Winter adventure picks near Boone, the Smokies and Sedona

Near Boone, the first scheduled lift day is November 20 at Appalachian Ski Mtn. In Pigeon Forge, outdoor snow tubing at Rowdy Bear returns November 7, and Pigeon Forge Snow runs indoors all year. Near Sedona, Arizona Snowbowl in Flagstaff has its lifts scheduled to open November 20, 2026. Dates move with the weather, so check with the operator before you go.

Boone and Blowing Rock

Appalachian Ski Mtn. in Blowing Rock has a scheduled season of November 20 to March 14, weather permitting (appskimtn.com).

Hawksnest in Seven Devils has up to 30 snow tubing lanes across four tubing areas, with conveyor lifts back to the top. Tubing is for ages 3 and up, and the park recommends reserving ahead because many sessions sell out (hawksnesttubing.com). Its tubing page doesn't post opening dates.

More ski areas and lesson options are in Skiing and snowboarding near Boone, and the full year is in Boone by season.

Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge

Ober Gatlinburg has skiing and snow tubing on a 350-foot hill with a 50-foot drop. Tubing runs in time slots through the day, plus Cosmic Tubing each night, and slots are limited. A new Night Season Pass covers the last four hours of any winter operating day (obergatlinburg.com). Ober's home page doesn't post an opening date.

Rowdy Bear Smoky Mountain Snowpark in Pigeon Forge reopens outdoor snow tubing on its tubing hill November 7 (rowdybearmountain.com).

Pigeon Forge Snow is an indoor park with real-snow tubing lanes and a snow play area, kept at 67° inside, so it works on days without winter weather. Tubing riders must be at least 38 inches tall, and no reservation is needed (pigeonforgesnow.com).

Month-by-month plans are in Gatlinburg by season and Pigeon Forge by season.

From Asheville

The Boone-area picks above are the snow options for an Asheville trip. See Asheville by season for the rest of the year.

Sedona

Arizona Snowbowl is in Flagstaff. Its lifts, rentals and Hart Prairie Lodge are scheduled to open November 20, 2026 (snowbowl.ski). More ideas are in Sedona by season.

Moab in winter

For what runs in Moab in the colder months, see Moab by season.

Picking your first snow day

Not sure whether to tube or ski? Compare them in Snow tubing vs. skiing, and see Can you learn skiing or snowboarding in one day?. More parks are in Snow tubing.

FAQ

When does ski season start near Boone? Appalachian Ski Mtn. has a scheduled season of November 20 to March 14, weather permitting (appskimtn.com).

Can you go snow tubing at night in Gatlinburg? Yes. Ober Gatlinburg offers Cosmic Tubing each night (obergatlinburg.com).

Is there snow tubing in Pigeon Forge without real winter weather? Yes. Pigeon Forge Snow is indoors, with real snow and a 67° inside temperature, open year-round (pigeonforgesnow.com).

How old do kids need to be for snow tubing? It depends on the park. Hawksnest takes ages 3 and up (hawksnesttubing.com). Pigeon Forge Snow sets a 38-inch height minimum instead (pigeonforgesnow.com).

Where can you ski near Sedona? Arizona Snowbowl in Flagstaff, with lifts scheduled to open November 20, 2026 (snowbowl.ski).

Do you need to reserve snow tubing ahead? At Hawksnest, reserving ahead is recommended because many sessions sell out (hawksnesttubing.com). Tubing slots at Ober Gatlinburg are limited (obergatlinburg.com). Pigeon Forge Snow needs no reservation (pigeonforgesnow.com).

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Winter adventures · Skiing and snowboarding · Where to go snow tubing · Snow tubing with kids