FbodyGathering Forums

pretty good little ride from Brevard to Pickens down Hwy 178 .. made that trip a few weeks ago .. no cops and was able to hit 100 a couple of times .. real fun ride

You are right, 28 from Stacoah to to 129 is called the Hellbender. Know the road well. Had forgotten about the name. OLD AGE is a bitch! As for the park, Parson's Branch road leaves Cades Cove at the Visitor's Center. It is a one-way, 10 mile dirt and gravel road that winds up over the crest of the mountain range, and enters 129 about midway of the Dragon. Parson's Branch is not suitable for motorcycles and will beatup a low slung car like an F-body. There are several shallow streams to cross, and a few wash-outs to traverse. Lots of loose gravel. A standard car will make it OK. My Crown Vic goes through it without problems, but I usually take my 4x4. It takes about an hour or so to get through it. Very rugged and beautiful country. We usually take that road, because, it's a shortcut to my house, there are great hiking trails along it, and because of the isolation and beauty of the area.

Maybe we could have an F-body meet at the Dragon some day. That would be cool. Fontana Village is a good place to stay.

Charles

Thats sounds like a plan .. Didn't know of the road you were refering to . That sounds like a good family ride in the Z71 , snap some pic's and take the dog's .. I've been around the loop at Cades Cove several times , hiked all the trails and stuff , lots of fun .

(02-22-2009 10:10 AM)Nauty99SS Wrote: [ -> ]Thats sounds like a plan .. Didn't know of the road you were refering to . That sounds like a good family ride in the Z71 , snap some pic's and take the dog's .. I've been around the loop at Cades Cove several times , hiked all the trails and stuff , lots of fun .

From 129,(Tail of the Dragon) Parson's branch road is not marked. There is a sign that says one way, do not enter, but that's it. The only way to enter the road is from Cade's Cove. Get a copy of a map of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and you can find the road on it. As for the hiking trails, there is the Copper Mine, which was the largest producing copper mine in the US. It was pretty much all mined out by the time the park was formed 75 years ago. Now it is park land and all grown up. The mine was 11 stories down, but now is flooded out, and looks like a small lake. There are also the remains of towns that were located on what is now the North Shore of Fontana Lake. The valley that became Fontana Lake resembled Cades Cove. There were 11 towns, and some of them are above the water line on the North Shore. Whats left are the graveyards, and some foundations of buildings. The towns were evacuated to build the dam, and the property is part of the GSM National Park. Proctor was the largest town above the water line. You can hike there via Parson's Branch road, but it is a lot faster to put in a boat at Fontana Marina, go accross the lake, and enter Hazel Creek. Follow Hazel Creek to the end, and Proctor is right around the curve. The graveyard is at the water's edge, and at times of high water, some of the graves are in the lake. The North Shore Trail begins at the Road to Nowhere in Bryson City. Go to Bryson City, and turn onto Everette Street, follow the road out past the high school. The road enters the park, runs about 9 miles, then ends. There is a 900 Foot tunnel at the end of the road. Hike through the tunnel, and you are on the North Shore Trail. It follows the north shore of Fontana Lake all the way to Proctor. It's about 60 miles on foot, so it takes several days to traverse. There are lots of things in the area to explore.

Cades Cove FTW... Too bad it's 24 miles from Gatlinburg and 35 MPH maximums... 1/2 daytrip at best.

(02-24-2009 11:35 AM)02 WS6 TA Wrote: [ -> ]Cades Cove FTW... Too bad it's 24 miles from Gatlinburg and 35 MPH maximums... 1/2 daytrip at best.

Yea but some monster deer that you can almost pet.(Turkey also)

^^ True ^^

Great place to spot Bear also...

those deer like them some oreo's .. came right up to the car and take them right out of your hand ..crazy

(02-27-2009 11:01 AM)00formula6spd Wrote: [ -> ]

(02-24-2009 11:35 AM)02 WS6 TA Wrote: [ -> ]Cades Cove FTW... Too bad it's 24 miles from Gatlinburg and 35 MPH maximums... 1/2 daytrip at best.

Yea but some monster deer that you can almost pet.(Turkey also)

This is true...We stopped in the road beside two, Mel tried to snap a bunch of pics (they were right at the truck mirror) but lenscap fail. LOL