Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Hayesville, North Carolina

Select a location:

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…
Learn more about Trans America Trail / SCAR Connector
Total Miles
76.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Georgia Traverse

Anyone who's heard a country song can probably picture Georgia. It's a land of green hillsides, charming southern towns dotted with white picket fences, and sunny fields tied together by red dirt roads. It's tough…
Learn more about Georgia Traverse
Total Miles
372
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Trail 1 FR 420-1

This road starts at the end of River Road in Tellico at State Line Campground. The first mile of the road is single-track asphalt. When it changes over to gravel you will have some areas…
Learn more about Trail 1 FR 420-1
Total Miles
8.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Wi

Tray Mountain Trail

This trail is very popular among 4x4 enthusiasts. it is a straightforward drive, although it gets more difficult and tricky as you get to the higher elevations. There are many locations along the trail and…
Learn more about Tray Mountain Trail
Total Miles
7.5
Tech Rating
3 Moderate
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

FR126 Waucheesi Bald

The trail to Waucheesi Bald is a gravel trail. The trail has been recently re-graveled. It is a two-way road so make sure you watch for oncoming traffic. The road will take you along Bald…
Learn more about FR126 Waucheesi Bald
Total Miles
16.2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Winding Stair Mountain Trail

This route through the Chattahoochee National Forest takes you deep into the rolling Appalachian Mountains up the Winding Stair Mountain Trail. The iconic Winding Stair portion of the trail takes you up the mountainside overlooking…
Learn more about Winding Stair Mountain Trail
Total Miles
19.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Old Furnace Road - FSR 76

This road begins right across from Tellico Beach, which is a great place to eat if you're in the Tellico area. The road starts with an easy climb with great views of the surrounding mountains…
Learn more about Old Furnace Road - FSR 76
Total Miles
5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
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…
Learn more about Cowee Bald
Total Miles
6.6
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Buck Bald

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…
Learn more about Buck Bald
Total Miles
2.1
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

McFarland Rd

The route is a Forest Service road in the Cherokee National Forrest. The road is wide enough for two vehicles. It is mostly gravel and dirt with a few washouts. Be sure to watch out…
Learn more about McFarland Rd
Total Miles
20.6
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su

Woodall Shoals - Road 757

This trail leads to Woodall Shoals is the second to last rafting takeout along the Chattooga River. This maintained gravel road leads to the trailhead that leads to a perfect location to cool off in…
Learn more about Woodall Shoals - Road 757
Total Miles
2.2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Lake Tugaloo

This route leads down to Lake Tugaloo; which is the end of the Wild and Scenic Chattoga River and creates the border of South Carolina and Georgia. Lake Tugaloo is a perfect place to stop…
Learn more about Lake Tugaloo
Total Miles
3.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Long Creek Falls - RD 755

This trail leads to the trailhead for Long Creek Falls, one of the most iconic falls along the wild and scenic Chattoga River. This trail leads from the main highway to the large parking area…
Learn more about Long Creek Falls - RD 755
Total Miles
2.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Smith Mountain

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.…
Learn more about Smith Mountain
Total Miles
7.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Wi

Fall Creek - FSR 722

This trail follows along one the the many Chattoga River plateau's that overlook the Wild and Scenic River. This is a maintained trail that is mostly gravel with many washboard sections. Camping is allowed in…
Learn more about Fall Creek - FSR 722
Total Miles
3.1
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Chattooga River - FSR 769

This trail follows along one the the many Chattooga River plateau's that overlook the Wild and Scenic River. This is a maintained trail that is mostly gravel with many washboard sections. Camping is allowed in…
Learn more about Chattooga River - FSR 769
Total Miles
0.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

South Carolina Adventure Route Segment 3

Segment three is the "upstate" section of the SCAR, and is bookended by the towns of Westminster and Gaffney. This section transits the Blue Ridge Mountains and consists of some fabulous gravel roads with a…
Learn more about South Carolina Adventure Route Segment 3
Total Miles
202.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Tri State - SCAR Alternate

This is simply a scenic alternative to the main loop of the South Carolina Adventure Route. It loops around the confluence of SC, NC, and GA extending your ride of the SCAR with some additional…
Learn more about Tri State - SCAR Alternate
Total Miles
26.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Bush Head Gap Road

Relatively easy trail with no serious obstacles, but the route is very overgrown and only one vehicle wide. If you drive a full-size vehicle, prepare for scratches on the vehicle. If you look at a…
Learn more about Bush Head Gap Road
Total Miles
4.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Guard Camp Road

Guard Camp Road is located in the Chattahoochee National Forest near Cornelia, GA. Nearby, you can visit Tallulah Gorge, view the waterfalls, explore downtown Clayton and fish in the numerous waterways. While camping is available…
Learn more about Guard Camp Road
Total Miles
3.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa

Brown Bottom Road

Brown Bottom Road is located in the center of a section of the Chattahoochee National Forest outside of Cornelia, GA. This road is wide, covered in large gravel and wide enough for two vehicles to…
Learn more about Brown Bottom Road
Total Miles
3.8
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Fa

Starr Mountain Road 297

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…
Learn more about Starr Mountain Road 297
Total Miles
6.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa

Starr Mountain Road 220

This is a well-maintained gravel forest service road. You do not need anything special to drive this road. We saw several deer on this road. There is a bridge close to the end of the…
Learn more about Starr Mountain Road 220
Total Miles
5.5
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Wi

Little Gassaway - Trail NF45

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…
Learn more about Little Gassaway - Trail NF45
Total Miles
2.6
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Bullet Creek Ellis Creek 44

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…
Learn more about Bullet Creek Ellis Creek 44
Total Miles
7.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa / Su / Sp

Peavine Sheeds - CR 221

This is a nice easy to navigate trail in the Big Frog Mountain Wilderness which is part of the Cherokee National Forest. The trail is fairly well-maintained so it should be accessible to almost any…
Learn more about Peavine Sheeds - CR 221
Total Miles
6.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Spring Creek - FSR 27

This gravel road runs beside the Hiwassee River for the first 2.25 miles, which is absolutely stunning. At mile 1.25 there is a place to park for a hike to what some people call Lookout…
Learn more about Spring Creek - FSR 27
Total Miles
4.8
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Chilhowee Ridge (Oswald-77)

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…
Learn more about Chilhowee Ridge (Oswald-77)
Total Miles
9.2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Falls Branch Road - FS 374

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…
Learn more about Falls Branch Road - FS 374
Total Miles
4.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Big Frog - FS 62

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…
Learn more about Big Frog - FS 62
Total Miles
11
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi