[cbodie]

Heading west, Hurricane Creek is a road right off the interstate, I-40. When you see mile marker 8, start looking to your right, it's b/t mile 8 and 7.
Hurricane Creek is really nice for our stock 4Runner, and I'm about to try it out in my 3rd gen OB next weekend! It's really rocky, and you'll have to gauge for yourself. There's no speed on this trail. If you want speed/rally try Max Patch Road. Hurricane Creek: If things get a little too much for you TURN AROUND, it doesn't get better. Take a saw for small fallen brush and be prepared to turn around if a tree's down on the path.
Here's what am I doing: I'm going down Wesley Creek Road off Max Patch Road to get into that area. Wesley will t_bone another road. Right turn takes you back to Max Patch Road. (via what the locals call "Bear Waller." ) Left turn takes you to a locked forest road. Before the forest road, take another left and you'll be on Hurricane Creek. It's easy to figure out, and easy going in this area. Hurricane creek follows a creek the whole way and you go downstream to I-40. If you come from the interstate, you're going upriver and that could be harder. I've never tried it upstream, but I've seen some truck struggle that way.

I've got a great story about Me and buddy that went down Wesley Creek late one night in snow in a "05 OBXT. I will tell you the trip entailed a lot of hiking/hitching and great stories as we met all the locals and became know as the "dumasses that went through Bear Waller" in the snow.

Deals Gap will be awesome. Wayah Road has rocks all along it, and is harder to drive than Deals Gap, IMO.

Cades Cove roads are kinda wierd. They're one way, and if there's a tree down, you get a ticket for turning around.

Hurricane Creek has some really awesome campsites on the creek, too. Usually you won't run into you hiking types, though. It'll be more locals that maybe have business up in the woods.

 

[cbodie]

Let me know how hurricane creek goes in your outback. I drove by it yesterday on my way to buzzard's roost (the 40 side).

I carry equipment to deal with trees. been there, done that

Are you on offroadsuabrus? Your name looks familiar, and the person I am thinking of has a 4runner and has videos of various trips.

James

No, Subaru is new to me. I was/am on 4runner forum, before selling the 4Runner. Had some videos on youtube. Here's one that is really the extreme end of my off-roading. Capability-wise, this is a stock 4Runner with no diff lock.

I'll let you know. There's been a hiking/camping trip planned for this weekend also, I might be bumping the Hurricane Subaru Test out another few days. I also hear they got some snow also. Snow makes ice and Wesley Creek's elevation changes and ice is the reason we couldn't get out last time. (Land Rover to the rescue.)

So, like I said, I'll go down Wesley Creek and tap onto Hurricane that way, weather permitting. I think I'll take car floor jack, good rope, maybe some wood, and a shovel should the need arise. Another person, also . I'm sure the biggest threat will be clearance, not traction. I think it's fun, though this place is probably the "bunnies slopes" for some of you.

 

[cbodie]

If you are in the Smokies, the Blue Ridge Parkway is a gorgeous drive!!

Last fall, my wife and I visited a friend in Ashville and spent a day tooling around the parkway. That was a fun day. You tend to want to stop every few miles to get out and take pictures.

By April, Great Smokey Mountains National Park should be open.

Startiger: Not sure how far you are from Cole Mountain, but my wife and I went "back" last year. The drive up is a little fun, but nothing a FWD minivan can't handle. I remember it from my 2001 AT thru-hike, and had it on a "bucket list." By far, it's some of the prettiest hiking around on the AT. Take a camera.

Great mountain views on both sides of trailhead. Excellent, Excellent, camping right at road. There's even a swing in a tree by a campsite on the north side.

 

[cbodie]

I'm not familiar with Cole Mountain. Where is it?

Off I-81. Just East of Lexington and Buena Vista, VA. North of Lynchburg. Hotels all around if you show up late or just don't want to sleep in the woods.

cole mountain virginia - Google Maps

Here's some good information:

Cole/Cold Mountain Virginia Trail Guide

 

[cbodie]

This sounds like another thread altogether, but is there any weekday next week that will work? Feb 4-8th? Day trip. For anyone wondering where this is: west of Asheville off I-40 before Tenn.

Highest Vision: Could you start a thread/notification/whatever concerning and link to this one? It appears you have been longer a member of this forum and therefore may know proper/effective methods. (I hope I can find it if such occurs.)