Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a Greenbrier Road is a cool drive on a hot Laurel Creek Road, the only road into AUTO TOURING pleasant drive through five miles of summer's day leading to trailheads Cades Cove today, originally provided IN THE SMOKIES I vigorous young forest, past aging which provide access to virgin stands of access to the Tremont area, not Cades cc j pioneer structures. A self-guiding timber. This is an excellent area for Cove. Tremont has a varied history, AUTO Great Smoky Mountains National Park cr finding mushrooms and other fungi in I booklet is available at the road entrance changing through the years from logging encompasses over one-half million late summer. i for an introduction to this area. Much of camp to CCC camp to Job Corps Center acres, the largest wilderness area in the to Environmental Education Center. : the drive follows the rapid descent of Big Creek — Cataloochee Road is for Eastern United States. An auto tour of the creek. Water cascades down the TOURING adventurous people who like out-of-the- Lakeview Drive overlooks Fontana Lake. the Park offers a variety of experiences, r mountainside over moss-covered rocks. way places. Chartered in 1833, the The road passes through stands of pine- with panoramic views, tumbling White, frothy, and noisy, Roaring Fork is t- Cataloochee Turnpike, as it was then oak forest in various stages of mountain streams, weathered pioneer aptly named. buildings and uninterrupted forest called, followed the trail of circuit rider succession following forest fires. This is stretching ridge after ridge to the Francis Asbury, Bishop of the Methodist a good area for viewing fall colors. horizon. There are over 270 miles of Church. Few road improvements have roads within this vast area, and as was been made since that time. Little River Road crosses Sugariands Mountain at Fighting Creek Gap and true in pioneer times, most roads extend Rich Mountain Road follows the early a short way up into the mountains and then descends into Little River Gorge, wagon road to Maryville and reaches US paralleling the course of the river to connect with foot trails. Drive slowly and 321 near Townsend. The drive provides stop often to discover some of the less Townsend. In 1907, Little River Lumber several excellent views of Cades Cove Company began constructing the Little obvious secrets of these mountains. and winds through pine-oak forests. Each road, valley and mountain peak River Railroad from Townsend to has a character and charm all its own Parson Branch Road turns off the Forge Elkmont to bring logs to the sawmill. that is yours to explore and enjoy. Creek Road just beyond the Cable Mill The present road was built on this old parking area. This remote road railroad grade. East of Fighting Creek meanders through second growth forest, Gap, at Maloney Point, there is an fording several creeks. excellent view of Mt. LeConte and the Sugariands Valley. In pioneer times this Heintooga-Round Bottom Road is an area was covered by sugar maples, unpaved extension of the Balsam hence the name Sugariands. •o Mountain Road. The road descends o
O cr Newfound Gap Road begins at 3 roa. approximately 2000 feet elevation and cr O rises gradually to 5048 at Newfound Gap a. X) U c "1: Overlook, which straddles the C o Tennessee-North Carolina state line. As C 3 3 a) you drive along Newfound Gap Road, Z Z distinct changes in vegetation and Before you begin, there are a few things temperature can be noticed. The forests ROADS OUT OF PARK to remember that will make auto touring range from southern cove hardwood and more enjoyable, and at the same time pine-oak at lower elevations to northern Two paved roads of outstanding scenic help protect the Park's resources. hardwood, heath bald and spruce-fir at value are located in the vicinity of Great the higher elevations. You can compress Smoky Mountains National Park. Both • The Park belongs to all visitors and may be closed by adverse winter must be treated with care. a trip from Georgia to Canada into a short drive up the mountain. This is the l weather conditions. • Picnic areas and restroom facilities 0 only road across the Park. Originally, the O are located throughout the Park. V The Foothills Parkway is part of a transmountain road (the Oconalufty rj • About twice the usual traveling time -: circumferential road system designed to Turnpike) was a toll road and went U should be allowed because of steep, offer dramatic views of the Smokies. through Indian Gap, following an ancient winding and often crowded roads. Cades Cove Loop Road skirts the edge Two segments are now open. A short Indian trail. When an easier and lower of the valley, offering scenic views of segment is located near Cosby and a • Driving may be done at a more O gap was discovered in the 1860's, the cr leisurely pace in evening or early pasture land and former pioneer v longer stretch parallels the northwestern local people dubbed it New Found Gap E morning hours when there are fewer settlements. A self-guiding auto tour c , boundary of the Park near Look Rock. and the Park road was constructed c vehicles on the road. booklet, available at the entrance to the The Cosby segment is a good place to along its present route. Except in loop road, will help you to understand c watch sunrises over the Smokies and • Watch the road while driving and summer, traces of old roads and trails stop at pullouts to sightsee. Expect the Cove and its history. Supposedly, the western section is noted for its can still be seen extending into the this broad fertile valley was named after c dramatic views of autumn forests. the unexpected from other drivers. mountains. 6 the wife of the Cherokee Chief, Abram. It E Great Smoky Mountains National Park is • Use litter collection stations to 0 was called Kate's Cove, which was later The Blue Ridge Parkway begins one-half administered by the National Park Service, discard trash. Clingmans Dome Road follows the crest mile south of the Oconaluftee Visitor corrupted into Cades Cove. A visitor
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