Gatlinburg's SkyBridge Hangs High Over The Smokies
The Gatlinburg SkyBridge is Tennessee's longest pedestrian suspension bridge, measuring in at a whopping 680 feet long. If you can imagine, that's the equivalent of more than two football fields stretched across a valley. This massive bridge hangs among the Great Smoky Mountains and is an experience like no other. Whether you live in Tennessee or are just visiting, you can ride up to about 1,800 feet above sea level to walk across it.
Suspended Engineering Skills
Innovative engineering skills were used to capture this one-of-a-kind adventure in the Tennessee mountains. The Gatlinburg SkyBridge was built as a pedestrian suspension bridge that uses giant steel cables anchored into the mountain, unlike other bridges that typically use support towers. Because it is a suspension bridge, it sways and bounces naturally with daily foot traffic and occasional strong canyon breezes. Similar engineering techniques can be seen at the Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver, Canada, which also lets visitors cross a suspended swinging walkway.
The bridge has a 5-foot-wide walkway that has a 30-foot section of transparent glass panels midway, so that pedestrians can look straight down. Even though visitors see it as a swinging thrill, they are strictly prohibited from running, jumping, or rocking the bridge to maintain its stability.
An Expansion In The Sky
The main reason for building the Gatlinburg SkyBridge was to rebuild and expand after the devastating 2016 wildfires destroyed the upper terminal of the famous Gatlinburg SkyLift. The original Gatlinburg SkyLift, a chairlift that first opened in 1954, provided a welcoming attraction for visitors who wanted to explore the Smoky Mountains.
Rather than rebuilding the lost terminal area, the owners shifted to a new idea that would turn the summit into a 360-degree viewing destination. The bridge was meant to offer wide views of the deep valley below and the surrounding forest. The multi-million-dollar construction required almost four miles of steel cable and half a million pounds of concrete to anchor the bridge securely to the mountain ridges. Today, the rebirth of the SkyBridge is a symbol of resilience and a memorable adventure for all visitors.
Where Is The SkyBridge Located?
The SkyBridge sits at the top of Crockett Mountain in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Designed by engineering firm Experiential Resources, the SkyBridge took seven months to construct and opened to the public on May 17, 2019. You can reach the swinging bridge by riding the SkyLift 500 vertical feet from its base terminal on the downtown Gatlinburg strip. Once you arrive, you're greeted with panoramic views of the Great Smoky Mountains and the town of Gatlinburg below, all from about 1,800 feet above sea level.
When To Visit
Before you plan a visit to the bridge, check operating hours and seasonal events throughout the year. It really depends on what you want to experience, but October tends to be popular for fall foliage, when the trees create bursts of orange and gold everywhere. Of course, the early hours see fewer crowds, and there's fresh dew and mist in the air as the sun starts to shine.
Photographers often like to arrive an hour before sunset so they can capture the warm glow over the Great Smoky Mountains. After sunset, downtown lights up, and from up high you can see the lights of the Gatlinburg Strip. If you arrive between early November and the end of January, the annual Lights Over Gatlinburg event turns downtown into festive displays, including a lighted tunnel. As spring approaches, April through August provide green landscapes and extended daylight hours to appreciate the views a bit longer.
A Bridge Unlike Any Other
The remarkable design of the Gatlinburg SkyBridge is the result of architectural achievement, natural beauty, and a drive to rebuild and improve on what came before. The bridge turns a pedestrian walkway into an adventure, letting visitors see the valley below. Rather than just performing a function, it has become a destination. Few structures combine engineering genius and mountain scenery quite like it, making the swinging SkyBridge a unique feature of Gatlinburg.
