The two men onboard didn't survive the crash. 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. I think he and his parents were Hawaiian. I was the first person to arrive at this Crash Site in 1983. - Cause: Did you know that there are several airplane crashes that have happened in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park? 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. Tammy arrived after Patrick; she was standing behind the plane on the slope. Would you hike to this abandoned airplane crash in North Carolina? I listened intently to his point by point directions. The aircraft had impacted mountainous terrain at about 6,000 feet msl and 11 miles from the destination. They were drawn to our yellow lab, Odin. Skip to main content. I have an awesome cinematic hiking vlog here for you guys! Both passengers aboard died as a result. It was heading to Sylva, just 11 miles from the crash site, but unfortunately they did not make it. Fair weather clouds against a pale blue sky and the Great Smoky Mountains waiting for me. Neither the passenger nor the pilot survived, and the cause of the crash is said to have been a combination of poor visibility and a 0.04 . This leads down the mountainside for approximately 200 yards to reach the crash site. 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? 10 Picturesque Trails In North Carolina That Are Perfect For Winter Hiking, Everyone In North Carolina Should See Whats Inside The Gates Of This Abandoned Theme Park, Most People Dont Know North Carolina Has A Fairy Trail And Its Positively Magical, The Occoneechee Mountain Loop Trail In North Carolina Takes You From Water To The Mountaintop And Back, The North Carolina State Park Where You Can Hike Across A Stone Bridge, A Metal Bridge, And A Wooden Bridge Is A Grand Adventure, It Doesnt Get Much Creepier Than This Abandoned School Hidden In North Carolina, Theres A Covered Bridge Trail In North Carolina And Its Everything Youve Ever Dreamed Of, This Abandoned Speedway In North Carolina Once Hosted The Best Races In NASCAR History. 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. In fact, it is one of dozens of unsalvageable flying machines that crashed in the Great . 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. Graffiti covered the white paint. We were unfortunately unable to see much from the lookout due to the low lying clouds, but continued on towards our next destination, which was Browning Knob. At the top of Waterrock Knob, you will get a great view of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The final radar contact with the plane was at 6,100 feet, approximately only one mile from the crash site. The path was straight down the side of the mountain; winding around moss covered trees and through what seemed like mile high pines overhead. But the hike is definitley one of my favorites. Thats not very clearly markedThanks for trying to help with your big write up that didnt help much thanks. - pay close attention to the ground about 50' from the top of Waterrock Knob and you'll see a faded blue arrow spray painted on a large, flat rock. Now it's 100% covered with graffiti. No purchase necessary. I was touched by her ability to express herself in a way that most people dont. A work colleague, Drew, had hooked me into conversation last week about the hike. After responding to our questions, and reviewing his GPS stats, he confirmed the trek down to the plane wreckage took him about 30 minutes. 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. In my opinion the trail is intermediate because its unmaintained so you are hiking over a lot of tree roots and it requires more awareness to keep on track. Hiking down the mountainside to the crash was surreal. 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. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information. Seemed really disrespectful in such a somber place. The remains of the iconic train crash from the movie The Fugitive can still be found rusting along the Great Smoky Railroad. As well as what happens when we take the majesty of flight for granted. And it appears to have had some holes kicked into it as well. Stay at our historic Sixty-One Park Farmhouse located right in downtown! Both people on board died. 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. Lake proponents argued that turning Cades Cove into a body of water would promote tourism (photo by Patrick Jennings/stock.adobe.com), Land of Oz features an immersive experience based on the iconic story of the Wizard of Oz, including characters, the yellow brick road and a visit to Emerald City (photos and compilation by TheSmokies.com), Our site produces editorial content for the purpose of entertainment. Harold Blackwood photo. The aircraft then descended and crossed the snowbird VOR at about 6,700 feet. That crash occurred just 11 years after this one, and was one of the most tragic plane crashes in North Carolina. When you do meet new and interesting people, youll find its like waking up from a sound sleep. Thank you for reading this post on how to hike to an airplane crash via the Waterrock Knob trail. You also could like hiking at Deep Creek. Will you be taking the hike? Located in the Smokey Mountains just outside of Maggie Valley, North Carolina, this hike is challenging due to its steep ascents and occasional scrambling over fallen trees and thick roots. Be sure to wear hiking boots because the trail is rocky, dont forget your reusable water bottle, and bring a map and compass in case you get lost. This is not a maintained path but there are plenty of forums online about how to . Members of the Civil Air Patrol found the wreckage near the summit of Waterrock Knob Peak a week later. I was confused. We were there last fall and someone had spray painted the plane. Shame how some ruin it for everyone. Other than graffiti and parts that have probably been moved around from spectators over the years, the wreckage remains nestled on the Southern Appalachian mountain range between Asheville and Cherokee, North Carolina. Let us know in the comments. Maybe the Labor Day weekend was causing us to think about work instead of focusing on a true adventure. I think about how this section of the mountain range probably wasnt a trail at the time. I was ahead of Marcus with Odin on his leash in the lead. It was fantastic to have breakfast on the porch, sit by the fire in the evenings, and soak in the jacuzzi at night while watching glow bugs. The walk from Waterrock Knob to Browning Knob was approximately 0.7 miles. Waterrock Knob [Suggest Edits] 10 votes. THIS NEARLY 40-YEAR-OLD PLANE WRECKAGE is located near the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina.A moderately difficult two-mile round trip hike from the Waterrock Knob Visitor Center and trailhead in Sylva, North Carolina lead to the wreckage.. Waterrock Knob is a must-stop along the Blue Ridge Parkway.Located at Milepost 451.2 (just 18 miles from the end of the Parkway), it features the last hiking trail along the Parkway as you travel toward the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.This peak (6,292 ft.) is the 16th highest mountain in the Eastern United States - and the 15th highest of the 40 mountains in North Carolina over 6,000 feet. Unfortunately, there has been several tragic airplane crashes in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The Blue Ridge Parkway reaches some of its highest points in the Waterrock Knob area, including Richland Balsam (highest point on the Parkway) and Waterrock Knob Visitor Center (highest visitor center on the Parkway). The path is moderately difficult with roots and downed trees and muddy patches to negotiate. It begins as a paved trail, then moves to a dirt and rocky trail, and there are a few small sections with stairs. The Perfect 4 Day Miami Itinerary for Travelers. The drive to Waterrock Knob along the Blue Ridge Parkway is arguably one of the most beautiful and scenic drives in the country. Everything but the engines still remains at the crash site. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Located at Milepost 451.2, it features the last hiking trail along the Parkway as you travel toward the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The final radar contact was at 6,100 feet and about 1 mile from the crash site. I was super interested. I thought about our hikes 20 years ago, when our son our Alex was five-years-old. Where to park for the Waterrock Knob Plane Crash hike. Waterrock Knob is best known for the hiking trail to its summit. There's a large free parking area, visitor center for more information on the area, and some beautiful views here so it's worth checking out. When you visit the crash site, you can tell that the airplane almost cleared the mountain. The grandmother laughed and grabbed my arm. Areas; NC West and Mountains . Wires clustered through exposed metal. Odin still had energy, which increased the challenge for me. Dont be disrespectful, dont leave trash behind, dont graffiti the airplane, and dont take anything with you. Once you are done enjoying the view from Browning Knob, be on the lookout for a small, unmarked trail to the left. Patrick was imagining how the plane first crashed into the mountain; analyzing the trees above, and how the position of the plane on the ground seemed to reveal clues about the crash. The trail begins at the Waterrock Knob Visitor Center and continues for a quarter mile up a well-marked, paved path to an observation point of the valley below. Wed love to hear about them! Not only is Waterrock Knob the trail you need to take to get to the airplane crash, it also offers amazing views of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. This shed some light on the mystery. Hiking to such a place really gives one time to think and realize how fragile and fleeting life truly is. Deep Gap Trail at Mt. I found it easier to follow the spray paint on trees and rocks to stay on the trail. Required fields are marked *. Download Millions Of Videos Online. After a few hours of homework, I glanced out the window. Its perfect for a one-and-done day out in the wilderness. Some North Carolina Cherokee have been keeping their history alive for decades with a single play. Being less than 10 miles from Maggie Valley, it is the closest hike and Visitors Center. Shockingly enough, you can even make a day of it! . About halfway up though, the trail transitions to a dirt trail with rock steps.