Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Townsend, Tennessee

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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…
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Total Miles
76.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / 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…
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Total Miles
6.6
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

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…
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Total Miles
16.2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

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…
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Total Miles
8.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
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…
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Total Miles
5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Wi

Hall Top Road

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…
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Total Miles
4.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su

Big Loop & Big Springs

This loop gives you a bit of everything there is to see in Chuck Swan WMA. This route is slightly rougher than Main Forest Rd, but still passable by capable 2WD vehicles except during the…
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Total Miles
15
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Cataloochee Turnpike to Big Creek

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 big weather events…
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Total Miles
10.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Lost Creek & Clear Creek

This route provides a bit more challenge and adrenaline than the majority of the roads in Chuck Swan WMA, but still keeps it well within the capabilities of most stock and slightly modified 4x4s. Along…
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Total Miles
5.2
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

74 - Middle Ridge

Trail 74 - Middle Ridge winds through to complete Trail G67 to exit you out of the park or bring you in for an adventure from HWY 116. This easy "Blue" trail, as Windrock Park…
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Total Miles
1.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Main Forest Road

Main Forest Road runs from the entrance to Chuck Swan State Forest until it meets Forks of River Road, which will take you to the very end of this route. It's relatively smooth in comparison…
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Total Miles
13
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Hall Top Spur

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…
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Total Miles
2.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su

G67 - Brown Flats

Easy traveling is G67. This trail is the epitome of a stroll in the park with its smooth gravel roads with intermittent mud puddles to make the most basic rides feel like a scenic adventure.…
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Total Miles
2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Old Buzzard Roost Road

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…
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Total Miles
3.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su

Buzzard Roost Road

While not as exciting in terrain as the closely named Old Buzzard Roost Road, this route has some amazing views and other interesting features. It's mostly gravel with a few sections that hold water or…
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Total Miles
10.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Mossy Springs

This route traverses from the southern portions of Chuck Swan WMA to one of the more remote areas on the northern border. Along this route you'll find some easy but fun roads, a natural freshwater…
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Total Miles
6.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

89 - Little Braden Flat

Trail 89 - Little Braden Flat is a shortcut over a trail that connects G50 to G66 or the more famous Trail 51 - Panther Rock. While this trail is short at barely a half…
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Total Miles
0.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

50

This trail is a mild trail. Dirt or rocky base. Driver may encounter shallow water crossings and obstacles under 12". The trail is generally wide enough for one vehicle and narrows in a few places.…
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Total Miles
2.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

8 - Humpback

Take a stroll in the park! This deceiving trail scampers across the southeast section of Pilot Mountain. While it may be a scenic drive when dry, when the rain comes, it will surely be slick.…
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Total Miles
0.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Campground Connector

Campground Connector is a fun way of getting from Windrock Park's Campground to the general store on P1. Make the most of your time winding through the woods. This trail also requires a land use…
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Total Miles
2.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

59 - Grassy Gap

Trail 59 Grassy Gap is short and goes around the mountain trail for those days where you just have to hit "just one more trail" before you head back to camp. This trail is considered…
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Total Miles
0.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Trail P1

From the General Store Parking lot G1 is one of the main trail access roads. As you go up the mountain use caution to on-coming traffic. Several areas of the paved road over time have…
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Total Miles
2.3
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Trail G2

From the General Store Trail Head travel up the Mountain on P1. You will come to an intersection, keep going straight on G2 which leads to the windmills and accesses several trails on the South…
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Total Miles
2.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

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…
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Total Miles
6.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa

Gulf Road

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…
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Total Miles
2.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

62

This trail is one of the recommended Windrock Park trails to get to the Caryville Flats (G54,62,66). It is a moderate trail with some mild washouts, small to medium rocks, and medium ledges. My only…
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Total Miles
1.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Trail G20

G20 is a connector trail from G2. This trail gives access to trail 4,19, and G37. The trail is a gravel roadway with shallow mud holes and blind curves on the trail with steep drop…
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Total Miles
2.5
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…
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Total Miles
372
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Creek Side Scenic Drive

This beautiful "Creek-Side Dirt trail is a must if you like driving on forest roads and you like the view/sound of the roaring creeks. If you ever plan to go to Max Patch (360 views…
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Total Miles
6.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

G3

This gravel trail lives up to its name with minimal troubles, but like all trails, they have unexpected occurrences such as down trees or washouts. Trail G3 is not to be confused with Trail 3,…
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Total Miles
3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi