This rich mountain road does have way more gravel on it then is on the Parsons branch road. It was quite a bumpy ride this past Sundaywhen I drove on Parsons branch rd. There were ruts in the roadway from heavy rain runoff on the steeper inclines and declines on that road. . Glad I choose to ride on the Parsons branch road instead of taking rich mountain road, but my return trip to Kingsport TN would have been a much shorter drive if I had taken rich mountain road back over into Townsend.
This is the environment that I love but I am getting a weird vibe.??! I literally have goose bumps as I am typing? What is the history I think I am going to have to google it. Would definitely not do this drive at night! It's a nice break from paved roads thank you for sharing! ...Let me go see why the vibe?!? 😂 I might not wanna go at all! 😂
I just returned from the Smokies on a business trip, wasn't able to enjoy the mountains as I hoped. Totally forgot about Rich Mtn Rd, Parson Branch Rd, and Forge Rd. Thanks for the video, hopefully I'll remember this route the next time I'm there.
Thanks for watching! There are so many options that it's hard to see them all. These kind of videos let me see what I missed or get ideas for future trips, so I figured I'd add one.
I had rented a side by side and drove up that trail, and me being from louir the flattest state ever, that trail was petrifying. It is a one way road for those who dont know. You cant see how steep the ravines are on the side either. Great experience, never do it again lol.
Trevin Dart Haha yeah, I guess if you're accustomed to flatter lands it could be a little unsettling in some spots. It does drop off quite a bit on the sides in some spots and the video doesn't really show that too well.
If you all had ridden on Parsons branch trail in the back left section of cases cove you would have really been petrified. It pisvabout an 8 mike gravel single wide oneway trail that also crosses streams in about 12 places. Comes out over in the dragon ( us hwy 129) just South of Fontana damn.
For most of it you should be fine. There are a couple of spots where it's kind of a tight turn uphill in some loose gravel. That may be packed down by now, this was last year, but if not those spots could be tricky as far as traction goes.
Years ago, I exited Cades Cove from the southwest, driving a Corolla on Parsons Branch Road all the way to US 129. I do not recall it being difficult at all. I will be there in August for the solar eclipse and was thinking a return to Townsend via Rich Mountain Road might be a nice diversion. We will likely have a large passenger van or suv. Would that present any difficulty? Are there pullouts to let other vehicles pass, or will there be a risk, as Mark Gelbart remarks, of traffic jams? Thanks.
There weren't any difficult sections that would cause you any problems, at least not when we were there. It's been 3 years since we were there, but it was pretty much gravel the whole way. Also back then there weren't very many areas to pull over, but it is supposed to be a one way road from what we were told. Traffic wasn't very heavy on it at all, we only saw a couple of other vehicles. It's a very nice drive, I hope you enjoy it!
+Louie Lemoore This is actually Rich Mountain Road. It turns right off of Cade's Cove Loop Rd. I think it's about 1 1/2 hours from Laurel Creek Rd., but I've never driven that one before.
I loved the high speed video.... 'bout fell out of my chair on a couple of the curves in Cades Cove! LOL
Haha! Glad you made it out safely! :)
This rich mountain road does have way more gravel on it then is on the Parsons branch road. It was quite a bumpy ride this past Sundaywhen I drove on Parsons branch rd. There were ruts in the roadway from heavy rain runoff on the steeper inclines and declines on that road. . Glad I choose to ride on the Parsons branch road instead of taking rich mountain road, but my return trip to Kingsport TN would have been a much shorter drive if I had taken rich mountain road back over into Townsend.
My husband and I took Rich Mountain Rd. in June 2016 and it was well worth it! It was such a beautiful ride with not many people at all.
Yes, very nice ride! We can't wait to get back there.
This is the environment that I love but I am getting a weird vibe.??! I literally have goose bumps as I am typing? What is the history I think I am going to have to google it. Would definitely not do this drive at night! It's a nice break from paved roads thank you for sharing! ...Let me go see why the vibe?!? 😂 I might not wanna go at all! 😂
I just returned from the Smokies on a business trip, wasn't able to enjoy the mountains as I hoped. Totally forgot about Rich Mtn Rd, Parson Branch Rd, and Forge Rd. Thanks for the video, hopefully I'll remember this route the next time I'm there.
Thanks for watching! There are so many options that it's hard to see them all. These kind of videos let me see what I missed or get ideas for future trips, so I figured I'd add one.
I had rented a side by side and drove up that trail, and me being from louir the flattest state ever, that trail was petrifying. It is a one way road for those who dont know. You cant see how steep the ravines are on the side either. Great experience, never do it again lol.
Trevin Dart Haha yeah, I guess if you're accustomed to flatter lands it could be a little unsettling in some spots. It does drop off quite a bit on the sides in some spots and the video doesn't really show that too well.
If you all had ridden on Parsons branch trail in the back left section of cases cove you would have really been petrified. It pisvabout an 8 mike gravel single wide oneway trail that also crosses streams in about 12 places. Comes out over in the dragon ( us hwy 129) just South of Fontana damn.
Thanks for sharing. A buddy and me will be taking a small RV on this path this Saturday.
Awesome! I hope you guys enjoy it, I'm jealous. haha Thanks for watching!
Do you think a 15 passnger van cold travel this road without problems? I'm from Southern WV and steep and twisty doesn't bother me at all.
For most of it you should be fine. There are a couple of spots where it's kind of a tight turn uphill in some loose gravel. That may be packed down by now, this was last year, but if not those spots could be tricky as far as traction goes.
I seen Bigfoot twice Santa Claus once slow down
Haha. I wish I had seen Bigfoot!
Years ago, I exited Cades Cove from the southwest, driving a Corolla on Parsons Branch Road all the way to US 129. I do not recall it being difficult at all. I will be there in August for the solar eclipse and was thinking a return to Townsend via Rich Mountain Road might be a nice diversion. We will likely have a large passenger van or suv. Would that present any difficulty? Are there pullouts to let other vehicles pass, or will there be a risk, as Mark Gelbart remarks, of traffic jams? Thanks.
There weren't any difficult sections that would cause you any problems, at least not when we were there. It's been 3 years since we were there, but it was pretty much gravel the whole way. Also back then there weren't very many areas to pull over, but it is supposed to be a one way road from what we were told. Traffic wasn't very heavy on it at all, we only saw a couple of other vehicles. It's a very nice drive, I hope you enjoy it!
Is that Laurel Creek Rd you're on?
+Louie Lemoore
This is actually Rich Mountain Road. It turns right off of Cade's Cove Loop Rd. I think it's about 1 1/2 hours from Laurel Creek Rd., but I've never driven that one before.
Traffic jams and no wildlife. How disappointing.
Sorry, can't make the animals come out.
Is this the old ccc road?
Sorry, but I'm not sure. It's a pretty modern road, I don't know if it's that one after being redone or not.