling ear to ear, trying not to slide down the hill before he gets the go. Yes, on one of his turns, he got a little too close to the edge while seated.
The pure joy of feeling free and careless if only for the mere seconds it took me to reach the bottom.
Finally, everything you need to know about snow tubing in Ober Gatlinburg is summed up in one simple word, Fun!
Heading to the North Carolina side of the Smoky Mountains? A Bryson City cabin may be just the place for you. Be sure to check out all my Smoky Mountain finds and subscribe for new destinations coming soon.
