Headed towards the Smokey’s !! Looking for advice.
Posted by HaYterAyD@reddit | overlanding | View on Reddit | 17 comments
Howdy,
I’m planning my next overlanding trip, and just a little over a month away. And could use some insight and advice as this will be my first time headed east. Looking at about a 10am trip.
We will be leaving from Texas and looking to get near the Smokey Mtns. But I’ve noticed pretty quick on OnX that there isn’t really overlanding within the actual Smokey mountain national park.
But I am looking to at least be in the area, and to stay off pavement as much as possible.
Initially looking at the Georgia Traverse, which is well documented. (On OnX and other sites)
My question to you is, if you have experience in the area, what do you recommend!?! To see to stay away from.
Is there any specific gear you recommend for the area?
What are the must sees?
Any advice is good advice!
Here are a couple pictures from my last trip from NM>AZ>UT for attn.
Adorable_Swing_2150@reddit
Ran part of the Georgia Traverse last spring and the thing that bit me wasn't mileage, it was wet clay after one decent rain. If you're planning around a 10am trip, leave more slack than you think because a quick forest road day can turn into a slow crawl fast.
HaYterAyD@reddit (OP)
I don’t expect that to be too much of an issue 😏
Drummer123456789@reddit
I dont think a supercharger is going to fix your tires getting caked with clay bud.
2Loves2loves@reddit
Listen to that man.... you are coming from the dry west, to the swamp. Georgia Red Clay... they write songs about it! LOL!
desertSkateRatt@reddit
usnmustanger@reddit
Nice rig! How long have you been overlanding? How long have you been using the Raptor for overlanding? I’m just getting started, and I’m currently in the process of setting up my ‘19 Raptor for OL. I’d love to hear any tips or pointers you’ve got!
HaYterAyD@reddit (OP)
This will be my 3rd year of big trips, and I did some small trips the year before that as I was getting set up. We typically do one big trip a yr and at least one small trip a quarter. This year I’ve already been out in it 4 times and it’s only April! Big trip coming up in June when my kids get out of school.
Honestly, other than the size being a limiting factor on narrow trails, I couldn’t imagine anything else being any better. Handles the trials and obstacles with ease, and is super cozy on the long highway drives out of Texas to get to the trails. Also when I get on a wide open trail and put the hammer down, it still does Raptor things!! I have a video of me doing a jump with the full setup on it. (Get bed stiffeners before trying that one)
I’m on my third Raptor now, and loving every bit of it.
^(heres) the current Raptor
usnmustanger@reddit
Nice! Just curious what gear you’ve got on that thing. I’m looking forward to getting out there in my truck!
HaYterAyD@reddit (OP)
Lietner rack is the way to go!
No_Examination_111@reddit
Just did the Georgia Traverse last week. Used Gaia and OnxOffroad. Both were wrong on which trails were open. It seems the powers that be have added brand new gates in the last couple of months halfway through a bunch of the trails causing us to back track almost every trail we went on with no signage anywhere warning you of the closures. It was a huge pain. Area is beautiful but until someone updates the website with accurate info, I'd skip it.
HaYterAyD@reddit (OP)
Oh man, that’s tough! I did see that a lot of trails are closed until may. Hoping it’s all open by the time we get there.
Head-Tangerine-9131@reddit
Klingmans Dome
leftlens@reddit
You should check out the Smoky Mountain 500! Mainly geared towards motorcycle riders, but all public roads and accessible to vehicles. Skirts the Smokies, and you get to spend a few days properly seeing the Blue Ridge Mountains. We opted for a somewhat leisurely 4 day ride a couple years back, and still had to cut a couple sections out. The Georgia Traverse and the Chattahoochee BDR-X will share some of the same roads.
Hearing_HIV@reddit
You are correct that there isn't much off-roading within the actual Smokey Mountains National Park. It's a nice scenic drive, but they don't really have any trails. We usually just drive through for the scenery.
Stay away from Dragons Tail, especially if you are lifted and have gear on your roof. Or, do it if you enjoy a high-stress hour of hairpin turns, rapid elevation changes, and controlling descents without burning up your brakes. All while holding up all the racecars and bikes trying to speed through it
We once did the Appalachian Byway trail from SMNP to Shenandoah, VA and it was pretty nice, but it looks like the host site no longer exists.
Pending-Choice@reddit
Cherokee there are some nice trails Pisgah nat. Forest look at Mortimer
ashxc18@reddit
You’ve got the SCAR, Georgia Traverse, and there’s lots of great stuff up in Kentucky (Red River Gorge, Daniel Boone Backcountry Byway, the KAT, etc). Kentucky is a bit further from the Smokies but has some great trails. In NC, Old NC 105 is a pretty popular forest service road with amazing views of the Linville Gorge, but it is crowded and can be like a highway on the weekends with the good campsites going quickly. This isn’t really overlanding, but Windrock in Tennessee is a massive offroad park with some amazing trails as well.
image-sourcery@reddit
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