Earlier this month, Robert Hawkins, 66, discovered what he believes to be what remains of a 1979 plane crash in the Bald Knob area of the trail, near the three-county border of Amherst, Nelson and . All we could hear was brushing of leaves and distant howls from the wind. It is the modern-day retelling of the Icarus story of flying too close to the sun. We said goodbye to our new friends, and began our adventure. Waterrock Knob: Hike to plane crash site - See 321 traveler reviews, 262 candid photos, and great deals for Maggie Valley, NC, at Tripadvisor. Theres no sign as its unmaintained, but when I did it there was an arrow spray painted on a rock. Before hitting the trail-head, we ran into a family coming back from the hike. People had clearly left their mark over the 36 years. My first thought was nah, its on the other side. You can use Waterrock Knob Visitor Center in Google Maps to get to the parking area. At one point, I said something funny. It was an unspoken closeness she was expressing; after she and I had shared a few things we had in common with our lives. The adventure started at Waterrock Knob. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 10/10 recommend it as a place to stay, and, wherever you choose, Maggie Valley is a great base for your adventures. 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. After navigating rocky outcrops, a steady up and downhill path, and another patch of overgrowth, the trail became thick and somewhat confusing. Both people on board died. We started early, only 3 other cars in lot. Living a simple, creative life in #smalltownusa Bryson City, NC. By checking this, you agree to our Privacy Policy. That crash occurred just 11 years after this one, and was one of the most tragic plane crashes in North Carolina. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The operating hours, policies and procedures of other businesses may change at any time without notice. Upon reaching the parking lot, you will see the visitor center, which is open from 10 AM - 5 PM from mid-April through October. If you are walking uphill as opposed to returning from the summit, it will be on the left. They were drawn to our yellow lab, Odin. And it appears to have had some holes kicked into it as well. Note: When hiking to this area please be respectful of the site. There are very few small plane crash sites in North Carolina, and you can find one of them hidden deep in the woods on a trail that runs along a ridge. The trail is obviously used often based on the wear but we didnt see anyone while we were hiking: Spraypainted yellow dots help to mark the trail. A black smoke monster chased him away before he had the chance to look. . Hiking down the mountainside to the crash was surreal. An ideal spot for watching sunrise and sunsets across the rugged mountains, Waterrock Knob Visitor Center sits at almost 6,000 feet elevation. Unfortunately, there has been several tragic airplane crashes in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. After traversing a few other trails, visitors will come upon the wreckage of a Cessna 414A which crashed in 1983. Located at Milepost 451.2, it features the last hiking trail along the Parkway as you travel toward the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We were there last fall and someone had spray painted the plane. Another blond haired woman with a baseball cap and a group of grade school aged kids were heading towards us. I found the spray paint trail markings most helpful since some of the ties had been blown away in storms, When you come to this clearing, take the path left (this spray painted rock points the way) and you are very close to the crash. The Ranger continued on up Waterrock and out of site. I know its been a minute since you posted, but my husband and I hiked this last week and I am sad to report that it has been re-tagged. Tucked in the Great Smoky Mountains, Waterrock Knob Trail is your literal road to ruin. Its going to work your legs. My son-in-law, grandson and I hiked up Waterrock Knob and followed the one mile plus trail to the site of a plane crash on the side of this mountain. Waterrock Knob is a must-stop along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Enjoy the rest of your weekend! I smiled and turned in the other direction. Follow this trail for half of a mile to reach Browning Knob. At the top of Waterrock Knob, you will get a great view of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Elk Knob State Park is popular for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, and Hanging Rock State Park has five waterfalls, incredible rock outcroppings, a lake, AND a mountain. For mountain views wed recommend Mount Mitchell, standing a whopping 6,684 feet above sea level that allows hikers to see up to 100 miles past the point. I was confused. After you take in the scenery at the top, go back to the arrow and follow the narrow path it points to about 1/2 mile to the site of a plane crash from the early 1970's. Fascinating. If we hike to the top elevation is 6,300 feet. Marcus and I were wandering around the fuselage like detectives at a crime scene. Have you hiked at Waterrock? 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. Plane Crash at Waterrock Knob. The rest of the debris is slowly being reclaimed by the forest or has been carried off by visitors over the years. Members of the Civil Air Patrol found the wreckage near the summit of Waterrock Knob Peak a week later. The white aluminum caught my attention; nestled in a downward section of the mountain in a quiet place among trees and other plant life. I think he and his parents were Hawaiian. It was quite an eerie sight! The remains of a doomed Antarctic plane, buried beneath layers of ice and snow, await those willing to do a bit of digging. I usually describe this kind of place as Narnia: Its 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 mosswhich I love: Theres a lot of photograph if you take your time: This looked like a waterfall of roots to me.a rootfall? He looked at his daughter, she gets tired easily, so we dont go on long hikes anymore.. Packing the right day hike essentials is super important for your trip. This Guide Will Help You Decide, BREAKING: Gatlinburg SkyTrail at SkyLift Park is now open, Cades Cove Lake: The effort to turn the Cove into a body of water, Land of Oz in NC: What its like to visit the once-closed theme park, Is the Laurel Falls Hike Easy? A visitors' center is located near its summit and a . We found out how you can hike to an abandoned airplane crash in North Carolina, and have all the necessary details below. 2023 Marcus and Jill's Happy Trails. You can find a series of cave trails in North Carolina, including Boones Cave Park whichs great for children, Torys Den Cave which will hustle you to a tiny cave steeped in local history, and Hibriten Cave which requires the work of a GPS to locate the tiny wonder. Her voice had an upward inflection. Length 1.7 miElevation gain 692 ftRoute type Out & back. Overall, this is one of the interesting and rewarding hikes that I have been on in North Carolina.My thoughts are with the families of the two lives that were lost in the crash. She brushed her hand across the soft whitish golden fur on Odins head without hesitation. Before hitting the trail-head, we ran into a family coming back from the hike. The young girl was about eight-years-old. Her love for travel has taken her to many parts of the world. Offer subject to change without notice. Perfect for escaping the crowds you sometimes find at other park locations! Most often these travelers offer an interesting departure from the quiet along the trail. Leave the crash site (and the trail) exactly as they were before your hike. Here are some of the best state parks in North Carolina: The real question iswhat state park shouldnt you visit in North Carolina? If you look around youll see bits of wreckage spread around the area as well. Both occupants were killed. Please feel free to subscribe below fornotifications regarding new blog posts, travel destinations, photography updates and newly available art. The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by: 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. I wrote about it here in 2015. Finding the summit is easy as the trail turns towards . Now it's 100% covered with graffiti. But the hike is definitley one of my favorites. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate and a partner of other affiliate programs including Booking.com, CJ and Tripster, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases via links found in this article. It is often used but remains off the beaten path. Both passengers aboard died as a result. Roots and rocks were everywhere along the earthy trail. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Its a sudden break from solitude to a social experience. All rights reserved. I alway come prepared, he said. Wires clustered through exposed metal. Hiking to the Waterrock Knob plane crash is one of the most interesting hikes I have ever been on. Layer by Layer: A Mexico City Culinary Adventure, Sacred Granaries, Kasbahs and Feasts in Morocco, Monster of the Month: The Hopkinsville Goblins, Paper Botanicals With Kate Croghan Alarcn, Writing the Food Memoir: A Workshop With Gina Rae La Cerva, Reading the Urban Landscape With Annie Novak, How to Grow a Dye Garden With Aaron Sanders Head, Making Scents: Experimental Perfumery With Saskia Wilson-Brown, The Frozen Banana Stands of Balboa Island, The Paratethys Sea Was the Largest Lake in Earths History, How Communities Are Uncovering Untold Black Histories, The Medieval Thieves Who Used Cats, Apes, and Turtles as Accomplices, https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/38801, https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/north-carolina/waterrock-knob-trail. The plane was inbound from Chicago on November 24th, 1983. An old airplane engine forms an unusual cairn atop this Moroccan peak. While this hike isnt long, it is difficult. The thing about getting to any summit is that you gotta go uphill. However, on that fateful day, he was apparently unaware or unconcerned by the weather awaiting him. The young guy said hed heard about the hike, but not this time. This leads down the mountainside for approximately 200 yards to reach the crash site. In order to reach the site of the airplane crash, you will need to start off on the Waterrock Knob trail located off of mile marker 451 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. A mountain dog in his element! I think about the moments before, during and after the crash. You are at Browning Knob as soon as you start to see the views again: Once over to Browning Knob, youll notice another small unmarked trail to the left. To start the trail, you simply follow the hike to Waterrock Knob. Can You Do Dollywood in One Day? What are the most beautiful hikes in North Carolina? John Gullion, Managing Editor at the Citizen Tribune, is a freelance contributor for TheSmokies.com LLC the parent company of TheSmokies.com and HeyOrlando.com. Plane Crash at Waterrock Knob Andrew Plyler (Atlas Obscura User) This nearly 40-year-old plane wreckage is located near the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina. Again, sweeping views of the mountains. If youre looking for a hike with a view, wed recommend catching the sunset on Green Knob, or perhaps hiking Looking Glass Rock for the mountaintop views. The beginning portion of the trail, although still steep, is paved in between stair sections. The two of them squatted down beside Odin. It is the highest peak in the Plott Balsams and is the 16th-highest mountain in the Eastern United States. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Check this box to receive emails from Journey to the Destination. Making a Composition Book Art Journal. How to Make a DIY Printing Press from a Panini Press. The visitor center building with restrooms in the building on the left, This sign points out the start of the trail. People had clearly left their mark over the 36 years. My first thought after the second picture, Theresa falls up the stairs, Theresa falls down the stairs, The occupants died in the crash so that probably adds to that feeling as well, Info on the incident. Here, you will see the third trail on your left. Thank you! Since it is unmaintained, it might be worth asking at the visitor center for any current updates or safety tips for the time you are visiting. The trail begins as a paved path then turns into a rocky dirt trail. Once you start at the visitor center, you will climb .5 miles up to the top of Waterrock Knob. It was heading to Sylva, just 11 miles from the crash site, but unfortunately they did not make it. Hi Ace, it seems you mightve mixed up what Ive written because I never said its on the right after the knob. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information. The plane could have made it over the mountain if it had just been about 150 feet higher. Dont be disrespectful, dont leave trash behind, dont graffiti the airplane, and dont take anything with you. The plane slammed into the mountain, killing Martin and his passenger immediately. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. 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.