Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Franklin, North Carolina

Shingletree Branch (FS 713) is a 3.9-mile out-and-back route that follows a single-lane road with few places to pass over a lightly maintained packed dirt and gravel surface. Traveling through heavily forested terrain, the route is rated easy and follows a gentle, winding alignment into a quiet sect...
Learn more about Shingletree Branch - FS 713

Lee Creek (FS 415) is a 2.1-mile out-and-back route that follows a generously sized single-lane gravel road with places to pass. The road is well maintained and passes through heavily forested terrain, providing an easy drive with a smooth surface and no significant obstacles. Its peaceful backcount...
Learn more about Lee Creek - FS 415

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 difficulty. The Forest Service Gate is closed to access the fire tower. All around ...
Learn more about Cowee Bald

Shope Fork (FS 751) is a 3.6-mile out-and-back route that follows a generously sized single-lane gravel road with places to pass. The road is well maintained and travels through heavily forested terrain, providing an easy drive while climbing nearly 2,000 feet in elevation. The route begins at the C...
Learn more about Shope Fork - FS 751

Evans Creek (FS 4621) is a 1.6-mile out-and-back route that follows a generously sized single-lane road with places to pass over a well-maintained packed dirt and gravel surface. The route travels through heavily forested terrain and is rated easy, offering a smooth driving surface with no significa...
Learn more about Evans Creek - FS 4621

Boardtree - FS 388 is a 5.0-mile out-and-back route that follows a generously sized single-lane gravel road with places to pass. The road is well maintained and travels through heavily forested terrain, providing an easy drive with a smooth surface and no significant obstacles along its length. Its ...
Learn more about Boardtree - FS 388

Cold Springs Gap (FS 421A) is a 1.1-mile out-and-back route that follows a generously sized single-lane gravel road through heavily forested terrain. The road is well maintained and rated easy, providing a smooth driving surface with uncomplicated travel from beginning to end. Well-formed vegetation...
Learn more about Cold Springs Gap - FS 421A

Dryman Fork (FS 421) is a 3.7-mile out-and-back route that follows a generously sized single-lane gravel road with places to pass. The road is well maintained and travels through heavily forested terrain, providing an easy drive with straightforward travel throughout its length. Shortly after leavin...
Learn more about Dryman Fork - FS 421

Upper Nantahala - FS 67 is a 2.1-mile out-and-back route that follows a generously sized single-lane gravel road with places to pass. The road is well maintained and travels through heavily forested terrain, providing an easy drive with a smooth surface and few obstacles throughout its length. Suita...
Learn more about Upper Nantahala - FS 67

This is a historical forest service road with Appalachian history. You will come across an old ranger station from the early 1900s with a billboard history of the station, the road, and the fire tower at the top of the mountain. This is a very easy trail; it's a well-maintained gravel road all the w...
Learn more about Wayah Bald

The Deep Gap Trail, also known as FR 71, takes you from US 64 up into the mountains to the Deep Gap hiking trail in the Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina. There are several other hiking opportunities on the way. The trail is a gravel forestry road with some soft sand spots that can turn in...
Learn more about Deep Gap - FR 71

Little Yellow Mountain is a well-maintained gravel road that branches off of Blue Valley Road and connects to Clear Creek Road. It is wide enough for two vehicles most of the way. There are several campsites and minimal cell service. About halfway through, you will be treated to Brook Creek Falls vi...
Learn more about Little Yellow Mountain - FS 367

Brown Gap - FS 77 is a 0.9-mile out-and-back route that follows a generously sized single-lane gravel road through heavily forested terrain. The road is well maintained and rated easy, providing a smooth driving surface with straightforward travel throughout its short length. Although brief, the rou...
Learn more about Brown Gap - FS 77

Perry Gap - FS 350 is a well-maintained gravel road that wanders into the Nantahala National Forest. The first part of the road follows Buck Creek and has a large group campsite that is creekside. The trail then veers left and begins to climb in elevation through the dense forest. There is no cell s...
Learn more about Perry Gap - FS 350

Holcomb Creek runs through the Chattahoochee National Forest and connects Billingsley Creek (FS 86B) to Hale Ridge on the Georgia Traverse. This trail is mostly natural with some gravel. It is a single-vehicle wide trail with several places to pass or turn around. After heavy rains, there are a few ...
Learn more about Holcomb Creek - FS 696

Blue Valley Road winds through the scenic Blue Valley Experimental Forest near Highlands, North Carolina. Starting with a brief stretch of pavement, the road quickly transitions to gravel, passing scattered homes before opening into a serene stretch of dispersed campsites. From here, the road offers...
Learn more about Blue Valley Road

Barnett Creek (FS 6236) is a 1-mile out-and-back route that follows a well-maintained gravel surface through heavily forested terrain. The road is a single lane with places to pass and carries an easy difficulty rating, making it a straightforward drive for highway-legal vehicles. A quiet forest set...
Learn more about Barnett Creek - FS 6236

Beachertown (FS 308) is a solid choice for drivers looking for an easy to moderate forest road in Nantahala National Forest that connects two scenic corridors without demanding hardcore equipment. Running between Junaluska Road and Wayah Road in the Nantahala Ranger District, this National Forest Sy...
Learn more about Beachertown (FS 308)

Billingsley Creek - FS 86B branches off of the Georgia Traverse in the Chattahoochee National Forest. It is a gravel road with some 12-18" ruts. At the beginning, there are several large campsites right on Billingsley Creek. Please tread lightly, as the signage makes it clear others haven't done so ...
Learn more about Billingsley Creek - FS 86B

Three Forks (FS 75) is a 1-mile out-and-back route that follows a lightly maintained packed dirt and gravel surface through heavily forested terrain. The road is a single lane with places to pass and carries an easy difficulty rating, making it a straightforward drive for most vehicles. A quiet fore...
Learn more about Three Forks - FS 75

The Deep Gap Trail, also known as FR 71, takes you from US 64 up into the mountains to the Deep Gap hiking trail in the Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina. There are several other hiking opportunities on the way. The trail is a gravel forestry road with some soft sand spots that can turn in...
Learn more about Deep Gap - FR 71

Little Yellow Mountain is a well-maintained gravel road that branches off of Blue Valley Road and connects to Clear Creek Road. It is wide enough for two vehicles most of the way. There are several campsites and minimal cell service. About halfway through, you will be treated to Brook Creek Falls vi...
Learn more about Little Yellow Mountain - FS 367

Perry Gap - FS 350 is a well-maintained gravel road that wanders into the Nantahala National Forest. The first part of the road follows Buck Creek and has a large group campsite that is creekside. The trail then veers left and begins to climb in elevation through the dense forest. There is no cell s...
Learn more about Perry Gap - FS 350

Blue Valley Road winds through the scenic Blue Valley Experimental Forest near Highlands, North Carolina. Starting with a brief stretch of pavement, the road quickly transitions to gravel, passing scattered homes before opening into a serene stretch of dispersed campsites. From here, the road offers...
Learn more about Blue Valley Road

This is a historical forest service road with Appalachian history. You will come across an old ranger station from the early 1900s with a billboard history of the station, the road, and the fire tower at the top of the mountain. This is a very easy trail; it's a well-maintained gravel road all the w...
Learn more about Wayah Bald

The Deep Gap Trail, also known as FR 71, takes you from US 64 up into the mountains to the Deep Gap hiking trail in the Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina. There are several other hiking opportunities on the way. The trail is a gravel forestry road with some soft sand spots that can turn in...
Learn more about Deep Gap - FR 71

Little Yellow Mountain is a well-maintained gravel road that branches off of Blue Valley Road and connects to Clear Creek Road. It is wide enough for two vehicles most of the way. There are several campsites and minimal cell service. About halfway through, you will be treated to Brook Creek Falls vi...
Learn more about Little Yellow Mountain - FS 367

Perry Gap - FS 350 is a well-maintained gravel road that wanders into the Nantahala National Forest. The first part of the road follows Buck Creek and has a large group campsite that is creekside. The trail then veers left and begins to climb in elevation through the dense forest. There is no cell s...
Learn more about Perry Gap - FS 350