Trail Overview
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 through the mountains. If you're an experienced rider, you can easily hit this loop at GNCC speeds. For a novice or intermediate rider, this is a perfect loop to learn on as it has wide sweeping berms, achievable rock gardens, water bars galore, and enough space to recover from a mistake. The dirt is typical for Southern Appalachia where it's dry if there's been little rain, tacky if a short shower comes through, and muddy after a lot of precipitation. Expect low trail visibility in the fall as the leaves are falling. It's easy to unexpectedly hit a root or rock hidden in plain sight. As you learn this loop, look for the spurs that jump off Trail 1. There are lots of small loops to hit that'll give you some more challenging options. If hitting this clockwise (north out of the parking lot), be aware that there is a boulder a quarter mile or so into the trail that will block larger SxSs. Go around this issue by taking Trail 8 to Trail 2 before connecting with Trail 1.
Difficulty
This is a wide trail suitable for dirt bikes, ATVs, and SxSs. Expect areas that have tight turns, water bars, moderate hill climbs, and minor rock gardens. In the mud, this trail can be slippery so keep an eye on the weather.
