Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Dandridge, Tennessee

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Hall Top Road

Hall Top climbs 1,500 feet over the five-mile route from the rhododendron shaded valley to the rocky peak above. The majority of the route is maintained, but some of the steeper sections are rocky and…
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Total Miles
4.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su

Hall Top Spur

The Hall Top Spur allows access to the Hall Top Fire Tower, Big Fill Road, and Rocky Top Road from the eastern border of this section of Cherokee National Forest. The road climbs steeply from…
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Total Miles
2.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su

Big Clifty Road

Big Clifty is a mild introduction to the forest roads in the area. This seven-mile track climbs to the Meadow View Lookout Tower and is easily traversed by a 2WD vehicle. Cell service is available…
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Total Miles
6.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Old Buzzard Roost Road

Old Buzzard Roost Road is a nice adventure just a few miles from the interstate. You'll travel under the shadow of Mt. Sterling as you cross a few creeks and traverse switchbacks until you reach…
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Total Miles
3.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su

Gulf Road

Gulf Road is a great route to take to gain access to some of the tracks at higher elevations. From here you can head up to Max Patch, explore Martha Sundquist State Forest, head out…
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Total Miles
2.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Cataloochee Turnpike to Big Creek

Gravel Road through the GSMNP Cataloochee area to Big Creek. The road is suitable for most vehicles, but higher clearance is recommended due to some rocky areas. The road will close during big weather events…
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Total Miles
10.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Buzzard Roost Road

While not as exciting in terrain as the closely named Old Buzzard Roost Road, this route has some amazing views and other interesting features. It's mostly gravel with a few sections that hold water or…
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Total Miles
10.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Meadow Creek Tower Road

This short two-mile trail is a great quick route to visit the tower. It's relatively tame outside of a few sections with larger rocks. When paired with Big Clifty, it makes for a nice 10-mile…
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Total Miles
2.2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Brown Gap Road

This route will take you from the higher elevations back towards Hartford. It generally a mild road, but a few sections include ruts and mud holes that might be more challenging during rainy weather. Be…
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Total Miles
6.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su

Brush Creek Road

Brush Creek starts out as a narrow paved road, but once it meets the western end of Weaver's Bend it transitions to gravel. This is a beautiful drive and the namesake creek parallels the road…
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Total Miles
4.5
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Creek Side Scenic Drive

This beautiful "Creek-Side Dirt trail is a must if you like driving on forest roads and you like the view/sound of the roaring creeks. If you ever plan to go to Max Patch (360 views…
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Total Miles
6.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Weaver Bend

Weaver Bend Road runs from its intersection with Brush Creek to the French Broad River. It transitions from gravel to dirt. Along the road, there are several marked campsites including several riverside. At it's namesake…
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Total Miles
2.2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Lost Creek & Clear Creek

This route provides a bit more challenge and adrenaline than the majority of the roads in Chuck Swan WMA, but still keeps it well within the capabilities of most stock and slightly modified 4x4s. Along…
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Total Miles
5.2
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Paint Mountain Road

Paint Mountain is a great way to connect Hurricane Gap to the east, with some of the other roads and trails west of this area. It's 1 to 1.5 cars wide and outside of a…
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Total Miles
3.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa

Mossy Springs

This route traverses from the southern portions of Chuck Swan WMA to one of the more remote areas on the northern border. Along this route you'll find some easy but fun roads, a natural freshwater…
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Total Miles
6.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Big Loop & Big Springs

This loop gives you a bit of everything there is to see in Chuck Swan WMA. This route is slightly rougher than Main Forest Rd, but still passable by capable 2WD vehicles except during the…
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Total Miles
15
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Main Forest Road

Main Forest Road runs from the entrance to Chuck Swan State Forest until it meets Forks of River Road, which will take you to the very end of this route. It's relatively smooth in comparison…
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Total Miles
13
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Hurricane Gap

Hurrican Gap is a well-maintained gravel road that travels from the Houston Valley area to just outside of Hot Springs, NC. While it's not particularly challenging, there are some great side trips along the way.…
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Total Miles
8.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Rich Mountain Lookout

This short route is a must-see if you're in the area. If you're traveling Hurricane Gap it's well worth the detour. There area few campsites on the way up the mountain. Cell service is available,…
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Total Miles
1.2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Cowee Bald

This trail features elevation changes, switchbacks, some rocky terrain, a few washboard areas, and blind curves with potential oncoming vehicles. The path is one vehicle wide with places to pass. Not a high degree of…
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Total Miles
6.6
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Jennings Creek Road

Jennings Creek Road travels along the border of Cherokee National Forest between the Horse Creek Recreation Area and the Old Forge NF Campground. The campground has walk-in sites with a parking lot only 10 to…
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Total Miles
2.3
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa

74 - Middle Ridge

Trail 74 - Middle Ridge winds through to complete Trail G67 to exit you out of the park or bring you in for an adventure from HWY 116. This easy "Blue" trail, as Windrock Park…
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Total Miles
1.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

G67 - Brown Flats

Easy traveling is G67. This trail is the epitome of a stroll in the park with its smooth gravel roads with intermittent mud puddles to make the most basic rides feel like a scenic adventure.…
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Total Miles
2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Trans America Trail / SCAR Connector

If you want to connect the Trans America Trail with the South Carolina Adventure Route this is your path. It's located North of Walhalla, and connects the SCAR to both the TAT and the Smokey…
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Total Miles
76.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

50

This trail is a mild trail. Dirt or rocky base. Driver may encounter shallow water crossings and obstacles under 12". The trail is generally wide enough for one vehicle and narrows in a few places.…
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Total Miles
2.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

62

This trail is one of the recommended Windrock Park trails to get to the Caryville Flats (G54,62,66). It is a moderate trail with some mild washouts, small to medium rocks, and medium ledges. My only…
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Total Miles
1.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

59 - Grassy Gap

Trail 59 Grassy Gap is short and goes around the mountain trail for those days where you just have to hit "just one more trail" before you head back to camp. This trail is considered…
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Total Miles
0.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

89 - Little Braden Flat

Trail 89 - Little Braden Flat is a shortcut over a trail that connects G50 to G66 or the more famous Trail 51 - Panther Rock. While this trail is short at barely a half…
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Total Miles
0.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

66 - Caryville Flats

This trail is very scenic but very flat. There are some areas that are muddy, but there are ways around them. There is supposed to be a rock garden near the end of the trail,…
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Total Miles
1.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

8 - Humpback

Take a stroll in the park! This deceiving trail scampers across the southeast section of Pilot Mountain. While it may be a scenic drive when dry, when the rain comes, it will surely be slick.…
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Total Miles
0.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi