The windows were smashed; dark holes appearing to mysteriously lead into another dimension. An ideal spot for watching sunrise and sunsets across the rugged mountains, Waterrock Knob Visitor Center sits at almost 6,000 feet elevation. Wires clustered through exposed metal. Later we learn there is a hike to a plane crash that can be reach from Waterrock Knob Trail. The Ranger continued on up Waterrock and out of site. Here on the mountain side, seats and wreckage were scattered all over the steep terrain. Just before you reach the last stretch of trail to the top, you should see a fairly obvious trail leading off to the left, marked with flagging tape. Both occupants lost their lives in the crash, so it is important to be respectful of the crash site when visiting. It was an unspoken closeness she was expressing; after she and I had shared a few things we had in common with our lives. Tragic story. Much of the eight-seat Cessna 414A is still up there on the mountain. The trail begins as a paved path then turns into a rocky dirt trail. The aircraft had impacted mountainous terrain at about 6,000 feet msl and 11 miles from the destination. Take this trail. But the hike is definitley one of my favorites. The main reason we stopped was to walk to the plane crash site, about 2.5 miles off the main trail. 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. The trail to the Browning Knob plane crash site is called Plott Balsams and is unofficial. The aircraft had impacted mountainous terrain at about 6,000 feet msl and 11 miles from the destination. 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. 601. Unfortunately, we were still unable to witness any of the panoramic views we had heard about, but noticed another trail leading to the left, which lead to the Cessna 414 plane crash. It is the highest peak in the Plott Balsams and is the 16th-highest mountain in the Eastern United States. I found it easier to follow the spray paint on trees and rocks to stay on the trail. 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. The plane could have made it over the mountain if it had just been about 150 feet higher. To the left, I thought, this must be the way to Browning Knob! Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. There are no engines at the site as they were salvaged soon after the crash. Required fields are marked *. 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 . These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. A visitors' center is located near its summit and a . Shuckstack Fire Tower is an old fire observatory tower in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park! People are going there and tagging it with spray paint and being disrespectful as many people in the states are. After making eye-contact with her, I recognized it was Allison from work. Read Also: 5 abandoned places in the Smokies you didnt know existed. 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. The planes tail completely detached; laying against a tree trunk about 15 feet away. Waterrock Knob is one of my favorite hikes and its always one that I recommend to visitors. Its not too far to travel from my home in Toronto. Its a good idea to have someone with you. All we could hear was brushing of leaves and distant howls from the wind. Waterrock Knob is a hidden gem on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Address: Waterrock Knob, North Carolina 28779, USA It is often used but remains off the beaten path. Shockingly enough, you can even make a day of it! The moderately difficult two-mile hike begins at the Waterrock Knob Visitor Center and trailhead in Sylva, North Carolina. These knobs will give you a spectacular view of the Blueridge Mountains. Making a Composition Book Art Journal. How to Make a DIY Printing Press from a Panini Press. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Before hitting the trail-head, we ran into a family coming back from the hike. Discover our featured content. Rethink that selfie. The remains of a German plane still sit in the Norwegian wood where it crashed in 1942. I have an awesome cinematic hiking vlog here for you guys! Hiked to this wreck back in the 90s when I went to school at Western Carolina University. 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. It can be easy to get hurt or lost while hiking to the airplane crash site. No purchase necessary. This spray painted rock points the way. Hiking to such a place really gives one time to think and realize how fragile and fleeting life truly is. Read more about my story here. In fact, he didnt file a flight plan as required in that situation. Quiet reflection will force you to be in the moment with your thoughts. 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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. I took some photos of the wreckage, and I have even more mental photos to share through written words. I wrote about it here in 2015. Archive photos: Airplane crashes in the Smoky Mountains 1956-1997. Dont be disrespectful, dont leave trash behind, dont graffiti the airplane, and dont take anything with you. Guest columnist: You can love Jesus and strippers at the same time. Theres a lot of ups and downs so youll probably get a little puffed on the incline, but if you have a reasonable level of fitness, you should be fine. People have absolutely no respect. When you do meet new and interesting people, youll find its like waking up from a sound sleep. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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. 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). 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. While sad, this hike is definitely unique and interesting. I used to hike to this as a teenager once every few months and the vandalism and theft has only really started in the past 3 years. Meteorological conditions at the crash site included low clouds and precipitation. It's far worse now than it ever was. If you are facing the visitor center, the trail follows an incline on the right. Robin Jarvis is a travel writer and editor for OnlyInYourState.com with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. 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. If you are interested in hiking to this airplane crash, you also will probably enjoy hiking to Shuckstack Fire Tower. Now it's 100% covered with graffiti. While we do our best to bring you the most up-to-date information, TheSmokies.com LLC makes no warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of any content contained within. Down that trail about 100 feet, youll be able to see the plane in the distance down the hill. I think he and his parents were Hawaiian. Waterrock Knob: Waterrock Knob is one of my favorite hikes and it's always one that I recommend to visitors. Top Hikes in Western North Carolina - The Blue Ridge Mountains Upload, share, download and embed your videos. I recommend bringing lunch with you to enjoy at the top of Browning Knob. Didn't spend to much time up at Waterrock because of the wind. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Knowing that two lives were lost at the site, the vibe was pretty heavy. 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. Both people on board died. Blue Ridge Parkway Hikes near Asheville (Craggy Gardens to Waterrock Knob) . If they had only been flying a little bit higher, they probably would have reached their destination. Its not something you would climb in or on, but it is interesting to see and take some photos of. My legs and arms were feeling slightly fatigued, but I was still looking forward to the climb. 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. Completely agree! As Im getting older I dont do it as much as I should and your pictures helped me see things I dont see much of anymore. I wrote about it here in 2015. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. If you get the chance, the Great Smoky Mountain National Park is an amazing place to visit. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. 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. But, its a wide trail with plenty of room to stop and catch your breath if you need to. Just keep an eye out for the small path. Members of the Civil Air Patrol found the wreckage near the summit of Waterrock Knob Peak a week later. Before hitting the trail-head, we ran into a family coming back from the hike. The human remains, of course, were returned to the family, and the engines and anything else of value were salvaged. Here are some of the best places with cave hikes in North Carolina: Caves are perhaps one of the most fascinating and strange natural wonders out in the wild, especially because of how tempting they are to explore. 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. 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 youve never been to Bryson City you need to visit! 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. 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? The shattered hull has proven a popular spot for graffiti. See. Heres my full guide on how to hike to the Waterrock Knob plane crash with everything you need to know to plan your outing. Its a paved path and well signed so all you need to do is look out for it. The two men onboard didn't survive the crash. And one of those trails holds the wreckage of a plane crash from more than 40 years ago. The visitor center building with restrooms in the building on the left, This sign points out the start of the trail. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 451.2: Waterrock Knob Visitor Center and Park Store. . Thats not very clearly markedThanks for trying to help with your big write up that didnt help much thanks. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Once you are off the main paved trail, it turns into more of an intermediate hike. Its not very far: I wouldnt ever go alone to the crash, or too close to dusk. It was also pretty easy to follow the well worn path just by looking as well, but the spray painted markings definitely made it easier. There were some trail markers tied to trees, but they werent as reliable because some had been blown away in storms. The path is clear and paved for the first bit before turning to dirt and leading up several stone staircases. The young guy said hed heard about the hike, but not this time. Before hiking to the airplane crash, it is important to prepare. Your email address will not be published. If you choose to click on them and make a purchase, I may earn a small fee at no additional cost to you. Great eye! Glad we saw the same thing. A work colleague, Drew, had hooked me into conversation last week about the hike. You will be walking through the quiet woods then all of a sudden the crash appears through the trees. They are pretending to be wolves, Allison confirmed. First you have to climb up Waterrock Knob which is the highes. Copyright 2017 CleanBlog | Theme by AirThemes. Plane Crash Site from 1983, Waterrock Knob, North Carolina, USA. 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. The aircraft then descended and crossed the snowbird VOR at about 6,700 feet. 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. This leads down the mountainside for approximately 200 yards to reach the crash site. In my blog I never try and say whether you should or shouldnt do a hike. I have an awesome cinematic hiking vlog here for you guys!. Packing the right day hike essentials is super important for your trip. Photos (3,774) Directions. The walk from Waterrock Knob to Browning Knob was approximately 0.7 miles. You probably dont need to reminder, but keep in mind it is a site where people died so keep it respectful when you visit. It can be muddy and slippery if its been raining, so just take your time as you walk over the tree roots. Show 9 More Check-Ins May 29, 2018 Rob H. Amazing view I was able to share with my best friend . - Cause: . Probable cause: Occurrence #1: in flight encounter with weather. The trail turns to dirt and continues for another quarter mile until Waterrock Knob. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Check this box to receive emails from Journey to the Destination. After crossing snowbird VOR the aircraft turned south and again there were altitude excursions. 10 Tips for Safe Travel: How to Travel the World Safely! They would never reach their destination, and the aftermath of the crash has lied deep in the mountains of North Carolina ever since. 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. Of course, you know your kids best so use this guide and your best judgment to decide if its appropriate for yours. Thank you for sharing. While we were gathered at the crash site more people started to come. 10/10 recommend it as a place to stay, and, wherever you choose, Maggie Valley is a great base for your adventures. After traversing a few other trails, visitors will come upon the wreckage of a Cessna 414A which crashed in 1983. Its perfect for a one-and-done day out in the wilderness. He went on to explain its an unofficial trail, and the navigation can be treacherous. The aircraft had impacted mountainous terrain at about 6,000 feet msl and 11 miles from the destination. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. We all know that North Carolina has much to offer; however, it's home to only one known plane crash site. Read more . Offer subject to change without notice. Waterrock Knob is best known for the hiking trail to its summit. Most often these travelers offer an interesting departure from the quiet along the trail. 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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