jblackst
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Justin
- Joined
- May 19, 2020
- Threads
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- Messages
- 95
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- 155
- Location
- Knoxville, TN
- Vehicle(s)
- '18 JLU; '22 JL (well, it's the wife's)
As far as 'off road' in / near the GSMNP (say within 50 mi of PF) it's limited to mainly unimproved NP or State/County roads. Others have mentioned Windrock and/or Royal Blue, both about 1.5 hours NW of PF (in Oliver Springs and Rocky Top, TN).
The Eastern and Southeastern side of the GSMNP have some of the less visited areas and will provide an opportunity for scenic views.
I'd make a day of this drive (and a full day, at that): US-321 East to TN-32. TN-32 East to the NC State Line . TN-32 is a winding paved road that borders the GSMNP. At the state line, the Mt Sterling Rd / NC 1397 road turns to gravel and continues into the Pisgah Natl Forest. Check out the Big Creek area. Continue on Mt Sterling Rd and you enter the GSMNP on the Old Cataloochee Turnpike. This portion of the road is generally passable for standard vehicles, you might engage 4H just for some exercise and slippage.
The Cataloochee area of the GSMNP is remote with no services and no cell phone coverage. There is a campground, scenic sights, and vault toilets. Elk have been reintroduced to this area in the last 20 or so years and this is one of the few places in the park that Elk are reliably seen.
If you continue East (Southeast) from Cataloochee, you'll exit the park and onto the paved Cove Creek Rd. If you're lucky, perhaps you'll spot an elusive Bigfoot near here ;-)
Cove Creek Rd ends on US-276 in Western NC. From there, turn left onto I-40 WB to return to TN (use I-40 Exit 443 to head back towards PF). If you choose to make the loop via Newfound Gap, from US-276 turn right, then right onto US-19 (Maggie Valley). As you travel US-19 you have the option to catch the tail end of the Blue Ridge Parkway from Soco Gap to Cherokee, or you can stay on US-19 to US-441. Either way, you'll end up in Cherokee, NC.
Additional side trip: if you choose the Blue Ridge Parkway, you also have the option to visit Balsam Mountain, the highest established camping area in the GSMNP. Elk are also seen in the Balsam Mountain and Oconaluftee areas of the park. If you travel to Balsam Mountain, go ahead and continue on the Heintooga Round Bottom Mountain Road, a primitive NP road that follows an old railroad bed deep into the SE portion of the GSMNP. This road is potentially a use for 4H for mud/gravel and will take about an hour to return to Cherokee.
If you have arrived at Cherokee, the most direct route back to PF is directly over the mountain on US-441 through the GSMNP. This well travelled paved road will take about 45-60 minutes to get you to Gatlinburg, before scenic stops and traffic. On your way back to PF, consider the Gatlinburg Bypass unless you are intentionally stopping in Gatlinburg as the traffic in Gatlinburg will be challenging.
In 2020, I happened to be on a drive between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge (there's only one route - called The Spur, an off shoot of the Foothills Parkway). the 3-4 mile trip took nearly 3 hours. This was the same weekend as the 2020 GSM Jeep Invasion. I can't understate the traffic. As I described the entire route above (GMaps link here), it comes out to 163 miles and a 6.5 hour drive time, before stops and traffic.
Hope this helps!
-J
The Eastern and Southeastern side of the GSMNP have some of the less visited areas and will provide an opportunity for scenic views.
I'd make a day of this drive (and a full day, at that): US-321 East to TN-32. TN-32 East to the NC State Line . TN-32 is a winding paved road that borders the GSMNP. At the state line, the Mt Sterling Rd / NC 1397 road turns to gravel and continues into the Pisgah Natl Forest. Check out the Big Creek area. Continue on Mt Sterling Rd and you enter the GSMNP on the Old Cataloochee Turnpike. This portion of the road is generally passable for standard vehicles, you might engage 4H just for some exercise and slippage.
The Cataloochee area of the GSMNP is remote with no services and no cell phone coverage. There is a campground, scenic sights, and vault toilets. Elk have been reintroduced to this area in the last 20 or so years and this is one of the few places in the park that Elk are reliably seen.
If you continue East (Southeast) from Cataloochee, you'll exit the park and onto the paved Cove Creek Rd. If you're lucky, perhaps you'll spot an elusive Bigfoot near here ;-)
Cove Creek Rd ends on US-276 in Western NC. From there, turn left onto I-40 WB to return to TN (use I-40 Exit 443 to head back towards PF). If you choose to make the loop via Newfound Gap, from US-276 turn right, then right onto US-19 (Maggie Valley). As you travel US-19 you have the option to catch the tail end of the Blue Ridge Parkway from Soco Gap to Cherokee, or you can stay on US-19 to US-441. Either way, you'll end up in Cherokee, NC.
Additional side trip: if you choose the Blue Ridge Parkway, you also have the option to visit Balsam Mountain, the highest established camping area in the GSMNP. Elk are also seen in the Balsam Mountain and Oconaluftee areas of the park. If you travel to Balsam Mountain, go ahead and continue on the Heintooga Round Bottom Mountain Road, a primitive NP road that follows an old railroad bed deep into the SE portion of the GSMNP. This road is potentially a use for 4H for mud/gravel and will take about an hour to return to Cherokee.
If you have arrived at Cherokee, the most direct route back to PF is directly over the mountain on US-441 through the GSMNP. This well travelled paved road will take about 45-60 minutes to get you to Gatlinburg, before scenic stops and traffic. On your way back to PF, consider the Gatlinburg Bypass unless you are intentionally stopping in Gatlinburg as the traffic in Gatlinburg will be challenging.
In 2020, I happened to be on a drive between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge (there's only one route - called The Spur, an off shoot of the Foothills Parkway). the 3-4 mile trip took nearly 3 hours. This was the same weekend as the 2020 GSM Jeep Invasion. I can't understate the traffic. As I described the entire route above (GMaps link here), it comes out to 163 miles and a 6.5 hour drive time, before stops and traffic.
Hope this helps!
-J
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