Its a good idea to have someone with you. . They are pretending to be wolves, Allison confirmed. The windows were smashed; dark holes appearing to mysteriously lead into another dimension. Patrick and Tammy, two hikers from South Carolina, arrived at the wreckage just after us. People have absolutely no respect. Its not too far to travel from my home in Toronto. Book your tickets online for Waterrock Knob, Maggie Valley: See 321 reviews, articles, and 262 photos of Waterrock Knob, ranked No.2 on Tripadvisor among 12 attractions in Maggie Valley. This short trail will lead you down to the site of the airplane crash. We all know that North Carolina has much to offer; however, it's home to only one known plane crash site. Nature brings out the best in people. 8 Best Things To Do In Charlotte North Carolina, Appalachian Trail Day Hike Essentials That You Need, Ultimate Guide to Camping in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 5 Best Hikes in Mammoth Cave National Park, 7 Reasons Why I am Thru-Hiking the Appalachian Trail, Update: I Am Thru-Hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2022, Appalachian Approach Trail: Everything You Need to Know, How to Visit Chichen Itza: Ultimate Guide for Travelers, Hiking Twenty Mile Loop Trail: Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The pilot was also determined to have been impaired, with a blood alcohol content of 0.04%. At the top of Waterrock Knob, you will get a great view of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Everything but the engines still remains at the crash site. GPS coordinates:352737.2N 830827.0W. Head down that trail about 100 feet and you should see the plane in the distance down the hill. 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. Drew had said it was a short hike from Waterrock to Browning Knob, and that the plane crash was just off to the left. As it turned out, the plane could have made it over the mountain if it had been about 150 feet higher! That crash occurred just 11 years after this one, and was one of the most tragic plane crashes in North Carolina. I was the first person to arrive at this Crash Site in 1983. She's lived in the Carolinas for nearly three decades and currently resides in Charleston. Making a Composition Book Art Journal. How to Make a DIY Printing Press from a Panini Press. Her voice had an upward inflection. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. The two of them squatted down beside Odin. If you get the chance, the Great Smoky Mountain National Park is an amazing place to visit. And be prepared. Its not too far from where you live. He continued by describing how this plane had crashed sometime in the 70s off the Blue Ridge Parkway. I thought about our hikes 20 years ago, when our son our Alex was five-years-old. Love North Carolina? Its getting harder and harder to find safe abandoned places in North Carolina, so wed highly recommend you take advantage of the opportunity while you still can. Fair weather clouds against a pale blue sky and the Great Smoky Mountains waiting for me. 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. The hike requires you to hike along the ridge of the mountain, maneuvering between trees, ground roots and boulders along the way. I hung onto his leash with one hand, and used my free hand to grab tree trunks along the trail. While we were gathered at the crash site more people started to come. 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. 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. When you start returning back down the trail from the summit, youll see the small plane crash trail on your right. 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 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. Start at the Waterrock Visitor Center at Milepost 451.2 off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The remains of a German plane still sit in the Norwegian wood where it crashed in 1942. Its not very far: I wouldnt ever go alone to the crash, or too close to dusk. 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. Its about two-hours round trip from here!. I crave the forest, the smells, the beauty and especially the healthy feeling of being outdoors. The vision of the plane crash is now fixed as part of my memory. I was super interested. Our drive to Waterrock Knob along the parkway began with sunny skies, but quickly transitioned into an eerie, but mystical, hazy day with fog and clouds sweeping between the mountains as we increased in elevation. I asked the family if theyd been to the plane crash. Down that trail about 100 feet, youll be able to see the plane in the distance down the hill. 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. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. The older man smiled wide and pulled a treat from his pocket. Its a very good idea to tell multiple people where you are heading, and its probably not a trail you should tackle alone. Did you know that there are several airplane crashes that have happened in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park? Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 13 min to complete. Its a sudden break from solitude to a social experience. The young girl was about eight-years-old. The trail starts at the last path on the left before the summit. After traversing a few other trails, visitors will come upon the wreckage of a Cessna 414A which crashed in 1983. Read more in my about section. Your email address will not be published. The pilot's blood alcohol level was at 0.04%. The adventure started at Waterrock Knob. And one of those trails holds the wreckage of a plane crash from more than 40 years ago. Much of the Cessna 414 is still up there on the mountain. Well now I want to go back and rewatch that. It is definitely a unique hike, Although this is a site created by a tragic event, I really like sites like these abandoned buildings, vehicles, planes, etc., purely for the artistic side of them. Subscribe to our newsletter and receive a FREE PRINTABLE TRAVEL PLANNER! Once we arrived to the parking lot, we spent some time at the visitor center, were met with beautiful fall foliage, and eventually began our trek towards Waterrock Knob and the Cessna 414 crash. How could that be, you ask? Plane Crash at Waterrock Knob. Especially for people that think its a hour hike People ruin a lot of stuff but the tagging doesnt seem to take away the fact its a plane way way way out in the woods. Fewer hikers decide to venture this far out. Marcus and I were wandering around the fuselage like detectives at a crime scene. There are 41 sparks and recreation areas across the state, and each one seems to be more beautiful than the next. Note: When hiking to this area please be respectful of the site. When I reached the top of Waterrock Knob, under rather malicious-looking skies, a 60-year old man with . This information is added by users of ASN. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Some North Carolina Cherokee have been keeping their history alive for decades with a single play. His wife was suddenly standing by my side, close, like she was my friend. Hiking down the mountainside to the crash was surreal. The probable cause of the airplane crash was slight intoxication of the pilot, lack of experience flying in the mountains, and inclement weather that caused low visibility. . Today, we met people from California, South Carolina, and others from our own town. Your pictures were fabulous! We said goodbye to Patrick and Tammy; telling them about a few places to visit during their stay. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. The visitor center is located at 5,820 feet and the summit itself . The operating hours, policies and procedures of other businesses may change at any time without notice. When the weather turned low lying clouds and rain he began ducking the plane under the clouds. I think he and his parents were Hawaiian. Address: Waterrock Knob, North Carolina 28779, USA I found it easier to follow the spray paint on trees and rocks to stay on the trail. A work colleague, Drew, had hooked me into conversation last week about the hike. Oh the main graffiti tag is coming off tomorrow. The windows were smashed; dark holes appearing to mysteriously lead into another dimension. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Unfortunately, since the internet has connected everyone. Youll have to be real careful, He said. I was ahead of Marcus with Odin on his leash in the lead. Graffiti covered the white paint. We don't recommend it, but you can reach the site by hiking to Waterrock Knob's summit (0.5 miles) and then to the top of Browning Knob (0.5 miles). Look at a map before you go as it's a little tricky. Thank you for sharing. How to Get There. Keep reading to learn how to hike to an airplane crash in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park via the Waterrock Knob trail. At that moment, a backpacker made his way towards us; as if he were coming from the other direction on Browning Knob Trail. Browning Knob and Waterrock Knob. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. No purchase necessary. We talked about the dented metal and torn off debris; and tried to visualize what had happened. 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. This site is monitored, so please do not remove any items from the crash. This leads down the mountainside for approximately 200 yards to reach the crash site. Please feel free to subscribe below fornotifications regarding new blog posts, travel destinations, photography updates and newly available art. Read more about my story here. The outdoor adventures found along the parkway include a multitude of trails, visitor centers, and stunning overlooks. All rights reserved. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information. Renovating a 1960s ranch house and an old train depot. 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. You said in your writing of finding plane. Read more . Take a left turn into the forest . Much of the eight-seat Cessna 414A is still up there on the mountain. We were there last fall and someone had spray painted the plane. It was an unspoken closeness she was expressing; after she and I had shared a few things we had in common with our lives. Waterrock Knob [Suggest Edits] 10 votes. Theres no sign as its unmaintained, but when I did it there was an arrow spray painted on a rock. It was an unmarked trail with thick overgrowth on either side. 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Two of the boys, probably her son and his friend, started howlinglike wild prey from further up the trail . 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. There are affiliate links included in this post. Odins ears perked up. A museum celebrating rare American motorcycles where everything runsand none of it quietly. from Mike Schoeffel. Hey, I said. The conversation started with a thirty something tan-skinned guy with dark brown hair and brown eyes, and an older man with grey hair and the same color skin. January 11, 2022 | Julie Roland Realty | Route 64 Blog, Route 64 Journal. And you just stay left. I wrote about it here in 2015. Located at Milepost 451.2, it features the last hiking trail along the Parkway as you travel toward the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I dont think a flight plan was filedwhich means the pilot may have just been flying by sight and ducking under clouds. Point to point with a paved section as well as a dirt and tree root based section. Have you hiked to this plane crash before? The older man smiled wide and pulled a treat from his pocket. Once you are off the main paved trail, it turns into more of an intermediate hike. Im pretty sure there are some ghosts there. This popular trail goes to the Waterrock Knob summit. But, its a wide trail with plenty of room to stop and catch your breath if you need to. Follow this trail for half of a mile to reach Browning Knob. Thankfully, though, there are only a few places where you'll stumble upon airplane crash ruins in North Carolina. Ask me how someday? They were drawn to our yellow lab, Odin. 10 Tips for Safe Travel: How to Travel the World Safely! A couple of homemade signs nailed to trees a short ways down the path offer tips and warnings for proceeding ahead. A highly-rated trail for hikers and explorers alike, the trail is two miles . Unfortunately, there has been several tragic airplane crashes in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. 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 unpredictable weather off a mountain range estimated to sit about 6000 feet above sea level, can change drastically in a short time. It crashed a little before 6pm at about 6,000 feet. If you are walking uphill as opposed to returning from the summit, it will be on the left. You will receive your first newsletter soon. The planes tail completely detached; laying against a tree trunk about 15 feet away. Ernest Martin, founder and owner of Martin Tool Works, Inc., was the he in question. It was time to head back. Or have you already been out to see it before? Waterrock Knob is a hidden gem on the Blue Ridge Parkway. 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. Guest columnist: You can love Jesus and strippers at the same time. This shed some light on the mystery. It is easy to take a wrong turn in the forest, so be sure to pay attention to the yellow markers on the trees leading the way along the trail. In addition to that, hed been drinking a little the FAA reported a blood-alcohol level of .04 percent. Youre there, its right up ahead. People are going there and tagging it with spray paint and being disrespectful as many people in the states are. Enjoy the rest of your weekend! I smiled and turned in the other direction. While theres the obviously sad nature of why the plane is there to begin with, Im always interested in hikes that have some site, historical or otherwise, to see. Both occupants lost their lives in the crash, so it is important to be respectful of the crash site when visiting. Just keep an eye out for the small path. See. He had friends in the area and had flown into the Jackson County Airport before. 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 . If you plan to visit, it's recommended to hike with a partner or let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return, as there are many unmarked side trails, difficult terrain, and steep drops along the way. Once at Browning Knob (big obvious clearing on the top of a mountain), there's another trail off to the left, which leads down to the crashed Cessna 414. We took some time along the hike back to really appreciate the beauty of the forest and fall foliage. The path was straight down the side of the mountain; winding around moss covered trees and through what seemed like mile high pines overhead. Here's the general gist of how to get to the crash site: Hike the 0.5 mile path to Waterrock Knob, almost to the top. All Rights Reserved, Marcus and Jill Thompson. I was confused. The nicely paved trail eventually transitions into a fairly strenuous trail with many stairs leading the way. Shuckstack Fire Tower is an old fire observatory tower in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park! Tammy arrived after Patrick; she was standing behind the plane on the slope. I help women with chronic illnesses develop the confidence to travel the world solo! The visitor center building with restrooms in the building on the left, This sign points out the start of the trail. When she's not working, she loves to cook with friends and check out new adventures. Because this hike is difficult, you will more than likely get hungry! Hiking to such a place really gives one time to think and realize how fragile and fleeting life truly is. Are you talking about the plane crash site? I asked. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. Offer subject to change without notice. He looked at his daughter, she gets tired easily, so we dont go on long hikes anymore.. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. The path is clear and paved for the first bit before turning to dirt and leading up several stone staircases. An annual celebration of the region's successful elk reintroduction program. I was getting Uncharted 1 vibes. Learn how your comment data is processed. - Cause: 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. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. 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. Pedestrian killed by car on Kingston Pike in Knoxville. Packing the right day hike essentials is super important for your trip. North Carolina Hiking: Cessna 414 Plane Crash & Sunset at Waterrock Knob. If you are facing the visitor center, the trail follows an incline on the right. As interesting as the crash site can be, it was important for us to remember the two pilots who lost their lives in this very spot and treat the area with respect. Haha good call. 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 distances: 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. Odin pulled me up the rocky path with a spring in his four legs. After making eye-contact with her, I recognized it was Allison from work. She hung on to me for several minutes. Press J to jump to the feed. 10/10 recommend it as a place to stay, and, wherever you choose, Maggie Valley is a great base for your adventures. True! If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Thats not very clearly markedThanks for trying to help with your big write up that didnt help much thanks. Her love for travel has taken her to many parts of the world. Its not right off the side after the knob and its NOT.. And its very very difficult and could take hours. There are the remnants of an old Cessna plane that crashed there many years ago that you can hike to. Have you hiked at Waterrock? Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Beware. Both people on board died. 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 . Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/38801.