If we hike to the top elevation is 6,300 feet. Beautiful sunset, viewed from the Waterrock Knob parking lot upon returning after the hike. To the left, I thought, this must be the way to Browning Knob! Neither the pilot nor passenger survived. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). The plane crashed shortly before 6 p.m. Waterrock Knob Photos | Blue Ridge Pkwy Hikes Pack up Grandma's wheelchair and a picnic lunch for this combination of a scenic drive and a short but strenuous hike. The Ranger was giving directions to two guys in shorts and tee-shirts. Not only are the views spectacular but the flowers and wildlife are too: The sides of the trail were covered with butterflies when we went, so many it looked like the mountains were moving: Just as you get to the top of Waterrock Knob you will notice a small unmarked trail to the left…you might even miss it if you weren’t looking for it. Once you’re over to Browning Knob, notice another small unmarked trail to the left. This is a great place to view the sunrise and sunset. Short but vigorous climb to the summit. Looks like a gap in the tall grass at first, then if you take that trail you will see a tree with a sign that says Browning Knob trail 0.7 on it. Waterrock Knob is the highest peak in the Plott Balsamsat 6,292 feet and is the 16th highest mountain in the Eastern United States and the 15th highest of the 40 mountains in North Carolina over 6000 feet. Thank you! The remains of the wreckage remain at the site, and it is a short hike to them from Waterrock Knob off the Blue Ridge Parkway. I heard there were a lot of plane crashes into the Smokey Mountains and I decided to find one and hike to it!Here’s the story; on November 24, 1983, a Cessna 414 was flying from West Chicago to the Jackson County Airport here in the NC mountains. The plane could have made it over the mountain if it had just been about 150 feet higher. Thank you for reading! Toshl Vs Ynab, Thank you for sharing. Pisgah is the closest campground. After hiking up to Waterrock Knob, I overheard a Ranger standing in front of a narrow path to the left. plane crash Show 13 More Check-Ins Jul 22, 2018 Marty Burkard. I was the first person to arrive at this Crash Site in 1983. Ask me how someday? I usually describe this kind of place as Narnia: It’s not the easiest hike, but very doable if you can climb over fallen trees and jump across some small mud pits: The canopy is pretty thick so the vegetation is mostly ferns, fungi and moss…which I love: There’s a lot of photograph if you take your time: This looked like a waterfall of roots to me….a rootfall? Discover Plane Crash at Waterrock Knob in Sylva, North Carolina: Hidden amid a collection of trails is the site of a tragic crash. As I’m getting older I don’t do it as much as I should and your pictures helped me see things I don’t see much of anymore. Hike to the plane crash Nov 7, 2019 Meggie Tran. Thank you! Any and all posts on this site may contain affiliate links. The plane could have made it over the mountain if it had just been about 150 feet higher.I couldn’t find any engines at the site and after a little research it … Most of the trees at the. I created this little PDF with some very basic info that’s easy to print off if you are thinking about hiking to the crash…click here or click the image below to download: Do you have any favorite hikes in the Smoky Mountains? When you get to this one, you'll see there's a small spur trail that veers off to the left. Waterrock Knob: Our fav trek to find the plane - See 300 traveler reviews, 229 candid photos, and great deals for Maggie Valley, NC, at Tripadvisor. Fly to Asheville, taxi • 4h 16m. Rethink that selfie. Copyright Lil Blue Boo © 2021 | Privacy Policy. The trail is obviously used often based on the wear but we didn’t see anyone while we were hiking: Spraypainted yellow dots help to mark the trail. The hike to the top is short but steep, definitely makes your heart rate go up. Noah, I was able to find the following: “Arriving at Browning Knob, we took a local tip to go view a Cessna plane crash site, which happened in 1983. There are no engines at the site as they were salvaged soon after the crash. It crashed a little before 6pm at about 6,000 feet. Located at Milepost 451.2, it features the last hiking trail along the Parkway as you travel toward the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you’ve never been to Bryson City you need to visit! It’s been said not to ever go alone to the crash site, or too close to dark. Sep 23, 2018 Bodhisattva Robinson. Click here are a few of my favorite places near Bryson City. “Are you talking about the plane crash site?” It is the highest peak in the Plott Balsams and is the 16th-highest mountain in the Eastern United States.. higher levels are evergreen and it smells like a Christmas tree farm as you near the top. Also, some say this spur trail is even more difficult than the Waterrock Trail, so be sure to turn around if things get too dicey. Waterrock knob. Located at 5,712 feet in elevation, Waterrock Knob has the Parkway’s highest visitor center. The cause of the crash was determined to be a combination of weather conditions/poor visibility and alcohol (the pilot’s blood alcohol level was 0.04%). I’d still like to find some old newspaper articles on the crash if they exist…and know more about the people who died here. waterrock knob plane crash history February 10, 2021 0 Comments. If we hike to the top elevation is 6,300 feet. What to Do. The trail to Browning knob starts at the summit of Waterrock Knob. The hike continues for about .7 miles…along the ridge of the mountain…but with a lot of elevation change (the equivalent of about 68 flights of stairs!) Things to Do: Hike to the Top: Take a brisk, steep walk from the visitor center to the top of Waterrock Knob. Hiking to a Plane Crash in the Smoky Mountains via Waterrock and Browning Knob, Rainbow Heart Wall Hanging - Crayola Model Magic Summer Project, A Universal Shopping Cart and High Chair Cover (A Tutorial and Free Pattern Download). Waterrock Knob is located at milepost 451.2 on the Blue Ridge Parkway and features the last hiking trail along the parkway before reaching the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The first half of the hike is straight down the ridge and then you have to hike back up the spine of the connecting knobs. You can have a custom email like. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Camp at Historic site #47 in the Smokey Mountain National Park, Cool email, huh? To get here first drive to the visitor center at Waterrock Knob, (one of our favorite places to bring visitors too. One of the coolest and creepiest things I’ve ever seen on a hike. I love to hike! Waterrock Knob Length: 1.2 mile Rating: Moderate Dogs: On Leash Waterrock Knob is a must-stop along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Both people in the plane were killed. Look closely before you get to the top and take a side trail to Yellow Face lookout right below Waterrock Knob. TO PLANE CRASH - take a left at the very top (Browning Knob), otherwise just pick your way through the muddy little side trails - they all meet back up Waterrock knob is a well maintained trail (Rec to come back when it snows! The first half of the hike is down the ridge and then up the spine of the connecting knobs, you are at Browning Knob as soon as you start to see the views again. Keep reading to learn how to hike to an airplane crash in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park via the Waterrock Knob trail. Thomas Mann Disillusionment Pdf, Registration N6623C cancelled by the FAA on on February 14, 1984. PLANE DOWN — A plane crash that occurred in November 1983 is now the end-point for an off-beat hike that starts at Waterrock Knob, one of WNC’s most popular outdoor destinations. There are 7 ways to get from Boston to Waterrock Knob by plane, taxi, car, bus or train. til the very top - great view, especially sunset) To Browning is more jungley and scrambling Stay at our historic Sixty-One Park Farmhouse located right in downtown! This nearly 40-year-old plane wreckage is located near the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina. Neither the pilot nor passenger survived. The hike to the plane crash is about a 2.5 mile round-trip hike, first up to Waterrock Knob and then across the ridge to Browning Knob. The trail begins at the Waterrock Knob Visitor Center and continues for a quarter mile up… Two people died in this crash. I wrote about it here in 2015. Waterrock Knob is a must-stop along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

To reach the summit of Waterrock Knob, you hike a short but steep 6/10's of a mile trail up from the Waterrock Knob Overlook and visitors center that is located at milepost 451.2 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Note: When hiking to this area please be respectful of the site. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/north-carolina/waterrock-knob-trail If we hike to the top elevation is 6,300 feet. It’s a tad scary walking thru the yellow dots hap hazardly sprayed by the CSI people mark the way. I noticed it as a gap in the tall grass at first. Waterrock Knob Trail is the southernmost hiking trail along the Parkway on the way to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, offering fantastic views both east and west. Haha….that’s Sam! Waterrock Knob: Waterrock Knob is one of my favorite hikes and it’s always one that I recommend to visitors. I’m pretty sure there are some ghosts there. Keep your eye on the yellow trail blazes once you take the spur. That's the trail you'll take to the plane crash site. Waterrock knob Browning knob Plane crash PARKING LOT Waterrock Knob Visitor Center Waterrock Knob Browning Knob 5719 ft 6292 ft 6240 ft Elevations: Waterrock knob parking lot to peak waterrock peak to Browning Knob Browning knob to plane crash .5 miles .7 miles .05 miles You are at Browning Knob as soon as you start to see the views again: Once over to Browning Knob, you’ll notice another small unmarked trail to the left. People have made extra trails around rough spots. Looking at the satellite view it appears the hike to the plane crash is about a 3-mile round-trip hike, first up to Waterrock Knob and then across the ridge to Browning Knob. Read more in my about section. Waterrock Knob [Suggest Edits] 8 votes. I’d be amazed if there weren’t ghosts there! I never knew that there are close to 54 plane crash sites located in the Smoky Mountains. After departure at 1417 cst, radar track showed the aircraft climbing to and maintaining 7,600 feet until about 1733 est and 28-30 miles north of the Knoxville VOR. Renovating a 1960s ranch house and an old train depot. Explore the visitor center and learn more about the site and the region – open seasonally; Watch a majestic sunrise or sunset as light dances across the mountains Unfortunately it was socked in with clouds & fog. If you follow that trail for a little bit you will see a tree with the following signs on it: Yes, there are warnings…make sure you tell someone where you are hiking just in case! Waterrock Knob is one of my favorite hikes and it’s always one that I recommend to visitors. To reach the plane crash, from Browning Knob plaque, retreat about 10 yards in the trail, and find a rather defined entrance that continues down the north face of the ridge. The cause of the crash was determined to be a combination of weather conditions/poor visibility and alcohol (the pilot’s blood alcohol level was 0.04%). On the Parkway, Mt. The mountain is a popular destination with tourists and amateur hikers, as it is easily accessible from the parkway. Disclosure: I use Amazon affiliate links to help pay for the costs of this website. The trail is 1.2 miles round-trip. Neither the pilot nor passenger survived. Atlas Obscura. Follow the yellow markers painted on the trees. It’s .5 miles to the plane crash site which is pretty popular. It crashed a little before 6pm at about 6,000 feet. ???? Head down that trail about 100 feet and you should see the plane in the distance down the hill. We head back up and take the trail to the right and head towards Mt Lyn Lowery. The plane crashed November 24, 1983 due to bad weather. Waterrock Knob has no sleeping or eating options. Recommended option. Upon reaching the parking lot, you will see the visitor center, which is open from 10 AM - 5 PM from mid-April through October. certainly the pilot would have been flying by sight and ducking under clouds to avoid radar. Then just before you get to the top you’ll notice a small unmarked trail to the left (very easy to miss) watch for it. I couldn’t find any engines at the site and after a little research it turns out that they were salvaged soon after the crash. You take the Waterrock Knob Trailhead, which begins as a paved path, eventually turning into the dirt trail as you climb. Find the travel option that best suits you. — Jerry Mattox, [footer_backtotop href="#top" text="Return to Top"] To reach the summit of Waterrock Knob, you hike a short but steep 6/10's of a mile trail up from the Waterrock Knob Overlook and visitors center that is located at milepost 451.2 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was an unmarked trail with thick overgrowth on either side. The views from the parking lot are excellent and often popular. Looking at the satellite view it appears the hike to the plane crash is about a 3-mile round-trip hike, first up to Waterrock Knob and then across the ridge to Browning Knob. This nearly 40-year-old plane wreckage is located in the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina. This trail is quite a mess. A flight plan was never filed, which could mean anything (fun, drugs, etc.) It’s not very far: I wouldn’t ever go alone to the crash, or too close to dusk. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Thank you for sharing. The remains of the plane are still scattered along the hillside making it a super neat place to explore and photograph. The Great Smoky Mountains and Western NC Hiking. You start from the parking lot of the Waterrock Knob overlook off the Blue Ridge Parkway (milepost 451.2). To get here first drive to the visitor center at Waterrock Knob, (one of our favorite places to bring visitors too. While these plane crashes are tragic, they can make for an enjoyable hike. He’s Sienna’s sloth and he comes on hikes with us . Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. See nearby towns for accommodations. We hiked to one of them recently: The wreckage of this particular plane crash has been sitting there for 35 years: The story goes that on November 24, 1983, a Cessna 414 was flying from West Chicago to the Jackson County Airport here in the NC mountains. Finally got a chance to hike to the plane crash at Waterrock Knob off the Blue Ridge Parkway. I don’t think a flight plan was filed…which means the pilot may have just been flying by sight and ducking under clouds. Here on the mountain side, seats and wreckage were scattered all over the steep terrain. Roads open?) The cheapest way to get from Dublin to Waterrock Knob costs only $572, and the quickest way takes just 14 hours. Your pictures were fabulous! I crave the forest, the smells, the beauty and especially the healthy feeling of being outdoors. The crash site was eerie, especially knowing that my dad was piloting a similar plane in the 1990s and survived a crash. But the hike is definitley one of my favorites. Hope you prayed for the departed. The people and erosion plus the lack of trail maintenance leaves it a muddy, root filled mess. I wrote about it … Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Waterrock Knob is a mountain peak in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The hike to the plane crash is about a 2.5 mile round-trip hike, first up to Waterrock Knob and then across the ridge to Browning Knob. Tragic story. As it turned out, the plane could have made it over the mountain if it had been about 150 feet higher! Living a simple, creative life in #smalltownusa Bryson City, NC. 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