3 Scenic Chairlifts in Gatlinburg That You Need to Experience

One of the best ways to experience the magic of the Smoky Mountains is from a scenic chairlift ride! This is an opportunity to take a relaxing journey into the mountains and admire the Smokies from a bird’s eye view, so don’t miss the chance to ride these unique attractions! You’ll find several chairlifts throughout Gatlinburg, so ride one or try them all for some different vantage points! Here are 3 scenic chairlifts in Gatlinburg that you need to experience:

1. Chondola at Anakeesta

The Chondola at Anakeesta is the world’s only fixed grip transportation where you can choose between an open air 4-person chair or enclosed gondola cabin with seating for 6! Whether you select the chairlift or gondola, you’ll enjoy a scenic ride 600 feet up to the summit! Once leaving the sounds of the city behind, prepare for a fantastic aerial view of Gatlinburg before arriving at Anakeesta's whimsical Firefly Village! The Chondola travels above a historic campus and natural habitat that is home to neighbors and many forest friends, so keep your eyes peeled for bears and other critters!

2. Gatlinburg SkyLift

Another one of the scenic chairlifts in Gatlinburg that you need to experience is the Gatlinburg SkyLift, an iconic chairlift that is the longest running attraction in town! It was the first four-season scenic chairlift in the South when it opened in 1954, and today’s SkyLift is a smooth, comfortable, three-seat chairlift that was built in 2017. You’ll be transported from the heart of downtown Gatlinburg and travel 1,800 feet above sea-level to the top of Crockett Mountain. Once at the peak, you can get off to enjoy the record breaking Gatlinburg SkyBridge and several overlooks before heading back down the mountain!

3. Scenic Chairlift at Ober Mountain

The Scenic Chairlift at Ober Mountain takes you to the peak of Mt Harrison at 3,455 feet above sea level, which is 1,650 feet higher than any other chairlift in Tennessee! In fact, this ride is the longest chairlift of its kind in the United States at 3,019 feet in length! This is your chance to experience some of the best views in the Smokies while gaining an impressive 779 foot rise in elevation above Ober Mountain! You can even see as far as Douglas Lake on a clear day and the view of Mt LeConte is breathtaking! Exit at the peak to soak in the scenery and enjoy live music performed at the top of the lift from May to November (Wednesdays through Sundays)!

About Our Gatlinburg Hotel

Our Gatlinburg hotel is conveniently located just minutes away from these scenic chairlifts, as well as tons of other fun attractions, restaurants and shops throughout the Smoky Mountains! We offer a variety of affordable rooms to meet your needs, ranging from Standard Queen Rooms to King Suites! While staying with us, enjoy all types of fantastic amenities including a free continental breakfast, private balconies, an outdoor swimming pool and a lazy river!

Check out all of the rooms at our hotel in Gatlinburg TN today to stay near these scenic chairlifts in Gatlinburg! We look forward to welcoming you to the Great Smoky Mountains!