Top 8 Outdoor Adventures in Gatlinburg for Spring Visitors

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Warm spring days beckon you to get outside in the Smoky Mountains. Come to Gatlinburg to experience the eight best outdoor adventures in Gatlinburg!

1. Gatlinburg SkyPark

Walk a mountaintop trail with spectacular views. Then cross the incredible SkyBridge. You’ll feel as if you’re walking on air when you stroll over the glass panels in the bridge’s center, and see the valley 140 feet below you! 

2. Anakeesta

Fly through the air next to your friend on side-by-side Dueling Ziplines. Explore the forest canopy like you’re a bird, on the Treetop Skywalk. Ride mountain coasters, mine for real gems, and play in a nature-themed playground, at this family-friendly theme park. 

3. Ober Mountain

The state’s only ski resort offers spring fun too! Tackle the rock climbing wall, leap on the trampoline “spider jump,” go mountain biking, zoom downhill on a bobsled-like Alpine slide, visit Smokies animals, and more. Try “summer tubing”–it’s like snow tubing without the snow! 

4. Whitewater Rafting

Fed by mountain snowmelt, the Smokies’ rivers swell with white water in spring. Gatlinburg’s three rafting outfitters have river adventures for all experience levels, and some offer rafting suitable for youngsters. 

5. Fishing

Everyone from kids to grandparents will love fishing in Gatlinburg. This is the state’s only city with its own trout facility, keeping rivers stocked with beautiful rainbow trout. Gatlinburg offers three “children’s streams” where only kids 12 and under can fish, and four more streams for all-ages fishing. 

6. Hiking

Gatlinburg’s location at the doorstep of Great Smoky Mountains National Park makes it the perfect base for a hiking trip. From easy walks to challenging climbs, the park’s 800 miles of hiking trails have something for every age and every skill level. 

7. Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage

This annual celebration holds guided hikes and hands-on activities teaching about Smokies flowers, plants, animals and landscapes. You might spot colorful salamanders, or identify elusive wildflowers you otherwise might miss! 

8. Mountain Coasters

These popular “gravity coasters” let you control your own speed as you glide downhill in a one- or two-person car, on an elevated track. Race as fast as you like, or opt for a gentler descent. Some coasters are lit up for sparkling night rides! Try Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster, Moonshine Mountain Coaster, and more.  

Stay in a Gatlinburg cabin rental and you’re close to all these adventures in the fresh, spring air. Reserve your spring cabin now!