Trail / road suggestions east-coast roadtrip

[Off_Gridder]

Hi guys,

Going down to New-Orleans for Easter from Ottawa, Ontario (Syracuse, NY ish). I am looking for some trail and road recommendations to spice up the 1600 mile + route. Had a chance to snag a week at a Hilton timeshare in the french quarter for 150$ a decided it was worth a road trip.

We are leaving on March 23 and have about 3-4 days to make it down and 3 days to get back if we want to to use all the hotel nights, but aren't too big on scheduling things. Planning on taking two completely different roads there and back. Bringing the tent and gear down and not really planning anything in advance besides waking up in New-Orleans on the 27th of March and going for brunch.

Any one have any recommendations on trails that we could use as part of the trip, ideally through-roads? Was hopping to do something on the way there, something on the way back, and head out to do a trail somewhere mid week from New-Orleans. Vehicle is a lightly modded 5th gen that the girlfriend doesn't want pinstriped till we get a 2nd car again. ;-)

Some things that come to mind are:

New York 9N Between Saratoga Springs And Lake George

Driving through the The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests

Uwharrie National Forest

Ashville NC to Chattanooga on the Trans American Trail

Thanks for your suggestions!

 

[1engineer]

What's your route down and back? That would be helpful.

 

[salong53]

[MENTION=102916]Off_Gridder[/MENTION] I'm not sure what route you'll take from Asheville to Chattanooga, but you should definitely check out Max Patch, NC. It's a few miles of forest roads north of I-40, a short hike to the top, and a stunning 360view of the mountains. If you're camping, you can camp at Martha Sundquist State Forest in TN which is not too far from Max Patch on forest roads. On the south side of I-40 not far from there is Mt. Sterling road which leads to the trailhead for a 4.5 mile strenuous hike to Mt. Sterling Firetower which is an abandoned firetower that offers stunning views that is still accessible to hikers. Any other advice you need about the East Tennessee or Western North Carolina area just let me know.

 

[Off_Gridder]

Thanks [MENTION=107760]salong53[/MENTION], I'll look into those.

[MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION], we don't have a route down or back planned yet and are very flexible. Aiming to plan a route based on these suggestions. From what we have looked at so far, we will probably going to end up going I-81 or I-81 / I-59 on the way down and I-65 on the way back to hit up Nashville.

 

[gshadow325]

first stop...hit rauche creek off road park in central PA.

also look up centralia pa. movie silent hill is based off this city/town.
super cool is the graffiti highway.

wharton state park is in south jersey with LEGAL trails to run for free.

there is the cove in virginia.

then there is offroad parks in northern georgia. i'm new to georgia so i dont know what it is called.

good luck and you MUST take pictures!!!

 

[salong53]

The Blue Ridge Parkway is also another neat route to pick up in Virginia on your way into Asheville. It would get you off of the Interstates for a while.

 

[Off_Gridder]

Thanks for the info.

Max patch is on the list for sure after looking into it a bit.

Looks like most of the Blue Ridge is going to be closed for the trip.

Any one have any recent experience with hurricane creek trail?

 

[adrtoy]

Roads like PA rt 44 through the Pine Creek area. Rt 144 from Renovo south. You can get to I80 pretty easy from these. Pretty much any route that cuts through the state forests of PA.

 

[Titanpat57]

Head down 81 to Rausch Creek and do some mild trails..hit Gettysburg on the way by. Then there's The Cove outside of Winchester, VA....lots of beautiful country going down through the inland Carolinas

 

[Novaholik]

Head down 81 to Rausch Creek and do some mild trails..hit Gettysburg on the way by. Then there's The Cove outside of Winchester, VA....lots of beautiful country going down through the inland Carolinas

Isn't the Cove only open to 4x4s when they have events? It only specifies ATVs & Motorcycle trails on their site.

 

[Titanpat57]

Isn't the Cove only open to 4x4s when they have events? It only specifies ATVs & Motorcycle trails on their site.

I'm not a %100 sure...I thought if you paid a fee you could drive some trails.. [MENTION=65614]Antman[/MENTION] might have some relative info

 

[Titanpat57]

Isn't the Cove only open to 4x4s when they have events? It only specifies ATVs & Motorcycle trails on their site.

I'm not a %100 sure...I thought if you paid a fee you could drive some trails.. [MENTION=65614]Antman[/MENTION] might have some relative info

 

[Pkniland]

Hurricane Creek Rd, Clyde, North Carolina 28721

Richland Rd, Lenoir, NC

Old Nc 105, Newland, North Carolina 28657

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zAXyjc-yXFOw.kS16CJNOulMk&authuser=0&hl=en

http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/the-kentucky-adventure-tour-kat.919224/ ATV site but its good for 4x4.

http://www.mountainstateoverland.com/ [MENTION=118756]msoverland[/MENTION] these guys have some nice routes too

If you want any company when your in the area let me know.

 

[salong53]

Here's a nice scenic route from Asheville to Chattanooga after you hit up Max Patch also. The section from Robbinsville to Tellico Plains is called the Cherohala Skyway and is a mountaintop drive that takes you up to about 5000 feet (check for road closures). I did this as a day trip on my motorcycle last summer and it is beautiful.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Ash...1f898728aa!2m2!1d-85.3096801!2d35.0456297!3e0

Natchez Trace Parkway would also be a nice scenic drive headed back north through Mississippi into Nashville.

 

[Antman]

Isn't the Cove only open to 4x4s when they have events? It only specifies ATVs & Motorcycle trails on their site.

I'm not a %100 sure...I thought if you paid a fee you could drive some trails.. [MENTION=65614]Antman[/MENTION] might have some relative info

The Cove trails are not open to the public for 4x4's, you are correct.

They let us use the trails every October when we have the T4R fall camping trip.:hatsoff:

 

[Titanpat57]

They let us use the trails every October when we have the T4R fall camping trip.:hatsoff:

I'm sure.... for the return of some small favor....

 

[Novaholik]

The Cove trails are not open to the public for 4x4's, you are correct.

They let us use the trails every October when we have the T4R fall camping trip.:hatsoff:

I bet that's a great trip that time of year. Is it typically a weekend camp? or week-long event?

 

[Moroney167]

Blue ridge parkway is amazing but check there website it's even open that time of year. If you go to lake George your passing me. I'll setup a wheelin day if interested or least take a drive with ya some local good views. Ashville NC is a killer cool town. Or brevard. Good times.

 

[Antman]

I'm sure.... for the return of some small favor....

I bet that's a great trip that time of year. Is it typically a weekend camp? or week-long event?

Typically Friday-Monday-It's a lot of fun!:gun5: Last Years trip.

We agreed to NEVER bring back "That Old Bastard" (Pat) and they opened up the entire trail network for us.

The man-funk smell still lingers from the times he's camped there.

 

[Off_Gridder]

Hopefully I won't pick up the lingering stench on the way through Virginia...Hopping to make it out to the Cove this year if the meet is happening again.

Thanks for all the suggestions, I would not have discovered these alternatives searching on my own. The route has been successfully spiced, I think! I'll post a google map of it when she's all noodled out for any other recommendations.

Looks like the blue ridge parkway is closed off and on recently, might save that for a fall trip and just book it south down I-81 this time around to have more time around Ashville / Nashville.
[MENTION=107760]salong53[/MENTION] I'll definitely use the route from Ashville to Chattanooga you provided and hit up max patch mountain on the way as well. Probably will dedicate one whole day to that section. Will also use the Natchez trail parkway when heading back north from New Orleans.
[MENTION=68689]Pkniland[/MENTION] that Georgia Trails Offroad Registry and the The Kentucky Adventure Tour- (KAT) 4x4-version are amazing resources. Might try a mild chunk of the KAT on the way back if there is time. Thanks for your other suggestions as well, going to take the Old 105 on the way to Ashville. Could be fun to meet up to do Richland Rd. or anything else you had in mind, time permitting. Let me know what you were thinking and maybe we can set up a run.