Gatlinburg SkyLift Park
The SkyBridge, the SkyDeck, and the view since 1954
⏱ 1-2 hours (all-day re-entry)👤 All ages$$
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Skip the line · mobile tickets accepted at the door
The SkyLift is Gatlinburg heritage: a two-seat chairlift that has hauled visitors up from the middle of the Parkway since 1954, the ride itself a slow, open-air glide over rooftops into mountain quiet. The 2016 wildfires burned the summit; the rebuild went big, and in 2019 the park unveiled the SkyBridge — 680 feet tower to tower, swaying gently 140 feet over the valley, with three glass panels mid-span that photograph better than they feel scary. It remains the longest pedestrian suspension bridge on the continent and the corridor's single most famous photo.
The summit rewards more than the crossing. The SkyDeck terraces step down the ridge with Adirondack chairs, firepits, and a seasonal bar — Mount LeConte filling the southern sky, downtown Gatlinburg's grid straight below — and the SkyTrail boardwalk extends the view along the clifftop to overlooks and the Tulip Tower photo stop. The SkyCenter tells the mountain's story frankly, wildfire included. The whole visit runs about an hour at a stroll, which is exactly why tickets include all-day re-entry: the move is a daylight crossing for the long views, then a return after dark, when the bridge's lights trace the span and Gatlinburg glitters like a model village. Winterfest season (November-February) adds its glow; sunset slots are the premium hour year-round.
It's the focused counterpart to Anakeesta a block away — one perfect hour instead of a half day — and the pairing covers Gatlinburg's skyline completely. The base sits mid-Parkway downtown; garages and the trolley solve parking. The chairlift runs rain or shine within reason; high winds pause the bridge.
What to Expect
Format
A classic 1954 chairlift to a summit park — the 680-foot SkyBridge with glass mid-span panels, SkyDeck firepits and bar, SkyTrail cliff boardwalk, and history exhibits. Tickets include all-day re-entry.
Best Time
Sunset for the views, with a return after dark for the lit bridge over glittering Gatlinburg — the re-entry ticket is built for exactly that double.
Duration
About an hour per visit; the day-and-night double makes it two.
Tips
Use the re-entry: cross in daylight, come back after dark. The glass panels are optional — walkways flank them. High winds occasionally close the bridge; the chairlift and deck usually still run. Holding the chairlift lap bar and your phone takes practice — strap or pocket it on the ride.
⚡ Quick Picks
Best For
The corridor's signature photo and its easiest hour of mountain air — first-timers shouldn't skip it.
Families
Kids rate the glass panels and the chairlift equally; the whole visit fits between dinner and bedtime.
Couples
Sunset on the SkyDeck firepits, then the lit bridge after dark — Gatlinburg's classic date, est. 1954.
Pair With
Ripley's Aquarium at the base of the lift, or Anakeesta for the full-day mountain across the street.
Time Needed
One to two hours across one or two visits.
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Get Tickets →Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the SkyBridge?
680 feet tower to tower — the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America — crossing about 140 feet above the valley with three glass floor panels at mid-span.
Do I have to walk on the glass?
No — the glass panels occupy the center of the deck and solid walkway flanks them. Crossing without stepping on glass is easy; stepping on it is the photo.
Is the chairlift scary?
It's a classic open two-seater with a lap bar — gentle, slow, and part of Gatlinburg since 1954. Riders nervous about open lifts should know the ride is the attraction's only way up.
Can I come back at night?
Yes — tickets include same-day re-entry, and the after-dark return (lit bridge, town lights below) is the best thing about them.
Does it close in winter?
It runs year-round — winter visits trade green for long views and Winterfest lights. High winds or ice occasionally pause the bridge itself.
More Pigeon Forge Attractions
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Anakeesta
Gatlinburg's mountaintop village — ride the Chondola 600 feet up to treehouse canopy walks, the AnaVista observation tower, dueling ziplines, a mountain coaster, firepits, and sunset dining over the Smokies.
Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies
One of America's top-rated aquariums, improbably in downtown Gatlinburg — a 340-foot glide-through shark tunnel, 10,000+ sea creatures, penguin playhouse with crawl-up domes, touch rays, and mermaid shows.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
America's most-visited national park, free to enter, starting where the Parkway ends — Cades Cove's bears and cabins, Clingmans Dome's 360-degree tower, waterfall trails, and the blue haze that named the mountains.