So Peaceful back there! Wow. Thanks for letting us see the whole journey and not just an abridged version as other videos show; that helps everyone judge whether or not their vehicle could make this trip safely. But the key is how much rain there's been recently, because several days of downpours (or even just one very heavy recent downpour) could much more heavily flood out stream fords and add more mud than seen here.
Thanks for the ride along.Glad the road is open again. Its our favorite drive in the Park. Looks to be in good shape. I’ve even Caught some decent trout in parsons branch.
I traveled the road again this past Sunday to compare its condition as the season progresses. The water crossings are almost nonexistent now unless you get there during or shortly after a rain. The road itself still isn’t bad, but there are a couple spots that are getting some ruts in it. Still didn’t need 4WD, but someone without all terrain tires may need to use 4WD in one spot. Thank for watching!
I was there today...not as smooth. Not slick. But showing signs of ruts, potholes. Usual stuff..I didn't need 4wd either but as always..tread lightly..my pace was reduced but good.
Glad to hear it! I haven’t had the opportunity to get over there yet this season. I would like to get over there again before the water crossings dry up again.
My only concerns in the rain would be the potential for sliding in the mud, or the water crossings getting a bit too strong. I really enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!
New subscriber here! Thanks for posting this. My husband and I have been tempted to take this road several times but haven’t because we didn’t know for sure how bad it was and whether or not we could make it in a car. We drive a Kia Cadenza and I don’t think I’d be comfortable going through the water crossings in a car. It looked pretty swift at some points! I think we’ll wait until we get our next vehicle which will definitely be 4WD! We’ve traveled Rich Mountain Road several times with no problems but this looks much worse! Enjoying your videos…thanks again for posting!
It’s definitely not a road I would travel without at least an AWD suv with a bit of ground clearance. The water crossings could be as little as a puddle, or more like you saw in the video. It all depends on how much rain we’ve had. Thanks for checking out the video!
My friends and I want to take our gravel bikes up this road, but have heard stories...we are comfortable with Rich Mountain, but haven't been up here yet. I was going to do this very drive for recon, thanks for saving me the trip! Not so sure about all those water crossings, but the road seems OK.
Thanks for checking out the video. Last season the water crossings were almost nonexistent as the weather got hotter and drier. I haven’t had the opportunity to get back out there this season yet. Safe adventures!
I love these kind of videos. Thanks for the effort it took to do. This month I'm going to take my FJ Cruiser down that there road! Hope I don't meet oncoming traffic...
Thank you for the kind words. It is a one way road, so chances are slim of meeting oncoming traffic, unless you encounter someone that just blatantly disregards the signs. Your vehicle should do well, and I hope you have a great time!
I'd gone to the start of this road in 2014. Unfortunately, I got there around sunset....in my Prius V. I didn't know anything about the road conditions or the recent weather. Much as I wanted to take the shortcut to the Cherohala Skyway, I figured the dark wasn't an ideal time to try a new dirt road through a fairly sizable chunk of forest loaded with cautions. That, and the start of road looked nowhere as neatly manicured as in this video. Anyway, I chickened out and went the long way. Aside from the possibility of mud, appears no worse than any back-road in northern New England.
Thanks for watching and for the comment! I am originally from the Lake George region of New York State, and for the most part, I agree with you. The only thing that would keep me from driving a lower clearance vehicle on that road in its current condition is the depth of some of the water crossings, and the mud. Take care, and thanks again for watching!
Given the time of day etc, and a low-clearance Prius, you definitely made the right call for Parson Branch. Discretion is the better part of valor... live to fight again another day. Needing to walk out (where there's Zero cellphone coverage) and get a $,$$$ emergency tow in the middle of the night... shudder... not worth any risk. A Prius could handle Rich Mountain Rd or the gravel road NE of Cherokee in dry daytime conditions.
Fyi I just did this today (8/12/23) in my 2021 subaru crosstrek sport. Within the first mile or so there is a hefty incline that was very muddy with deep divets. Had to turn my xmode on and almost couldnt make it up. But my Subie was a trooper. The rest of the road was good. Just had heavy storms here the past few days and maybe thats why the conditon of that portion of the road was bad and torn up. Until this portion dries or gets the holes filled, don't attempt without 4WD or AWD and ample ground clearance. The AWD, xmode for off roading, and just under 9 inches of ground clearance are the ONLY reasons I didn't get stuck.
Thanks for the update. I know which hill you’re referring to, and I was wondering if it got worse there yet. I’m glad you made it through there ok, and hope you enjoyed the ride!
Some of the locals believe in the feral people. I met a few this week. Parson Branch is close to where they are supposingly are. A little Tennessee folklore. Love this video. Can't wait to see this.
I didn't run into any bears or feral people while doing this drive on Sunday. It would be perfect habitat for one to live off grid back in those isolated hollers.
The last time I took this road was in 1984, it was nowhere this well maintained, lots of ruts and holes. It was closed for years due to storm damage and has only been open intermittently since then, it is closed in the winter.
They did a lot of work on it to get it ready to reopen last year. It’s a seasonal road and will reopen next month, around the second weekend in April, I believe. Thanks for checking out the video!
@@SilverWolfAdventures We are visiting in May and plan to travel Parson's Branch and return to Pigeon Forge via the west end of the foothills parkway. Have you traveled the Rich Mountain road, it is a good ride that takes you over to Townsend.
Took my 2023 Tacoma offroad truck on this road this past weekend. It rolled along in high 4 wheel drive mode like a billy goat climbing up them steep inclines.
Thanks for posting this. I just found out today that it opened up and plan to take my family down it tomorrow. Was curious to see the water crossings. Didn't look too bad.
I didn’t have the opportunity to finish all of this video yet, but did you see any or more animal activity on this road compared to Cades cove? Thank you so much in advance
I personally didn’t see any wildlife on this road that particular day. I think you’re likely to notice more animals on Cades Coves on most days, but you never know what will show up to be seen. Thanks for watching!
If I can ever get back to Cades Cove I want to take this drive. I have permission from the park to have my ashes put in Cades Cove. Restrictions apply of course.
Turning left will take you towards Fontana Dam in North Carolina. You will want to turn right. You’ll go about 8 miles or so (not sure exactly, but that should be close) and you’ll turn right onto the Foothills Parkway. At the end of the Foothills Parkway you’ll come out on Wears Valley Road which takes you back into Pigeon Forge. Thanks for checking out the video!
At the time of this video the road was pretty smooth, and the only real obstacle to consider was the water crossings. I’ve traveled it 2 more times since then, and did a short update video the last time. As people keep traveling the road it is beginning to become a bit rutted in places, though still not bad. I still haven’t had to use 4 wheel drive. Some people, depending on their vehicle and tires, may need to use 4 wheel drive in just one or two places if they come through when it’s wet and muddy, but that’s about it. The water crossings are almost nonexistent now when the weather is dry. Thanks for watching!
You come out right at the 4 mile marker. So, if you want to head toward Maryville, you have to travel 7 miles on the dragon. If you head toward Fontana Dam, you travel 4 miles on the dragon. Thanks for watching!
Did you see where you needed 4 wheel drive with high clearance from all the video I have seen it look like a 2 wheel drive with good tires could make it as long that it was not raining also do they have pull off stops so you can camp .
The sign warns of needing 4WD and high clearance, but the current condition of the road is not bad. I went through after it rained, and found the mud to be a little slippery in spots, but not bad. I never used 4WD at all. I drive a Toyota 4Runner for reference, and don’t have aggressive tires, just good tread. There are a few pull offs to stop and enjoy the area for a little while, but pretty sure camping is not allowed there. Hope this helps and thanks for watching!
Thank you for writing back alot of you tubers dont response to well by the way I have a 08 Dodge Ram 1500 2 wheel drive but it has pretty good ground clearances
Camping is not permitted on this road or anywhere inside the loop area of the park, the campground is at the front of the park before you enter the loop. The park is a day use area, dawn to dusk and is closed at night, park rangers drive the primitive exit roads to make sure they are vacated, and no one is stranded or experiencing problems.
I was planning to make another trip up there soon to check out the current road conditions, but even if the conditions have not changed, I would not chance it with a civic. It won’t have enough ground clearance for some portions of the road. Thanks for checking out the video and commenting!
I’m planning to take this kind of road with my jeep and my son’s silverado this thsnksgiving. Where this road will end and how many miles drive? Any words? Thank you
This roads is about 8 miles long and end up on US 129 (also called the Tail of the Dragon). It is not open year round, however, and I believe it will be closed around the 14th of November this year. It will reopen in the Spring. Thanks for checking out the video, and best wishes to you and your family!
The scenes at the 31 and 33 second marks were recorded at See Rock City. It’s located just outside of Chattanooga, TN (actually just inside Georgia). Thanks for watching!
That could be true. My guess is that they had to fix the road to get the trucks in there that they used to clean out the dead trees, and that there will be little to no maintenance done to the road itself now that the trees are cleaned out, and it will get more challenging as time goes on.
Unfortunately, there are many places in the Smokies for off road adventures. If you are willing to travel west of Knoxville, you can look up Windrock Park (they have everything from mild to crazy off road trails), also look up Nemo tunnel. A lot of people seem to enjoy that ride. Thanks for watching!
Not that I’m aware of. As you enter the Great Smoky Mountain National Park from the Townsend, TN entrance you will come upon a T intersection. Turn right there, towards Cades Cove, and continue straight until you are actually on Cades Cove Loop. Once you’re on the Loop, you’ll travel about halfway around the 11 mile loop and you’ll see the only restroom stop on your right. At that point stay straight onto the dirt road. Parson Branch will turn right off of that dirt road just before that dirt road ends.
Am I crazy for thinking I can take my BMW 5 series out here and do this? I wanna have it there for the Tail of the Dragon. This just looks like a dirt road basically. A few water crossings but it looks easy.
I’m pretty sure the 5 series would make it. I’ve seen a few Subaru Outbacks on the road and seemed to do ok. Keep in mind the road is now closed for the season and will reopen in spring.
Oddly enough, I had never looked into the history of the road. So when I saw your question I decided to do that. Here’s a quote from the National Park Service’s web site: “Parson Branch Road is a historic, gravel road that follows a route traveled by people for more than 180 years. Blount County commissioned Cades Cove resident Russell Gregory to oversee construction of the road, which was completed in 1838, to provide access from Cades Cove to what is now Highway 129. The road provided a significant commerce route for Cades Cove residents, including direct access to the Little Tennessee River for trading goods.” Thanks for watching, and for peaking my interest in looking up the road’s history.
This is way too steep for any kind of railroad. Most roads like this were used for logging, farming, or gas line right of ways. unless you know, for sure, that the road is in good condition, you definitely wouldn’t want to take a 2 WD, low clearance car through there. We have a bunch of these roads in West Virginia. They clean them up about every 5 years or so. Toward the end of that five years, they are almost impassable. Very popular with the Dualsport Motorcycle, side-by-side and four-wheel-drive crowd.
I think this is the road I seen that is in cades cove ..it's out a dirt road just after we stopped where the bathrooms are to the right .... Am I correct ??? It was closed when I was there and we read where it had opened up the week afterwards .. it's too bad too because we were in my Toyota 4 runner I have lifted with big tires winch and all that ..Its specifically built for off roading and living in east Tn you know I am in the woods and rough trails every chance I get .. by watching your video it's beautiful and will be well worth the $150.00 in gas to go back just to take that road .. but it's conditions are way too nice for what I was hoping for ... I'd probably make sure I had my chain saw ready to go because I know riding down any trail in the woods there could be a tree fall across the road at any time .. then whatcha gonna do ??? I'm the redneck who would cut the tree out of the way so everybody could get by .. thanks for making the video .. I'm gonna show my gf so she can see .. God Bless n take care !!!!
You are correct on where this road is located. Although I’ve done 2 videos on this road now, I have actually traveled it 3 times so far this season. Each time I travel it the road seems to be getting more ruts and bumps in it. That’s what made me decide to put out the 2nd shorter video to update everyone on the road condition. Probably still a bit mild for you from the sounds of your vehicle, but still a nice ride. If you catch it during or right after rain you will probably like this road better with the mud and increased depth of the water crossings. You are smart to carry a chainsaw on these roads. I have actually come across a tree that had fallen across the road on Rich Mountain Road one time and had a few people blocked. I didn’t have a chainsaw, but I had a tow strap that I used to pull it out of everyone’s way. Thanks for watching, and best of luck in your travels!
