8 Reasons to Eat at Smoky Mountain Smash in Gatlinburg

Smoky Mountain Smash is the mountaintop burger restaurant at Gatlinburg SkyPark — accessible only after riding the iconic yellow SkyLift chairlift to Crockett Summit and crossing North America's longest pedestrian cable bridge. Here are eight reasons the food is worth the journey.

1. The Setting Is the Point

Smoky Mountain Smash is perched at the SkyPark's Clayton's Landing overlook — on the far side of the SkyBridge, the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America — with a spacious outdoor patio looking directly out over Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the valley stretching below. The mountain views from the patio are among the best accessible from any attraction in Gatlinburg: a clear sightline to the ridgelines without glass or walls in the way, open air, and the kind of quieter atmosphere that only exists when the journey to get somewhere requires a chairlift and a bridge walk.

The restaurant is part of a natural day structure at SkyPark: ride the SkyLift up, cross the SkyBridge, take in the views from Clayton's Landing, eat at Smoky Mountain Smash, walk the 1.5-mile SkyTrail to Tulip Tower if the group has energy for it, then ride back down. The meal becomes part of a full outdoor experience rather than a standalone restaurant visit.

2. The Smash Burgers

The core menu is built around smash-style burgers — fresh local beef patties, seared hard on a flat-top to develop a crispy, caramelized crust, served on freshly baked buns with house-made sauces. The Legendary Smash Burger (single, double, or triple) is the baseline: local fresh beef with lettuce, pickled onion, cheddar cheese, and the house Gatlinburger sauce. Every additional layer of the double and triple amplifies the sear-to-bun ratio that makes smash burgers work.

The Smoky Mountain Smash adds bacon, onion rings, and a tangy Dijonnaise alongside the cheddar. The Moonshiner steps up further with a beef and sausage combination, onion rings, arugula, cheddar, and an Ole Smoky Moonshine BBQ sauce that gives the whole thing a distinctly Tennessee character. The Southern Charmer swaps the standard cheese for pimento cheese on the same Moonshiner base — the right call for anyone who grew up on pimento cheese and wants it on a burger.

3. The Appalachian Elk Burger

Beyond beef, Smoky Mountain Smash runs the Appalachian Elk Burger — a fresh elk patty with caramelized onions, white cheddar, arugula, and honey mustard sauce on a freshly baked bun. Elk is lean and notably different in flavor from beef — mildly gamey, distinctly savory, and considerably more tender than most guests expect before they try it. For visitors who want to eat something that's genuinely of the Southern Appalachian landscape, the elk burger is the most distinctive order on the menu.

It's also a conversation piece: "I ate an elk burger with views of the Smokies at the top of a cable bridge" is a specific memory that doesn't come from any other restaurant in Gatlinburg. Order it.

4. Options Beyond Beef

The fried chicken sandwich is fully dressed — as lavishly topped as any of the beef burgers — for guests who want something other than red meat. The crispy chicken tenders are the kids' pick and the simpler option for younger visitors who want something familiar at altitude. The plant-based sandwich runs three plant-based "chicken" tenders with pickled onions, lettuce, and BBQ sauce — genuinely well-executed for a mountaintop restaurant that could have easily skipped the category.

Six sauce options are available across burgers and sandwiches, ranging from classic to more adventurous combinations, all made in-house at the restaurant.

5. Locally Sourced, House-Made

The beef and elk are locally sourced. The sauces are made in-house. The buns are baked fresh. For a restaurant operating at mountaintop elevation with chairlift-only access, the commitment to local sourcing and fresh preparation is more significant than it might sound — the kitchen is constrained in ways that a street-level restaurant isn't, and the food quality reflects genuine effort rather than a default to convenience.

The Ole Smoky Moonshine BBQ sauce on the Moonshiner is a standout example — it's a house-made BBQ sauce made with a local Tennessee moonshine that gives it a flavor profile specific to this location. You can't order it anywhere else.

6. Sides, Sweets, and Smoky Mountain SIPS

The sides run shoestring fries, seasoned Longhorn fries, and onion rings — all made to complement the burger format they're designed for. Desserts cover the classics: brownie, a big chocolate chip cookie, a handheld apple pie, and soft serve ice cream with hot fudge or caramel. For guests too full after the burger to tackle dessert immediately, the handheld apple pie and cookie both travel well enough for the bridge walk back.

Smoky Mountain SIPS, the craft beverage bar operating alongside the restaurant, offers specialty drinks, slushies, and cocktails — the natural pairing for a sunset dinner on the SkyPark patio when the mountains are lit up and nobody's in a particular hurry to ride back down.

7. The Patio Experience at Sunset

The SkyPark lights up as the sun goes down, and the Clayton's Landing patio — where Smoky Mountain Smash operates — is positioned to watch the light move across the ridgelines as evening comes on. A meal timed for late afternoon, with the SkyBridge walk and Clayton's Landing overlook taking up the earlier part of the visit, puts the dinner on the patio right as the Smokies are at their most photogenic. The outdoor fire pit extends the time guests want to stay after the meal rather than rushing back to the SkyLift.

8. A Complete Mountaintop Day Trip

Gatlinburg SkyPark | 765 Parkway, Gatlinburg | gatlinburgskypark.com | SkyPark admission required to access Smoky Mountain Smash | Hours vary seasonally — confirm at gatlinburgskypark.com

Smoky Mountain Smash is part of a full SkyPark day rather than a standalone restaurant visit — SkyPark admission is required and includes the SkyLift ride, the SkyBridge crossing (longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America), access to Clayton's Landing overlook, and the new 1.5-mile SkyTrail to Tulip Tower. The restaurant and Smoky Mountain SIPS sit at Clayton's Landing, positioned at the natural midpoint of the day.

For guests in a Gatlinburg cabin, SkyPark is at 765 Parkway — 10–20 minutes from most cabin locations. Combining a SkyPark afternoon with dinner at Smoky Mountain Smash is one of the most complete single-day Gatlinburg experiences available. Confirm current hours at gatlinburgskypark.com before your visit as hours vary by season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a SkyPark ticket to eat at Smoky Mountain Smash?

Yes — Smoky Mountain Smash is only accessible after purchasing a Gatlinburg SkyPark ticket. You must ride the SkyLift chairlift to Crockett Summit and cross the SkyBridge to reach the restaurant at Clayton's Landing. The restaurant is not accessible from the street. Purchase tickets at gatlinburgskypark.com.

What is the must-order at Smoky Mountain Smash?

The Appalachian Elk Burger is the most distinctive item — elk patty, caramelized onions, white cheddar, arugula, and honey mustard, available nowhere else in Gatlinburg. For beef: the Moonshiner (beef and sausage, onion rings, Ole Smoky Moonshine BBQ sauce) is the most Smokies-specific choice. The Legendary Smash Burger (single, double, or triple) is the benchmark.

Is Smoky Mountain Smash good for families with kids?

Yes — the kids' menu covers crispy chicken tenders, and the smash burger format is familiar and accessible for younger guests. The SkyPark experience itself (chairlift, cable bridge, overlook) is one of the most memorable family outings in Gatlinburg. The restaurant sits at the natural pause point after the SkyBridge walk, when the group is ready to sit and eat before exploring the rest of the park.

Is the SkyBridge really the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America?

Yes — Gatlinburg's SkyBridge is confirmed as the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America per the official SkyPark site. The bridge spans a deep valley between Crockett Summit and Clayton's Landing, with the Smoky Mountains visible in multiple directions from the walking deck. The crossing takes most visitors 10–15 minutes depending on how long they stop for photos.