What to expect in the Smoky Mountains during January

One of the best times to come to the Smokies is in January. Most people who come to vacation in the Smoky Mountains have been here at least once before and often they are looking to come here and enjoy one of the seasons when they have not been here before and January is one of the favorites of the locals.

January in the Smoky Mountains is unpredictable when it comes to the weather, but you can be guaranteed that you will have a great time, find off season prices everywhere including cabin and chalet rental rates and no crowds!

Stay here long enough in January and you can be pretty well assured you will see snow in the highest elevations of the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

The weather in Smoky Mountains during January changes day to day for example last weekend it was almost 70 degrees in Gatlinburg and today we are expecting up to 6 inches of snow!

When it does snow during January in the Smokies, it almost never sticks around for more than a few hours in the lower elevations but the upper elevations in the Great Smoky Mountains national park can see snow stay for days or even weeks.

Of course outdoor water parks in the Smokies are closed during the winter and you will find some other attractions close down as it is so quiet here in January but don't despair - there is still plenty to do!

During January you will find that Winterfest is still going on strong. Winterfest takes place in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville and starts in November as a holiday celebration with events and millions of holiday lights decorating the Smokies and turning the area into a winter wonderland.

During January one of the most popular events of Winterfest takes place called Wilderness Wildlife Week and this year marks the 19th anniversary of Wilderness Wildlife Week.

Wilderness Wildlife Week is based out of Pigeon Forge and has guided hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains national park, wildlife classes and lectures, photography classes and exhibits, historical lectures and demonstrations and musical performances and so much more.

Spending time during January in the Great Smoky Mountains national park is a fantastic time to get away from it all and enjoy the peace and quiet and the beauty of the Smokies.

In January the wildlife in the Smokies can be a little harder to find as snakes, spiders and mosquitoes are not around and active in the cold. The black bears are also in their quiet hibernation mode and almost impossible to see as they are almost never active.

Take a tour of Cades Cove by car or bike and you will see that not only is there almost no traffic, the deer are everywhere and the male deer called bucks are sporting their antlers from the December rut.

In the Cataloochee valley section of the national park you will be able to see our North American Elk that have been reintroduced in the park which are an awesome site to behold.

Look carefully all around the park and you should be able to see coyote in the hour or so after sunrise or before sunset and if you are really lucky, red or grey fox as well.

If there is a dusting of snow on the ground you usually don't have to look too hard or go too far to find tracks of deer, rabbit, squirrel fox and coyote.

What to get away from it all and take a hike in the Smokies and see awesome views. Drive up US 441 to Newfound Gap and park at the Newfound Gap parking area and walk up the Clingmans Dome Road which closes December 1st. Walk a few hundred yards or walk the whole 7 miles up to the Clingmans Dome Observation Tower and look out at the 360 degree view of the Smokies - breathtaking!

Make sure if you walk up Clingmans Dome road to check out the walls of ice that form white and transparent curtains that glistens in the sunlight - a perfect backdrop to the evergreen trees above.

Came back after enjoying a great day outside in the fresh air of the Smoky Mountains to a delicious hot meal in of the hundreds of restaurants in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg for some good southern cooking, delicious steaks are any type of food you can imagine.

January is a great time to enjoy the Smokies and avoid the crowds, enjoy the winter beauty and get great off season rates on cabins and chalets for rent in the Smokies!

How great are the rental rates for an extended stay in the Smokies? How about cabin rentals for less than $100 a night in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee!