Mississippi to Asheville NC. The LONG way.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

This section runs parallel to the skyway to the north and where the skyway runs the ridge, the gravel roate dives deep into the canyon. It is superb.

image-X3.jpg


image-X3.jpg


Swan Cabin...another way way off the grid cabin you can rent. Super cool, it was about a 40 minute round trip off FS81 to see it.

image-1597x1252.jpg


image-1597x1252.jpg
 
Switchbacks and Trees......

image-X3.jpg


Stewart Cabin was located on a long stretch of river front that has 4-5 campsites on the river. Great stuff.

image-X3.jpg


Bridge shot....

image-1597x1252.jpg


The road dumps out on the Cherohala Parkway just west of Robbinsville NC. The Hub is a SUPERB eat spot. I recommend the Dragon Burger (See Where to Eat thread)

image-1597x1252.jpg
 
Thanks for sharing your adventures!
 
From here I have to make a decision. I want to get on the Blue Ridge Parkway early so I can stop a lot and really enjoy it before I get Red at the Airport at 1:30 on Thursday. It's 3:30....I can cut over to Cherokee and get in early or I can use the 5 hours of daylight to see some cool stuff....

I chose the latter and headed for the Tail of the Dragon.

The Fontana Lake Dam looms eerie after a storm

image-X3.jpg


The river formed a spooky fog. As I shot pictures on the bridge, groups of cars would pass coming south out of the Tail....lots of modified Miatas, a bunch of supercars and motocycles. Lots of bikes.

image-1597x1252.jpg


image-1597x1252.jpg


The south end of the The Tail of the Dragon US129 ..... 318 curves in 11 miles.

image-X3.jpg


I went to the site and there I was. Peeling out in the 4Runner. Amazingly, this vehicle really, really did well on the wet roads. I am 100% sold on the traction control The front inside tire would drag in wet corners and the rear would not break free as hard as I tried. The only time I heard it was when the fronts would hit the painted center line and it would slip a bit. Super fun. I am glad I got to do it on a non-crowded day. I got behind a group of motorcycles at the end and they were crawling. I felt sorry for them.

FullSizeRender%202.jpg


The end gives some beautiful views

image-X3.jpg


From the end of this road, I took the Smokey Mountain Parkway east to Gatlinburg for the night. People watching there is epic sport. The last few miles into the park were crowded but it was the first crowds I had encountered on the trip so I was OK with it.

IMG_0377-X3.png
 
Fatlinburg was uneventful. My hotel was on the park end of the strip. I parked, showered and slipped down the strip and people watched a while.

I was up early and hit the road to the Blue Ridge Parkway at dawn. I left the hotel about 6 am and made my way across the park on Highway 441 barely passing another vehicle. This is rare as this is a very crowded park, but the early bird gets the work for sure.

Sunrise was amazing. Smokey and it came and went before I could find a good photo spot but either way......

image-X3.jpg


image-X3.jpg


Mingus Mill opens at 9:30 but I was able to see everything I wanted without the people. This mill channels the water into a pipe, not a wheel. Very very very cool.

image-1597x1252.jpg


image-1597x1252.jpg


image-1597x1252.jpg
 
I've been to the Smokies many times but I have never gone past Clingman's Dome and out the south end to the Parkway and Cherokee NC.

The Newfound Gap entrance to the park is magnificent. They have rebuilt a village of buildings from the 1800's and the field abreast the farm is packed with turkey and elk.

image.jpg


image-X3.jpg


image-1597x1252.jpg


image-X3.jpg
 
I wandered around the farm from 8 am to 9 am then hit the parkway. It was only 80 miles to Asheville but they recommend 3 hours to travel it.

image-X3.jpg


Me and some bikes and about 5 cars were all I saw for the first 20 miles.

image-1597x1252.jpg


image-X3.jpg


This road was started 80 years ago. There is NO WAY the environmentalists would allow such a magnificent road in the wilderness in 2016 but I thank God they were not able to block this then. I is a work of art and one of the greatests drives in America. Hands down.

image-X3.jpg


image-1597x1252.jpg
 
I ended up making it to Asheville with time to spare. I stopped a lot and took a lot of pictures and took one mile long hike. It is only 1/2 mile each way but it is straight up. Its hard but the view from the top is epic.

image-X3.jpg


image-1597x1252.jpg


image-X3.jpg


image-X3.jpg


IMG_0378-X3.jpg


That's the trip. I spent about 14 hours going 290 miles from Ocoee to Asheville.

Normally that is a 160 miles and 3 hours.

I like my way better. If you are considering Overland East in October, take the time to do this route. It was unreal in July but I bet it is 2x better with fall leaves.
 
Haha.....that would be a first.

A bit about the vehicle I took on this adventure.

Its a 2016 4Runner TRD Pro. Bone stock.

In the past, we have always used Julie's company car's on these adventures. The trip up was in the Volvo but we got a message the week before I was to head back to get the kids that she hit the magic mileage number and her new car was on order.

I tossed the massive Thule box I got from Bomar on the factory crossbars and peeled out. Well, not exactly peeled out, but I took off for Asheville via Greenwood, Indianola, Greenville, Tupelo and Chattanooga.......only to start the adventure after all these stops.

Total mileage was 1890 miles. Average MPG with just me unloaded and on the way back FULLY packed was 18.1 mpg. Impressive. When on 4 lanes I rolled 8 over the speed limit and it took all the hills North Carolina threw at it and never lost speed. Those that say this truck is underpowered are adding bigger tires or trying to tow I guess because as it was, this trip got the full torture test and I am 100% sold and thrilled.

image-X3.jpg
 
Next time you are in the Reliance area, and in the mood for a short vertical hike, check out Starr Mtn right on the Hiawasee. I did some excellent top-roping up there and the view is fantastic. Park along Spring Creek Rd, cross railroad tracks where you see a small pull-off on the north side of the road and pickup trailhead. Trail leads to a waterfall, bear right, then to the top of the rock outcropping. 35.225024, -84.530504
Google Maps
Starr Mtn.webp
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: dnp
great part of the country...blue ridge parkway.
 
pmccraney said:
Imma start calling you thoreau if you keep dropping mad poetry dimes like abreast.
Click to expand...


that is some seriously funny s*** @pmccraney
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom