Ober Mountain

Located above Gatlinburg in the Great Smoky Mountains, Ober Mountain is one of the few ski resorts in the southeastern United States. What distinguishes the resort most clearly from other ski slopes is the access: the ski area is reached via the Gatlinburg Tramway, a cable car that runs directly from the centre of Gatlinburg up to the mountain. This makes Ober Mountain one of the very few ski resorts in the United States where skiing literally starts in the city center.

The skiing is compact and concentrated, with short but clear slopes that are well suited for piste skiing and technique training. The focus is on groomed slopes rather than large areas, and the resort relies heavily on artificial snow to keep the season going in a climate where natural snow can vary greatly.

Ober Mountain is as much a year-round resort as it is a ski slope, with activities and views alongside skiing. For skiers, it is mainly about easily accessible alpine skiing, fast riding cycles and an unusual combination of city, transport solution and skiing – rather than a classic destination for longer ski trips.