Trail Overview

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 for fallen trees after storms. There is one campground along the way that is right along the creek. Nice place to stop for lunch or camp out. These spots are first come, first serve. Also, along the trail, you will find the old town of McFarland. It has a few structures still standing and is a cool place to stop and explore. One of the structures is the old concrete mixing plant that was used to build the powerhouse that is still in operation down the road. The other structure is an old water supply dam that was used by the concrete plant.

Photos of McFarland Rd

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Difficulty

Gravel road wide enough for two vehicles.

History

McFarland was an old town that was right along the Hiwassee River it had a big part in building the Appalachia powerhouse. The powerhouse still supplies water to the hiwassee that allows for whitewater rafting in the area.

Technical Rating

Wesley Lombardo

Nov 28, 2025

Open

Good condition, easy passage, great weather, and didn’t get shot by hunters or trampled by Black Friday shoppers. Some washouts and rutting, but I could have easily made it in my Honda Element (just would have had to pick my lines a little more consciously).

Logan Neikirk

Nov 15, 2025

Open

We entered at ocoee #3, turned right. Lots of rocks sticking out and a couple of wash outs where a Subaru may have trouble but a truck or lifted vehicle will have no issues. Please be mindful as traffic goes both ways, so if you’re coming up please get over for people so they don’t have to creep close to drop offs. Talked to a guy who said he came up from dalton on the trail and said the path from dalton is a 1 difficulty or lower. My Subaru did it, take that as you will.

Bill C

Aug 24, 2025

Open

Really easy trail could have been done in a stock 2 wheel drive truck the day we were there

Dakota Logan

Apr 26, 2025

Open

Dakota Logan

Apr 26, 2025

Open

Wesley Boyd

Apr 12, 2025

Open

Tyler Leamon

Mar 16, 2025

Open

James K

Feb 23, 2025

Open

Just at the campground. The road is blocked. Looks to possibly be repair

Dylan Mullins

Nov 11, 2024

Open

Trail is in moderately good shape, it is closed from the reliance side just 50 yards past Lost Creek Campground for what looks like drainage infrastructure installation.

Patrick Suberville

Nov 07, 2024

Open

nick mounce

Oct 12, 2024

Open

there is alot of fallen down trees but it's still a 1 becareful of hunting seasons. hunters run theses roads faster and better then you so just move out of their way

brandt sellari

Sep 14, 2024

Open

Trail is closed just before the campground but the old concrete plant and everything East of the campground was open

David Collier

Jul 13, 2024

Open

Still closed past Lost Creek campground.

Matthew Coxe

Jul 09, 2024

Open

Elijah Huff

Jun 01, 2024

Open

Gate closed just after lost creek campground. We saw large piles of gravel on the other side of the gate so i’d assume the trail is closed for repaving.