To get here first drive to the visitor center at Waterrock Knob, (one of our favorite places to bring visitors too. While we were gathered at the crash site more people started to come. Now it's as worse as it's ever been. Press J to jump to the feed. 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. Remembering the 72 passengers who lost their lives in 1967 airplane wreck. Both passengers aboard died as a result. I wrote about it here in 2015. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. I crave the forest, the smells, the beauty and especially the healthy feeling of being outdoors. from Mike Schoeffel. Make sure you leave your thoughts in the comments, especially if you know of other crashed planes hiding in the wilderness of North Carolina. I love to hike! I found an article in the Mountaineer called. He looked tired but exuded deep satisfaction. It was time to head back. Wed love to hear about them! 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. Although we were dealing with low visibility, we knew we had reached Browning Knob once the forest cleared and we came to another lookout. If you look around youll see bits of wreckage spread around the area as well. 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. His pack animal instinct was causing him to be on alert. fornotifications regarding new blog posts, travel destinations, photography updates and newly available art. I help women with chronic illnesses develop the confidence to travel the world solo! Take this trail. And as a hiker, I love a challenging hike thanks for sharing. They also found the frozen bodies of the two victims who had sadly died on impact. Youre there, its right up ahead. As well as what happens when we take the majesty of flight for granted. Thats not very clearly markedThanks for trying to help with your big write up that didnt help much thanks. I dont think a flight plan was filedwhich means the pilot may have just been flying by sight and ducking under clouds. To find the plane crash, you hike to a clearing called Waterrock Knob, and take the trail to the left that leads to Browning Knob. I took some photos of the wreckage, and I have even more mental photos to share through written words. This shed some light on the mystery. Where to park for the Waterrock Knob Plane Crash hike. The pilot's blood alcohol level was at 0.04%. Meteorological conditions at the crash site included low clouds and precipitation. 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. Start at the Waterrock Visitor Center at Milepost 451.2 off the Blue Ridge Parkway. If you are spending some time in North Carolina or if you are driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway, hiking this trail will make a fantastic addition to your trip. And you just stay left. There are also restrooms by the visitor center which is your last chance to go before you start hiking. Plane Crash Site from 1983, Waterrock Knob, North Carolina, USA. We said goodbye to our new friends, and began our adventure. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Moderate 4.6 (1494) Blue Ridge Parkway. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. Address: Waterrock Knob, North Carolina 28779, USA 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. January 11, 2022 | Julie Roland Realty | Route 64 Blog, Route 64 Journal. We took some time along the hike back to really appreciate the beauty of the forest and fall foliage. The crash lays there as it landed with frayed cords and broken windows serving as a reminder of the final journey. - Cause: Ask me how someday? Waterrock Knob has the highest elevation on the Parkway. Download Millions Of Videos Online. Your email address will not be published. It was quite a trek! All Rights Reserved, Marcus and Jill Thompson. However, on that fateful day, he was apparently unaware or unconcerned by the weather awaiting him. Sylva, North Carolina. The Ranger was giving directions to two guys in shorts and tee-shirts. Heres my full guide on how to hike to the Waterrock Knob plane crash with everything you need to know to plan your outing. - 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. Odin pulled me up the rocky path with a spring in his four legs. Take the Blue Ridge Parkway to mile marker 451.2 into the Waterrock Knob Visitor Center located inSylva, NC to begin the hike to the crash site. Both people on board died. Shockingly enough, you can even make a day of it! We started early, only 3 other cars in lot. For this portion of the trail, it is important to follow the yellow markers painted on the trees to make sure you stay on the correct trail. 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.. 10/10 recommend it as a place to stay, and, wherever you choose, Maggie Valley is a great base for your adventures. The trail starts at the last path on the left before the summit. Located just 18 miles from the southern end of the Parkway and farther away from larger cities, it has a more remote and quiet feel to it. We were there last fall and someone had spray painted the plane. 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. 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. Graffiti covered the white paint. And, a Hawaiian woman who I will most likely never see again, held my hand, as if she were one of my closest friends. I never knew that there are close to 54 plane crash sites located in the Smoky Mountains. This blog post covers the hike to the Cessna 414 plane crash deep in the mountains of North Carolina and where to watch one of the most beautiful sunsets in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Sample Page; ; Once you start at the visitor center, you will climb .5 miles up to the top of Waterrock Knob. 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. The young girl was about eight-years-old. The visitor center building with restrooms in the building on the left, This sign points out the start of the trail. Martin likely would have made it the rest of the way without much incident, had he been a couple of hundred feet higher. A couple of homemade signs nailed to trees a short ways down the path offer tips and warnings for proceeding ahead. 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. He had friends in the area and had flown into the Jackson County Airport before. The Mixa' hike Waterrock Knob. In fact, it is one of dozens of unsalvageable flying machines that crashed in the Great . To start the trail, you simply follow the hike to Waterrock Knob. The two of them squatted down beside Odin. 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 know is that two men in 1983 were suddenly cast into a situation that was out of their control. Being less than 10 miles from Maggie Valley, it is the closest hike and Visitors Center. Both occupants were killed. It was quite an eerie sight! There are affiliate links included in this post. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The thing about getting to any summit is that you gotta go uphill. I think he and his parents were Hawaiian. 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. Thank god someone cleaned up the graffiti. General questions and FAM tours: rjarvis@onlyinyourstate.com. Learn how your comment data is processed. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn a commission if you book through the link. After hiking up to Waterrock Knob, I overheard a Ranger standing in front of a narrow path to the left. I found it easier to follow the spray paint on trees and rocks to stay on the trail. The hike back to the parking lot was just as arduous as the hike to the crash site, and ended up being about a 2.5 mile hike round trip. Well now I want to go back and rewatch that. She hung on to me for several minutes. He was just a little low.. Did you know that there are several airplane crashes that have happened in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park? Hi Ace, it seems you mightve mixed up what Ive written because I never said its on the right after the knob. The path is clear and paved for the first bit before turning to dirt and leading up several stone staircases. See. Its a very good idea to tell multiple people where you are heading, and its probably not a trail you should tackle alone. On November 24, 1983, a Cessna 414 was en route to the Jackson County Airport from Chicago when it crashed into the mountainside just before 6:00 pm. 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. Keep reading to learn how to hike to an airplane crash in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park via the Waterrock Knob trail. Both occupants lost their lives in the crash, so it is important to be respectful of the crash site when visiting. "I think I'm going to throw another key on the fire!". Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/38801. Archive photos: Airplane crashes in the Smoky Mountains 1956-1997. Hike the relatively easy Waterrock Knob Trail for 0.9 miles: mostly uphill and paved, with impressive views. Marcus and I were wandering around the fuselage like detectives at a crime scene. . Ill admit this Sunday, we were trying to talk ourselves out of hiking. Much of the Cessna 414 is still up there on the mountain. The sun shining down on the North Carolina mountains is truly a sight we will never forget! Browning Knob and Waterrock Knob. My first thought was nah, its on the other side. Once you are off the main paved trail, it turns into more of an intermediate hike. 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 leftyou might even miss it if you werent looking for it. Climbing up this mountain was quite a Hike and was a bigger chore than I realized it would be. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. This shed some light on the mystery. If they had only been flying a little bit higher, they probably would have reached their destination. 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. We were so determined to complete a hike that wed carry him piggyback in shifts when he got tired. Heres What You Should Know, 29 Best Restaurants in Pigeon Forge, Ranked [2023], Great Smoky Mountains National Park Entrance Fees, What You Should Know, Smoky Mountains in March: Events in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge [2023], A Simple Guide to Smoky Mountain Parking Passes, Park it Forward. Enjoy the rest of your weekend! I smiled and turned in the other direction. Mitchell State Park will take you along a rocky, windy path to the top of the mountain, and a hike to Paradise Falls will reward you with stunning, watery views of the hidden waterfall. About halfway up though, the trail transitions to a dirt trail with rock steps. We talked about the dented metal and torn off debris; and tried to visualize what had happened. Didn't spend to much time up at Waterrock because of the wind. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. You will find the crash site at latitude 35.46354, longitude -83.13207. After traversing a few other trails, visitors will come upon the wreckage of a Cessna 414A which crashed in 1983. People had clearly left their mark over the 36 years. They were drawn to our yellow lab, Odin. You will receive your first newsletter soon. Nature brings out the best in people. 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. One of Marcus catch phrases is theres always time for a hike! So being Labor Day weekend, we could not put off this adventure. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. While sad, this hike is definitely unique and interesting. They were drawn to our yellow lab, Odin. Tragic story. To learn more, clickhere. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Unfortunately, since the internet has connected everyone. After crossing snowbird VOR the aircraft turned south and again there were altitude excursions. The grandmother laughed and grabbed my arm. The views are epic and sweeping: When you start returning back down the trail from the summit, youll see the small plane crash trail on your right. Here are some of the prettiest trails in North Carolina: The state of North Carolina is known for its expansive beauty, but there are a few hikes across the Tar Heel State that really take the cake. We all know that North Carolina has much to offer; however, it's home to only one known plane crash site. If youve never been to Bryson City you need to visit! It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The bodies are gone and buried elsewhere. 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. The hike offers epic and sweeping views of the North Carolina mountains, including from one of the spurs, a glimpse of Ghost Town in Maggie Valley off in the distance. Im pretty sure there are some ghosts there. Hiked to this wreck back in the 90s when I went to school at Western Carolina University. Plane Crash at Waterrock Knob. My legs and arms were feeling slightly fatigued, but I was still looking forward to the climb. Just before reaching the top of the Knob, there is a trail to your left. 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. Follow the yellow markers painted on the trees. And some of the trees along the trail have been marked with yellow spray paint to make it easier. It was heading to Sylva, just 11 miles from the crash site, but unfortunately they did not make it. This one is a fairly easy trail in terms of skill. We did this short hike a few weeks ago..You really should take the side trip to Browning Knob and see the old plane crash..Only an extra mile or so. If you are interested in hiking to this airplane crash, you also will probably enjoy hiking to Shuckstack Fire Tower. Theres more details below so please read the full guide to see if its a good option for you. This peak (6,292 feet) is the 16th highest mountain in the Eastern United States and the the 15th highest of the 40 mountains in North Carolina . Deep Gap Trail at Mt. Shortly after taking the detour to the left (approximately 0.3 miles from Browning Knob) we saw the plane crash in the distance, admidst the trees and haze. Can Sacred Places Impact Our Energy and Our Mood? Odins ears perked up. The plane could have made it over the mountain if it had just been about 150 feet higher. You take the Waterrock Knob Trail, he said. Have you been to Waterrock Knob? He asked. I heard it might even be getting removed soon because of it. And one of those trails holds the wreckage of a plane crash from more than 40 years ago. Its about two-hours round trip from here!. Skip to main content. Located at Milepost 451.2, it is the sixteenth highest mountain in the East. Jun 25, 2018. The older man smiled wide and pulled a treat from his pocket. Dont be disrespectful, dont leave trash behind, dont graffiti the airplane, and dont take anything with you. Fewer hikers decide to venture this far out. A soft warm breeze touched my face, and finally got me to take action. The path was straight down the side of the mountain; winding around moss covered trees and through what seemed like mile high pines overhead. And it appears to have had some holes kicked into it as well. If you are facing the visitor center, the trail follows an incline on the right. It rises a total of 2,000 feet in just about three . Where To Swim At Jordan Lake, NC Complete Beach Hopping Guide, Glamping In North Carolina Heres How To Plan Your Off The Grid Adventure, Heres Why You Gotta Visit The Worlds Largest Strawberry Building In NC. Be sure to also check out these other top destinations in the Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina: This post may contain affiliate links. Theres no sign as its unmaintained, but when I did it there was an arrow spray painted on a rock. The planes tail completely detached; laying against a tree trunk about 15 feet away. For us, this happens on most weekends. Headed over to the browning knob/plane crash site, this part of the trail wasn't to hard to follow with AllTrails map downloaded. 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. The Ranger continued on up Waterrock and out of site. However, by eight-years-old he wasnt getting free ride. 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. It can be muddy and slippery if its been raining, so just take your time as you walk over the tree roots. Note: When hiking to this area please be respectful of the site. Waterrock Knob is one of my favorite hikes and its always one that I recommend to visitors. A work colleague, Drew, had hooked me into conversation last week about the hike. The entire trek to the plane and back is a little more than two miles round trip. When you do meet new and interesting people, youll find its like waking up from a sound sleep. This leads down the mountainside for approximately 200 yards to reach the crash site. I saw families with kids doing the trail while I was there and people with dogs I took my dog too. Or have you already been out to see it before? on How to Hike to an Airplane Crash in the Great Smoky Mountains- Waterrock Knob, How to Hike to an Airplane Crash in the Great Smoky Mountains- Waterrock Knob. CESSNA 414A airplane, which is an American light-pressured twin engine. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Check this box to receive emails from Journey to the Destination. Both occupants were killed. How could that be, you ask? Theres a large free parking area, visitor center for more information on the area, and some beautiful views here so its worth checking out. In fact, it is one of dozens of unsalvageable flying machines that crashed in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and have been left where they came to rest. A black smoke monster chased him away before he had the chance to look. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. The aircraft had impacted mountainous terrain at about 6,000 feet msl and 11 miles from the destination. There are 41 sparks and recreation areas across the state, and each one seems to be more beautiful than the next.
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