Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near McCaysville, Georgia

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

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

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

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

Cashes Valley Road is a hidden gem, perfect for an out-and-back adventure in the Chattahoochee National Forest, spanning Fannin and Gilmer Counties in Georgia. This picturesque trail features several water crossings, approximately a foot deep under dry conditions. However, be prepared for these cros...
Learn more about Cashes Valley Road

The Postelle Trail is an out-and-back route in the Chattahoochee National Forest within Fannin County, Georgia. This trail is defined by its single-lane path, which is rarely traversed and has become overgrown, rendering it unsuitable for full-sized vehicles. The narrow trail accommodates only one v...
Learn more about Postelle

Williamson Cove is an out-and-back branch trail from Hickorynut Gap in the Chattahoochee National Forest in Fannin County, Georgia. These trails are exclusively for full-sized, high-clearance vehicles, with clear signage prohibiting access for SxS and ATVs. The trail is mainly a one-lane trail that ...
Learn more about Williamson Cove

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

Forrest Service Road 126, locally known as Foster Branch Road, is an out-and-back road. At the entry of the Cohutta Wildlife MGMT Area, you will find the road. A short ride down this road you are met with the West Fork of the Jacks River winding alongside the mountain. This road is gravel suitable f...
Learn more about Foster Branch Road

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

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

Forrest Service Road 64A is a rollercoaster of a road. On this road, you will feel like you are on a rollercoaster with how you climb this hill climb. long accents before dropping shortly to another hill climb. After the beautiful hill climb with amazing overlooks and some awesome rock faces along t...
Learn more about Flat Top Mountain

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

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

Fruitkoff Trail is a short forest road that offers an easy drive through heavily wooded national forest terrain. The well-maintained gravel surface and generous single-lane width make for a comfortable trip, while the dense forest canopy provides a sense of seclusion from start to finish. With no si...
Learn more about Fruitkoff - FS 711

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

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 map of Bush Head Gap Road, the map will show that the trail is 1-2 miles longer than shown. However, th...
Learn more about Bush Head Gap Road

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

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

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

The Postelle Trail is an out-and-back route in the Chattahoochee National Forest within Fannin County, Georgia. This trail is defined by its single-lane path, which is rarely traversed and has become overgrown, rendering it unsuitable for full-sized vehicles. The narrow trail accommodates only one v...
Learn more about Postelle

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 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

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

The Postelle Trail is an out-and-back route in the Chattahoochee National Forest within Fannin County, Georgia. This trail is defined by its single-lane path, which is rarely traversed and has become overgrown, rendering it unsuitable for full-sized vehicles. The narrow trail accommodates only one v...
Learn more about Postelle

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