Riding North Carolina, TN and VA

Turns out Wash Creek is still closed. Also top of Bent Creek is still closed to the parkway.

I wonder what the beef with Trail 3 is. I thought all of the work improved the parts that needed help and maintained the marquis moves. The sustainability of the trail is 1000% better. The big, rock upstep on 1A isn't getting any easier, or I'm getting soft.

Old Cataloochee Turnpike/Mount Sterling Road now fully open for business! I rode it end to end yesterday just because it’s been so long. I’ve always skipped the little section of TN 32 at the TN end, but never again. It’s so good I’ll be seeking it out. I got to Ground Squirrel Rd. And turned around (twice), ran it 3 times total. Stupid me for avoiding it all this time because it’s paved.



The fun starts right here



Well, it really started here

















Decided to loop through Gatlinburg and through the Park back to the BRP and home. I figured it was Monday, what a mistake. Gatlinburg was a shit show, people and traffic everywhere. They did a good job designing the layout there to funnel everyone into Main Street. I zig and zagged my back route only to end up in a mile long (at least) parade through the park. Then the skies opened up from Chimney Tops all the way over to the visitor center in Cherokee. To me it was 1000 times better than not riding, so I was smiling away jamming out to tunes in my helmet. Hey Cardo music on!

Anybody knows if Cold Springs Creek Road is open? Would like to do catalochee and Marths Sunquist together and this road is the link between them.

32 to Cosby is da bomb, nice pics

What you need is open. Cataloochee to FS288 to Cold Springs and into Martha at Brown Gap I think it’s called (where the shitter is). I have some chores to do but if it’s not raining when I’m done I’ll run over and let you know if the whole road is open yet (not that you need it to be),

Thanks, and you’re not kidding it is fabulous!

Luv that stretch of 32!!!

I didn't get a chance to ride 3 but the two guys I was with weren't enthused about the work. I'll check it out next time. As for 1A and that rocky climb... I usually stay way up on the right and drop into the middle when that edge runs out then criss cross my way up to the top. I'm surprised that obstacle doesn't stop most of those wide SXS and the drunkards on quads.

^^^ this place was sounding awesome until your last sentence.

So all of this is open then?

Yes. There is a lot more relatively easy stuff also available that’s not highlighted but open. The only things closed around my neck of the woods now (that is “normally” open I’ll add for clarity) is Heintooga Ridge and (maybe) that small section of Cold Springs Creek that washed out. Run that loop I’ve posted if you have time. Here it is again, I’ll be enlarging it soon and hopefully get a long day or weekend in mapping most of the legal stuff. Let me know what you think if you run it.

Well guess what, I have the week off next week, and I think I'm going to have to get out there and try that out! Thanks for the tip JRowland!

I had another great weekend at Mountain View Motorcycle Campground this past weekend in Elk Park. Good times with good peeps on some good roads!




































Hope all of you had a great Fathers Day!

It's really not that bad. I just love giving those guys shit! Fortunately, it's a big area and even on busy days the trails rarely get congested.

Hey @CheapB... where is that waterfall?

Great pics!

Let me know if you need a wing man

4.4 miles off 19E in Elk Park near the TN Border.

yep, considering ^ he's the one that showed me, I reckon he knows what he's talking about.

Elk River Falls!