One of the best ways to experience the beauty of the Smoky Mountains is with a chair lift ride into the mountains! These fun attractions provide a spectacular bird’s eye view of the Smokies and offer something that the entire family can do together! The best part is that you’ll find these popular chair lift attractions just minutes away from our campground! Here are 4 scenic chair lifts in Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains that you need to ride:
1. Gatlinburg SkyLift
The Gatlinburg SkyLift is the most iconic chair lift ride in Gatlinburg as it originally opened in 1954 and is the longest running attraction in town! The ride that you can experience today is a smooth, comfortable, three-seat chairlift that was built in 2017. The Gatlinburg SkyLift transports you from the heart of downtown Gatlinburg to the top of Crockett Mountain, which is situated at 1800 feet above sea level! Your ticket to Gatlinburg SkyLift Park includes the SkyLift and all of the other exciting activities at the peak, including the breathtaking Gatlinburg SkyBridge!
2. Scenic Chairlift at Ober Mountain
The Scenic Chairlift at Ober Mountain takes you to the peak of Mount Harrison at 3455 feet above sea level, which is over 1650 feet higher than any other chair lift in Tennessee! This ride is also the longest chair lift of its kind in the United States, so kick back for a smooth journey and stunning views of the Smokies! If you’re lucky enough to visit on a clear day, you can see as far as Douglas Lake and the flawless view of Mt LeConte is incredible! The journey starts at the Ober Mountain amusement park and ski area, where you’ll find lots of other fun things to do!
3. Anakeesta Chondola
Another one of the scenic chair lifts in Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains that you need to ride is the Anakeesta Chondola, which is the world’s only fixed-grip Chondola where you can choose to ride in a 4 person chair lift or an enclosed gondola cabin with seating for 6! If you want to experience both of these options, consider riding up in the chair lift and down in the gondola! You’ll glide 600 feet to the summit of Anakeesta Mountain, crossing above a historical campus and natural habitat that is home to neighbors and many forest friends!
4. Horizon Skyride at Skyland Ranch
If you want to experience all of the scenic chair lifts in the Smoky Mountains, head north to Sevierville for a trip on the Horizon Skyride at Skyland Ranch! This chair lift takes you to the top of Skyland Ranch, where you’ll find a variety of fun activities including miniature animal encounters, live musical entertainment and unique shopping experiences! Come hungry as you’ll also want to sample some of the delicious items from the food trucks at Skyland Ranch!
Check out all of the information about our campground in the Smokies today to stay close to these scenic chair lifts in Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains! We look forward to seeing you soon!