Have you ever wanted to see more snow in Knoxville and asked, “where can I find snow near Knoxville?”
Knoxville, like most southern cities, isn’t used to getting a lot of snow. 2-inches will typically close a Wal-Mart! Despite the lack of wintertime precipitation in the city, one thing that is special about Knoxville is the city is surrounded by tall mountains on all sides, including the Great Smoky Mountains National Park a few miles to the south. No place in the area is high enough in elevation to hold snow all winter, but a few places will hold snow for longer periods of time.
Here are the top 10 places to find snow near Knoxville!
#1 THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS
The Smokies is a temperate rainforest that receives snow as early as September and usually has its first snow on the ground in October.
TO DO: Visit the cold air pocket of Cades Cove or hike to the higher elevations on one of the many snow covered trails. Visit places like Mount Cammerer for a magnificent view of the snowy mountains or the Sutton Ridge Overlook for a lower elevation view. Both are accessible from the Cosby entrance to the park.
#2 MAX PATCH
Located on the Tennessee/North Carolina border near Interstate 40, Max Patch can hold large drifts of snow. The high wind and lack of trees makes the setting perfect to play! The Appalachian Trial crosses the bald and you might recognize unforgettable scenes from movies like “A Walk In The Woods”.
TO DO: Max Patch has a spectacular 360-degree view of the Smoky Mountains, East Tennessee, and Western North Carolina! Stand at the peak and feel like you’re on the top of the world!
#3 BIG SOUTH FORK
North of Knoxville, Big South Fork near the Kentucky state line is a great place for snow! Due to its seclusion, easily accessible roads that are snow free are not easy to find, but it’s worth a trip in a 4×4!
TO DO: Hike and camp the Rock Creek Loop! Another option is a very short hike to visit Twin Arches.
#4 BOB STRATTON BALD AND THE HANGOVER
West of the Smoky Mountains is Bob Stratton Bald and The Hangover, both secret treasures! Tucked away on the Tennessee/North Carolina state line, these two areas offer a view of both states, surrounding lakes, and are high enough in elevation to hold snow.
TO DO: Camp at Bob Stratton Bald and watch the snow cover Cherohala Skyway in the distance, then hike to The Hangover to view the snow covered Smoky Mountains!
#5 ROAN MOUNTAIN
Roan Mountain near Johnson City is known for having the highest elevation for a shelter on the Appalachian Trail. The rhododendron covered mountain is a great place for deep snow and fantastic views!
TO DO: Camp and enjoy the day! If you want a side trip, visit Sugar Mountain or Ski Beach for a day of great skiing or snowboarding!
#6 DEL RIO
Near Max Patch is Del Rio, a community built in the middle of steep mountains and cold air. This makes the entire area perfect to hold snow!
TO DO: Visit Meadow Creek Lookout Tower and Allen Branch Pond, both off Highway 107. Then drive to Wolf Creek Falls on Round Mountain between Del Rio and Max Patch.
#7 THE CUMBERLAND PLATEAU
As wintertime precipitation moves east into Knoxville, it often comes in the form of rain. But, a few miles to the west is the higher elevation Cumberland Plateau that is known for accumulating snow. The plateau stretches the entire state from north to south. Access any point between the Georgia and Kentucky state lines!
TO DO: Visit the overlook at Black Mountain and watch the snow on the plateau turn to rain in the distance at lower elevations. Also walk Point Trail in the Obed Wild & Scenic River Area near Wartburg. If you are looking for more of an adventure, the Cumberland Plateau is also home to the Cumberland Trail system with great distance hiking!
#8 CUMBERLAND GAP
The Cumberland Gap National Historic Park is north of Knoxville and located in three states, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia!
TO DO: Visit the pinnacle for a view of East Tennessee, then take a side trip and hike to Sand Cave (pictured) and watch it snow outside the massive cave’s entrance! Camping is not allowed in Sand Cave.
#9 GRAYSON HIGHLANDS & MOUNT ROGERS
Just across the Virginia border near Bristol, and close to the city of Damascus, is the Virginia State Park Grayson Highlands and Mount Rogers. The Appalachian Trail crosses both of these public lands, making the trails well marked.
TO DO: Park in the overnight lot at Grayson Highlands and hike to one of the camp sites on Mount Rogers. Camping is not allowed in the state park!
#10 HOUSE MOUNTAIN
Even though it’s at a lower elevation than the other places on this list, House Mountain is the highest point in Knox County. It’s just high and just cold enough to sometimes turn Knoxville’s wintertime rain to snow!
TO DO: Hike to the overlooks for a view of the Knoxville area.
*BONUS* CATALOOCHEE SKI AREA AND OBER GATLINBURG
It might be cheating, but the Knoxville area has two ski resorts nearby that make snow. Cataloochee usually begins making snow and opens in November, but has opened as early as the beginning of October! Ober Gatlinburg begins making snow closer to Christmas.
TO DO: Rent skies or a snowboard and enjoy the pockets of cold air the ski resorts are built on!
Did I miss any of the best places? Comment below and let me know your favorite places around Knoxville to see snow!
