We are heading back and will be in TN more in the Gatlinburg area. We were in my Xterra which was old so we didn't do much. I don't think we even looked. Now, we would like to go off the beaten trail if possible. Will everything be packed since it will be April and where should we go?
trails in the Smokys?
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eevanskiteboards
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I spent a lot of time in the last year half in or around the Knoxville area, which is only minutes from the Smokies. I did a lot of exploring and did not see many readily available public land or trails etc. A lot of it was private farmland etc nonetheless a gorgeous area.
Anyways, there's a cool off-road park called windrock about 30 minutes to the west of the Knoxville area in a town called oak Hall I believe or something like that. It is a pretty intense off-road area that you pay to use but it's a lot of fun and there's a ton of people there to help if you were to get stuck or break down etc. Hope it helps
WINDROCK PARK - The South's Premier Off-Road Adventure Park
Anyways, there's a cool off-road park called windrock about 30 minutes to the west of the Knoxville area in a town called oak Hall I believe or something like that. It is a pretty intense off-road area that you pay to use but it's a lot of fun and there's a ton of people there to help if you were to get stuck or break down etc. Hope it helps
WINDROCK PARK - The South's Premier Off-Road Adventure Park
Louisiana Overland
New member
Theres many many jeep rental businesses in the gatlinburg/ pigeon forge area. I was up there a few years ago and stopped at one and asked where to find some unpaved roads. The guy at the shop marked a map for me and I had a day of it. I suggest trying that.
Offroad Trails in Tennessee
This is link to several trails in the Knoxville. They range from "easy" to "severe."
Personally I've done the Windrock Trails in Oliver Springs that eevanskiteboards mentioned. Unless slippery due to rains, doable in a stock 5th Gen T4R.
Schoolhouse Road - Tennessee Offroad Trail
School House Road is also nearby in Wartburg. Nice casual trail with a bit more scenery.
Hope this helps.
This is link to several trails in the Knoxville. They range from "easy" to "severe."
Personally I've done the Windrock Trails in Oliver Springs that eevanskiteboards mentioned. Unless slippery due to rains, doable in a stock 5th Gen T4R.
Schoolhouse Road - Tennessee Offroad Trail
School House Road is also nearby in Wartburg. Nice casual trail with a bit more scenery.
Hope this helps.
Here's all the Motor Vehicle Use Maps in the USA:
USDA Forest Service - Caring for the land and serving people.
TN:
Cherokee National Forest - Maps & Publications
Click on these links for the maps:
USDA Forest Service - Caring for the land and serving people.
TN:
Cherokee National Forest - Maps & Publications
Click on these links for the maps:
Attachments
re comment above about 'west of the rockies' - i should be glad that traffic is directed 'out there' somewhere, since what makes backcountry roads interesting and stimulating is that there ain't so many people trying to make noise and ruts for a day on the weekend on the many roads in the southeast, Texas, New Mexico.
dual-sport motorcyclists find such things if one is inclined to be persistent
example here: Solo New Mexico BDR Part 1) | Adventure Rider
dual-sport motorcyclists find such things if one is inclined to be persistent
example here: Solo New Mexico BDR Part 1) | Adventure Rider
Finslayer83
New member
Lived in the area for years (College).
Windrock north of Oak Ridge is the best bet.
Actual wheeling in the Smokies? Nah, get caught on the fire roads and ole green britches will have a field day with you.
Tellico as Drobs pointed out is on the border with NC and on the backside of the Cherokee area.
Used to be the Rubicon of the east until Trout Unlimited swooped in and shut down the 3rd best trail network in the country.
Take 81 up towards Johnson City and there are some state OHV areas but that's a haul from Sevierville / Gatlinburg
Windrock north of Oak Ridge is the best bet.
Actual wheeling in the Smokies? Nah, get caught on the fire roads and ole green britches will have a field day with you.
Tellico as Drobs pointed out is on the border with NC and on the backside of the Cherokee area.
Used to be the Rubicon of the east until Trout Unlimited swooped in and shut down the 3rd best trail network in the country.
Take 81 up towards Johnson City and there are some state OHV areas but that's a haul from Sevierville / Gatlinburg
utctscanr75
New member
I'll be there 3/31-4/4 visiting family. I grew up in the Knoxville area. Last year's trip, I did Hurricane Creek Trail (difficult with large ruts and some areas with rocks), Buzzard's Roost via Forest roads (moderate) and Wolf creek falls trail (easy). This year I will likely to the Nemo Tunnel (near Wartburg and close with Windrock) and Horse Creek Trail (Cherokee NF near Greeneville). None of those are in the Smokeys per se, but are within a short drive. I have some YouTube videos from last year on my channel if you want to see them.
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utctscanr75
New member
Maybe I should have clarified that. The route I took, Forest Road 288, was not just a gravel forest service road. Not passable for most non-4x4 passenger vehicles. I guess you could take an easier route if you want to drive your Prius there.
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utctscanr75
New member
Just got back from East Tennessee, there are some photos from Nemo Tunnel and Horse Creek trail. More on my IG page (link in my signature).
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3624141-post46353.html
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3624143-post46354.html
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3624141-post46353.html
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3624143-post46354.html
utctscanr75
New member
YouTube video of Horse Creek trail goes live tonight at 7pm cst if anyone is interested in checking it out.
kouki_monster
New member
Cheers to those exploring the East Coast trails! Since it's not as popular or easy to access/find around here, it's fortunately not so overcrowded. We don't have the internet to hand us the locations as much, but that's OK with me because *actually* exploring and finding spots yourself is half the fun, right!?
As was said, there are basically no off-road trails inside the GSMNP. GSMNP is actually the most visited, or at least number two or something most visited National Park in the US.. so believe it or not, they have a lot on their hands most likely without having to rescue people constantly. There are the two seasonal roads near Cades Cove.. which may be neat. I highly doubt they're intense, but they're at least enough for the sheeple to get stuck on regularly, or they wouldn't bother closing them in the Winter like they do. Annoyingly though, they really overestimate the "winter" and shut those puppies down in like September lol.
As was said, there are basically no off-road trails inside the GSMNP. GSMNP is actually the most visited, or at least number two or something most visited National Park in the US.. so believe it or not, they have a lot on their hands most likely without having to rescue people constantly. There are the two seasonal roads near Cades Cove.. which may be neat. I highly doubt they're intense, but they're at least enough for the sheeple to get stuck on regularly, or they wouldn't bother closing them in the Winter like they do. Annoyingly though, they really overestimate the "winter" and shut those puppies down in like September lol.
