Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Charleston, Tennessee

This trail is a service road across Chilhowee mountain that is approximately 10 miles and will take about an hour to travel without stops. The road is well maintained with some rocky surfaces with potential low-hanging trees. An easy route for a day drive through the mountains. Under typical conditi...
Learn more about Chilhowee Ridge (Oswald-77)

This gravel road runs beside the Hiwassee River for the first 2.25 miles, which is stunning. At mile 1.25, there is a place to park for a hike to what some people call Lookout Rock. The hiking trail is not marked, but it is easy to follow the worn path that everyone has followed. Although this is a ...
Learn more about Spring Creek FSR 27

Oswald Dome Road - FS 77C is a well-maintained 1/10 gravel forest road that offers a smooth, easy drive along the side of Chilhowee Mountain. It winds through pleasant forest scenery before ending at a closed gate. From the gate, you can park and continue on foot to reach Oswald Bald, with its nice ...
Learn more about Oswald Dome Road

Clear Creek is located in the Ocoee Ranger District of the Cherokee National Forrest. This trail travels over rolling hills with views of the surrounding mountains to the soft flowing water of Clear Creek. The trail is a single-lane trail with a few ruts and potholes. However, it is safe for most 4W...
Learn more about Clear Creek (FSR 185)

Lowry Top - Tieskee Road is a partially graveled, easy 2/10 forest route that starts nice and smooth but gradually gets more rugged and degraded the farther you go. It winds through a beautiful stretch of Appalachian canopy, with lush trees arching overhead for a really scenic, shaded drive. At the ...
Learn more about Lowry Top - Tieskee Road

This trail is a gravel trail to the trailhead to some pretty cool hikes. With a few spots to camp down next to a quiet little stream. Along the way, you will find some washouts with some hidden culverts that can be uncovered after storms so just be on the watch. This is an out-and-back trail that wi...
Learn more about Fingerboard Road

This is a forest service road with some beautiful views of the Ocoee Number One Lake. This trail goes by Bakers Creek. On both sides of the road at Bakers Creek, there are some camping spots where you will hear the babbling creek all night. So if you like camping with the sounds of water in the back...
Learn more about Indian Creek - FSR 302

This is a fire service road that was somewhat rougher when we visited and there were areas that looked like they were washing out. It doesn't require a 4x4 to traverse. While on this trail, you won't have cell service if you're using Verizon. The fall season is likely to offer some great views, and ...
Learn more about Sina Branch Road - Big Frog

Kimsey Mountain Trail on Old Highway 68 is one of the most underestimated trails around. Travel this in the winter and early spring and you will find out what I mean. Every turn greets you with a new view of Mountain landscapes as far as the eye can see. You will want to stop and just gaze out into ...
Learn more about Kimsey MTN (Old 68 HWY)

This is an easy trail that can be driven by any vehicle. There are a few places on the road to see some great views. Very peaceful drive through the woods. There are several places to disperse camp on this road. There is a bridge across a fairly large creek about 3/4 way to the end of the trail.
Learn more about Bullet Creek Ellis Creek 44

This is a fire service road that was somewhat rougher when we visited and there were areas that looked like they were washing out. It doesn't require a 4x4 to traverse. While on this trail, you won't have cell service if you're using Verizon. The fall season is likely to offer some great views, and ...
Learn more about Blue Ridge Trail - Big Frog

This short road is an easy drive that is primarily dirt with some paved areas. The road is passable by most vehicles with minimal obstacles to encounter. The end of the road connects with the Georgia Traverse and has several areas to stop along the way for day camping and some time to play in the wa...
Learn more about Ladd Springs Road (221)

This is a well-maintained gravel Forest Service road. You do not need anything special to drive this road. You may see some deer. There is a bridge close to the end of the road that crosses a creek. There are a few spots where you can look out over the valleys and mountains, but you will need to vis...
Learn more about Starr Mountain Road 220

This trail is less maintained than the other trails in the area. There are some places with deep ruts and one place that is off-camber that we marked with 18 degrees of roll. I would recommend airing down to smooth out the ride although it is not necessary to complete the trail. We drove this trail ...
Learn more about Big Frog - FS 62

The trail is a fairly well-maintained fire service road surfaced with gravel, which does not require a 4x4 vehicle to navigate. However, cell phone reception (Verizon) is not available while on the trail. There are several spots for dispersed camping located along the trail. During our visit, there ...
Learn more about Baker Creek - Big Frog

This forest service road is gravel and easy to navigate, there are a few rough places along the trail but nothing difficult. It is located in the Big Frog mountain wilderness which is part of the Cherokee National Forest. There are a lot of great views along this trail. When we went, the trail was c...
Learn more about Falls Branch Road - FS 374

This is a well-groomed, gravel, fire service road. You do not need a 4x4 to do this trail. We did not have cell service (Verizon) on this trail. In the fall there should be some good views. There are some dispersed camping spots along this trail. When we visited they were doing some prescribed burns...
Learn more about FS 221 - Big Frog

This is a relatively easy gravel road to navigate. There are a few rocky areas and some ruts that may require some vehicle clearance. The road is two-way traffic, so watch as you go around curves. The views that you get while climbing are stunning. There are a few places to camp along the road and o...
Learn more about Starr Mountain Road 297

This is a reasonably well-maintained road that starts at Ocoee Number Three Dam. It is one of the main access trails for the Big Frog Wilderness Area Trails. You will gain almost 1000 feet of elevation but it is not a steep climb. Nothing difficult about this trail so you do not need anything specia...
Learn more about Little Gassaway - Trail NF45

About 100 yards into the trail, there is a decent hill climb with some decent-size rocks. High clearance is nice to have. However, stock rigs with the right tire placement will be just fine. Most of the trail is a nice trail with some overlooks in the winter. Once the leaves are on the trees, it bec...
Learn more about Smith Mountain

This gravel road runs beside the Hiwassee River for the first 2.25 miles, which is stunning. At mile 1.25, there is a place to park for a hike to what some people call Lookout Rock. The hiking trail is not marked, but it is easy to follow the worn path that everyone has followed. Although this is a ...
Learn more about Spring Creek FSR 27

This is a fire service road that was somewhat rougher when we visited and there were areas that looked like they were washing out. It doesn't require a 4x4 to traverse. While on this trail, you won't have cell service if you're using Verizon. The fall season is likely to offer some great views, and ...
Learn more about Sina Branch Road - Big Frog

This is an easy trail that can be driven by any vehicle. There are a few places on the road to see some great views. Very peaceful drive through the woods. There are several places to disperse camp on this road. There is a bridge across a fairly large creek about 3/4 way to the end of the trail.
Learn more about Bullet Creek Ellis Creek 44

This is a fire service road that was somewhat rougher when we visited and there were areas that looked like they were washing out. It doesn't require a 4x4 to traverse. While on this trail, you won't have cell service if you're using Verizon. The fall season is likely to offer some great views, and ...
Learn more about Blue Ridge Trail - Big Frog

This gravel road runs beside the Hiwassee River for the first 2.25 miles, which is stunning. At mile 1.25, there is a place to park for a hike to what some people call Lookout Rock. The hiking trail is not marked, but it is easy to follow the worn path that everyone has followed. Although this is a ...
Learn more about Spring Creek FSR 27

This is a fire service road that was somewhat rougher when we visited and there were areas that looked like they were washing out. It doesn't require a 4x4 to traverse. While on this trail, you won't have cell service if you're using Verizon. The fall season is likely to offer some great views, and ...
Learn more about Sina Branch Road - Big Frog

This is an easy trail that can be driven by any vehicle. There are a few places on the road to see some great views. Very peaceful drive through the woods. There are several places to disperse camp on this road. There is a bridge across a fairly large creek about 3/4 way to the end of the trail.
Learn more about Bullet Creek Ellis Creek 44

This is a fire service road that was somewhat rougher when we visited and there were areas that looked like they were washing out. It doesn't require a 4x4 to traverse. While on this trail, you won't have cell service if you're using Verizon. The fall season is likely to offer some great views, and ...
Learn more about Blue Ridge Trail - Big Frog