Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Little Greenbrier Road is an easy gravel trail that offers a peaceful drive through a historic section of the Great Smoky Mountains. The route is primarily a single-lane road and begins with signage advising that passing opportunities are very limited and that vehicles towing trailers are prohibited...
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Upper Tremont Road is an easy gravel route that follows the scenic Middle Prong Little River through Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The well-maintained road offers a relaxing drive with gentle grades and beautiful river views for much of its length. Numerous pull-off areas provide opportunitie...
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Rich Mountain Road is 6.6 miles and runs through the Smoky Mountain National Park and heads North out of the park. The trail is composed of loose gravel and has several twists and turns up and down the mountain. It is one way, but watch for State Park vehicles in addition to animals on the trail.
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Parson Branch is a full gravel, one-way, scenic route that leads through the Smoky Mountains. The road is maintained, however, you may find the occasional tree down after heavy storms. This is usually not a problem. There are also many shallow water crossings, all less than 1ft deep. 4WD is not need...
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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 the top of the ridgeline and intersect with the Buzzard Roost Road. Initially, the route is mild gravel w...
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Mount Sterling Road is an easy gravel route that offers a straightforward drive with occasional exposure and light local traffic. The road is generally well-maintained with gentle grades, making it suitable for most drivers under normal conditions. While much of the route is wide enough for two vehi...
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While less exciting in terrain than the closely named Old Buzzard Roost Road, this route has some fantastic views and other exciting features. The road is mostly gravel, with a few sections holding water or small washouts. You can travel the Southern terminus up towards the ridgeline and trace along...
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Flat Branch is a short out-and-back gravel route located within Pisgah Game Land, offering a straightforward drive with a clearly defined endpoint. The road is well-maintained with a consistent gravel surface, making it accessible for most drivers under normal conditions. The trail follows gentle gr...
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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 require a driver to slow down a bit or endure the bumpy ride. At the top, you'll find a fire tower ...
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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 the valley and gains 500 feet of elevation in just a few miles. The lower sections have recently been rework...
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Cataloochee Creek Road is an easy gravel drive that provides access to one of the more historically rich areas in the region. The road is generally well-maintained and typically wide enough for two vehicles, making it a straightforward route suitable for most drivers. Gentle grades and a series of m...
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Shell Stand Road - FR 418 is a narrow, low-traffic forest service route rated at 3/10 difficulty, primarily due to encroaching vegetation and tight passages resulting from limited maintenance and low use. Officially open only during March. Toward the end of the route, travelers are rewarded with str...
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Long Arm is a varied trail that transitions from an easy gravel road into a more challenging off-road experience, making it important to understand the entry direction before starting. When entering from Buzzard Roost Road, the trail begins as a well-graded gravel drive that feels consistent with a ...
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Sutton is a short out-and-back dirt route that offers a mostly easy drive with a brief change in terrain character. The trail begins as a graded path with a smooth, manageable surface before transitioning after a hairpin turn into a narrower, rocky two-track. In this section, rocks begin to protrude...
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Cove Creek Road is a short gravel route that offers a quick but scenic connection in the area, often used as an access point toward the Cataloochee Turnpike. The road surface is primarily gravel and generally well maintained, though it narrows to a single lane with several designated pull-offs for p...
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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 significant weather events like snowstorms, so checking the road status before departing is best. There are lov...
Learn more about Cataloochee Turnpike to Big Creek

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 into other sections of Pisgah, or take the long way to Hot Springs, NC. There are some houses at the lower elevations,...
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Deep Creek Road - FS 445 is a freshly graded and well-maintained forest road that takes you right to one of the nicest campsites in the region alongside a small stream. The spot comes with a solid wood shed, making it super convenient for longer stays and keeping your firewood dry (it is often fully...
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Slickrock Road is a gravel route that winds through the Nantahala National Forest. It is primarily one vehicle wide, though there are plenty of areas with room to pass. The road begins at Tapoco Road at an elevation of 1,277 feet and climbs to 3,062 feet over the course of seven miles. At the summit...
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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 ...
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Mount Sterling Road is an easy gravel route that offers a straightforward drive with occasional exposure and light local traffic. The road is generally well-maintained with gentle grades, making it suitable for most drivers under normal conditions. While much of the route is wide enough for two vehi...
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Cataloochee Creek Road is an easy gravel drive that provides access to one of the more historically rich areas in the region. The road is generally well-maintained and typically wide enough for two vehicles, making it a straightforward route suitable for most drivers. Gentle grades and a series of m...
Learn more about Cataloochee Creek Road

Sutton is a short out-and-back dirt route that offers a mostly easy drive with a brief change in terrain character. The trail begins as a graded path with a smooth, manageable surface before transitioning after a hairpin turn into a narrower, rocky two-track. In this section, rocks begin to protrude...
Learn more about Sutton

Cove Creek Road is a short gravel route that offers a quick but scenic connection in the area, often used as an access point toward the Cataloochee Turnpike. The road surface is primarily gravel and generally well maintained, though it narrows to a single lane with several designated pull-offs for p...
Learn more about Cove Creek Road

Parson Branch is a full gravel, one-way, scenic route that leads through the Smoky Mountains. The road is maintained, however, you may find the occasional tree down after heavy storms. This is usually not a problem. There are also many shallow water crossings, all less than 1ft deep. 4WD is not need...
Learn more about Parson Branch Road

Mount Sterling Road is an easy gravel route that offers a straightforward drive with occasional exposure and light local traffic. The road is generally well-maintained with gentle grades, making it suitable for most drivers under normal conditions. While much of the route is wide enough for two vehi...
Learn more about Mount Sterling Road

Cataloochee Creek Road is an easy gravel drive that provides access to one of the more historically rich areas in the region. The road is generally well-maintained and typically wide enough for two vehicles, making it a straightforward route suitable for most drivers. Gentle grades and a series of m...
Learn more about Cataloochee Creek Road

Sutton is a short out-and-back dirt route that offers a mostly easy drive with a brief change in terrain character. The trail begins as a graded path with a smooth, manageable surface before transitioning after a hairpin turn into a narrower, rocky two-track. In this section, rocks begin to protrude...
Learn more about Sutton