Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Ducktown, Tennessee

McFarland Road is an easy, scenic 21-mile point-to-point route in the Cherokee National Forest that is perfect for beginners, overland families, and scenic tourers looking for a history-rich drive. Winding through dense forests and rising to a maximum elevation of 1,977 feet, this wide, double-lane ...
Learn more about McFarland Rd

Little Gassaway (Forest Road 45) is an easy, scenic dirt road perfect for beginners and scenic drivers looking to explore the beautiful Cherokee National Forest near the Ocoee River. Stretching approximately 2.7 miles, this route serves as a main access point for those looking to reach the hiking tr...
Learn more about Little Gassaway - Trail NF45

This is a nice easy-to-navigate trail in the Big Frog Mountain Wilderness, part of the Cherokee National Forest. The trail is fairly well-maintained so it should be accessible to almost any vehicle. Several areas along the trail have great views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. There are ma...
Learn more about Peavine Sheeds - CR 221

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

Forest Service Road 236 Smith Creek Road down to the powerhouse. The highlight of this trail is the powerhouse at the end of the trail. The Appalachia powerhouse supplies the Hiawassee River. During the summer months, this is a favorite spot for rafters. Fly fishing is a big activity in the area as ...
Learn more about Powerhouse Road

Butler Ridge (FS 1061) is a short, narrow, somewhat rutted and muddy trail that leads to the historic Butler Ridge Cemetery. Butler Ridge is a branch off of McFarland Road, and there is a small brown and yellow sign at the intersection. There are several low spots in the short length that will tend ...
Learn more about Butler Ridge - FS 1061

Apalachia Tunnel Road - FS 1166 changes to Turtletown Creek Road - FS 11651 and ends at the trailhead of Turtletown Creek Falls. The road is an improved two-lane gravel road that can be driven by almost any vehicle these days. There is one creek crossing that has now had a concrete bed installed. Th...
Learn more about Apalachia Tunnel - FS 1166

This trail has easy access gravel road off Highway 68 in Farner. The road is 2 vehicles wide and has mostly gentle elevations. It starts out running parallel to the Hiwassee River and then a branch of Shuler Creek. Along the way, there are pullovers and an occasional campsite. The creek is wide and ...
Learn more about Shuler Creek

Old Highway Road - FS 311 begins at the Hiwassee River and winds its way up the mountain along a narrow shelf road, climbing to its end near the Buck Bald turnoff in the Cherokee National Forest. Recent repairs have brought it to an easy 1/10, though you should still be ready for downed trees along ...
Learn more about Old Highway Road - FS 311

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

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)

The trail winds off the side of the mountain down to the historic Coker Creek River. This is known as the Lower Coker Creek trailhead. You will find a few very secluded camp spots along the river at the end of this trail. Many people use this as a base camp to hike the surrounding trails along the r...
Learn more about Duckett Ridge FSR #22B

The trail is off Fingerboard Road. It is mostly gravel with a few washouts along the way. This is a short ride off Fingerboard Road. However, the destination makes this short ride well worth your time. After you make it to the small parking lot get out and hike a short hike down the trail to see the...
Learn more about Coker Creek Falls

Hickorynut Gap, FSR 797, is an in-and-out forest service road in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest just on the edge of the Cohutta Wilderness. Being an in-and-out road, the travel time reflects this with the return trip. It is a longer than usual forest service road for the area. Hickorynut G...
Learn more about Hickorynut Gap - FSR 797

Gravel road to a beautiful bald that overlooks the mountains of North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. Part of the Cherokee National Forests. To the north, you will see the Nantahala and Yellow Creek mountains of North Carolina. To the south, you will be looking at the North Georgia mountains of bl...
Learn more about Buck Bald

Persimmon Trail - FS 651 is an easy 1/10, well-maintained forest road that runs right alongside beautiful Persimmon Lake. The drive is smooth and relaxing, with constant views of the water as you wind through the area. It ends at a developed campsite right on the lake, complete with a picnic table ...
Learn more about Persimmon Trail

Cherokee Lake Road - FS 313 is a well-maintained 1/10 forest service road providing direct access to the Cherokee Lake Day-Use Area in Nantahala National Forest near Murphy, North Carolina. The developed day-use site includes picnic tables, grills, restrooms, fishing piers, and docks, offering an ex...
Learn more about Lake Cherokee Road

Little Dam Road - FS 651A is a short, easy 1/10 spur road off Persimmon Trail that quickly leads to Persimmon Dam featuring a waterfall-style spillway. This drive brings you to a quiet, scenic spot with direct water access and peaceful surroundings. Persimmon Dam (also known as Persimmon Creek Dam) ...
Learn more about Little Dam Road

Little Gassaway (Forest Road 45) is an easy, scenic dirt road perfect for beginners and scenic drivers looking to explore the beautiful Cherokee National Forest near the Ocoee River. Stretching approximately 2.7 miles, this route serves as a main access point for those looking to reach the hiking tr...
Learn more about Little Gassaway - Trail NF45

This is a nice easy-to-navigate trail in the Big Frog Mountain Wilderness, part of the Cherokee National Forest. The trail is fairly well-maintained so it should be accessible to almost any vehicle. Several areas along the trail have great views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. There are ma...
Learn more about Peavine Sheeds - CR 221

This trail has easy access gravel road off Highway 68 in Farner. The road is 2 vehicles wide and has mostly gentle elevations. It starts out running parallel to the Hiwassee River and then a branch of Shuler Creek. Along the way, there are pullovers and an occasional campsite. The creek is wide and ...
Learn more about Shuler Creek

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

Little Gassaway (Forest Road 45) is an easy, scenic dirt road perfect for beginners and scenic drivers looking to explore the beautiful Cherokee National Forest near the Ocoee River. Stretching approximately 2.7 miles, this route serves as a main access point for those looking to reach the hiking tr...
Learn more about Little Gassaway - Trail NF45

This is a nice easy-to-navigate trail in the Big Frog Mountain Wilderness, part of the Cherokee National Forest. The trail is fairly well-maintained so it should be accessible to almost any vehicle. Several areas along the trail have great views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. There are ma...
Learn more about Peavine Sheeds - CR 221

Butler Ridge (FS 1061) is a short, narrow, somewhat rutted and muddy trail that leads to the historic Butler Ridge Cemetery. Butler Ridge is a branch off of McFarland Road, and there is a small brown and yellow sign at the intersection. There are several low spots in the short length that will tend ...
Learn more about Butler Ridge - FS 1061

This trail has easy access gravel road off Highway 68 in Farner. The road is 2 vehicles wide and has mostly gentle elevations. It starts out running parallel to the Hiwassee River and then a branch of Shuler Creek. Along the way, there are pullovers and an occasional campsite. The creek is wide and ...
Learn more about Shuler Creek