Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Waynesville, North Carolina

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

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

Trail 1A is a wide OHV route ascends steadily up the mountain, climbing 300 feet over just over half a mile. The trail is fast and flowy, with gradual curves and waterbars placed throughout to manage runoff. Despite the leaf litter that can obscure the trail surface, it rides smoothly overall. Expec...
Learn more about Upper Wayehutta Creek Trail 1A

This segment of Trail 8 runs for 0.7 miles between Trail 7 and Trail 2, climbing nearly 400 feet in elevation. The route is mostly an uphill grind with several narrow shelfy traverses hugging the hillside, offering mild exposure in spots. While some sections widen out, the trail overall follows the ...
Learn more about Sawmill Bottoms Trail 8

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

Trail 9 is a 1.3-mile, wide path that traces the side of the mountain, offering a mellow and scenic ride. Mostly descending from north to south, it's generally easygoing with leaf cover hiding loose rocks, sticks, and roots here and there. A short section next to a trickling mossy waterfall is fun t...
Learn more about Sunset Connector Trail 9 (One-Way)

Wayehutta is a public OHV trail system in the Nantahala National Forest. Most of the trails in this system are accessible with anything from a dirt bike to a SxS. No 4x4s are allowed on Wayehutta trails. The Trail 1 loop is a fantastic sampler of Wayehutta. It winds and weaves its way up ridges and ...
Learn more about Trail 1 - Wayehutta Loop

Trail 10 is a scenic and well-maintained 0.7-mile loop indicated for one-way travel in a counterclockwise direction. It features a wide, shelfy route climbing the mountainside, with flat and ramped sections and giant embedded rock layers that are easy to ride over and make it unique without adding d...
Learn more about Blanton Branch Trail 10

Piney Mountain Flats (FS 4666), part of the Rough Butt trail complex, is a 0.6-mile point-to-point route that follows a single-lane forest road with few places to pass. The packed dirt and rock surface is not maintained and travels through heavily forested terrain with an easy difficulty rating. Com...
Learn more about Piney Mountain Flats - FS 4666 (Rough Butt)

Hunt Cabin (FS 4666A) is a 0.8-mile out-and-back route that follows a single-lane forest road with few places to pass. The packed dirt and gravel surface is not maintained as it travels through heavily forested terrain with an easy difficulty rating. A quiet forest setting, some erosion, and several...
Learn more about Hunt Cabin - FS 4666A

Old Bald Ridge Trail is a mildly used out-and-back two-track through the Nantahala National Forest. The trail is accessed from Moses Creek Road, which is asphalt up to the entry into the National Forest, where its designation changes to FS4651. 3.2 miles up Moses Creek Road, the Old Bald Ridge trail...
Learn more about Old Bald Ridge - FS 4652

Trail 11 features a shelfy traverse up the mountainside with a mix of small rocks, embedded rock layers, sticks, small roots, and occasional moisture. Multiple flat embedded rock slabs make it more interesting without adding difficulty. The upper loop of the trail is indicated for one-way travel in ...
Learn more about Buck Knob Trail 11

Trail 2 features a shelfy route that contours the mountainside, with mild exposure and sweeping views at higher elevations. Starting at the northern end, it descends gently for a quarter mile before climbing steeply over the next 3/4 mile to reach a peak elevation of approximately 4,200 feet. The ...
Learn more about Locust Gap Trail 2

Trail 7A is an easy access connector back to the main staging area from Trail 7. Starting at its intersection with Trail 7, it crosses a wide bridge over a small creek and continues along a wide, shelfy path at the base of the hillside. The trail surface includes small loose rocks, sticks, and minor...
Learn more about Rail Line Way 7A (One-Way)

Trail 6 is more moderate compared to the challenging 6A. It still features some steeper climbing with embedded roots and small rocks scattered along the way, and it hugs the mountainside on a shelfy path. Leaf litter can obscure the trail surface, so watch for rocks and roots. Going counter-clockwis...
Learn more about Sunset Ridge Trail 6

Rated as moderate by the Forest Service, Trail 7 is a wide route that begins on Wayehutta Road just south of the staging area, crossing a small bridge before climbing steadily up the mountain. Riders encounter a sweeping corner followed by a sharp, easy-to-miss hairpin switchback that quickly gains ...
Learn more about Hemlock Ridge Trail 7

Trail 3 is a frequently used, rocky trail that winds through a beautifully forested section of the Nantahala. The surface includes small loose rocks and moderate curves, and the trail is noticeably worn and troughed below the forest floor. The route hugs the hillside along a narrow shelf trail lined...
Learn more about Black Mountain Trail 3

Lower Moses Creek - FS 4651 is a 3.2-mile point-to-point route that follows a single-lane road with places to pass over a lightly maintained, packed dirt and gravel surface. Passing through heavily forested terrain, the route is rated easy and features a smooth driving surface with no significant ob...
Learn more about Lower Moses Creek - FS 4651

Sugar Creek Gap - FS 4665 is a 7.2-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. Its...
Learn more about Sugar Creek Gap - FS 4665

Headwater Road (FS 475B) is an easygoing forest service road suited for stock SUVs, crossovers, and high-clearance passenger vehicles looking for scenic access in the Pisgah Ranger District. Starting off US-276 near the Davidson River and the base of Looking Glass Rock, this well-traveled gravel rou...
Learn more about Headwater

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

Trail 1A is a wide OHV route ascends steadily up the mountain, climbing 300 feet over just over half a mile. The trail is fast and flowy, with gradual curves and waterbars placed throughout to manage runoff. Despite the leaf litter that can obscure the trail surface, it rides smoothly overall. Expec...
Learn more about Upper Wayehutta Creek Trail 1A

This segment of Trail 8 runs for 0.7 miles between Trail 7 and Trail 2, climbing nearly 400 feet in elevation. The route is mostly an uphill grind with several narrow shelfy traverses hugging the hillside, offering mild exposure in spots. While some sections widen out, the trail overall follows the ...
Learn more about Sawmill Bottoms Trail 8

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

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

Trail 1A is a wide OHV route ascends steadily up the mountain, climbing 300 feet over just over half a mile. The trail is fast and flowy, with gradual curves and waterbars placed throughout to manage runoff. Despite the leaf litter that can obscure the trail surface, it rides smoothly overall. Expec...
Learn more about Upper Wayehutta Creek Trail 1A

This segment of Trail 8 runs for 0.7 miles between Trail 7 and Trail 2, climbing nearly 400 feet in elevation. The route is mostly an uphill grind with several narrow shelfy traverses hugging the hillside, offering mild exposure in spots. While some sections widen out, the trail overall follows the ...
Learn more about Sawmill Bottoms Trail 8

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