We are not endorsed by, authorized by, or affiliated with any mentioned attractions. Dont be disrespectful, dont leave trash behind, dont graffiti the airplane, and dont take anything with you. 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 . The grandmother laughed and grabbed my arm. And some of the trees along the trail have been marked with yellow spray paint to make it easier. Will you be taking the hike? Show 9 More Check-Ins May 29, 2018 Rob H. Amazing view I was able to share with my best friend . Its about two-hours round trip from here!. A visitors' center is located near its summit and a . I listened intently to his point by point directions. If youre planning to make this a weekend trip, I recommend searching on Booking.com to choose a place. Browning Knob is less traveled and isolated from other official National Park Service trails. The latest music videos, short movies, tv shows, funny and extreme videos. The windows were smashed; dark holes appearing to mysteriously lead into another dimension. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. Located at Milepost 451.2, it features the last hiking trail along the Parkway as you travel toward the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are the remnants of an old Cessna plane that crashed there many years ago that you can hike to. 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. 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. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Thank you! And, in the solitude of the trail embarrassed us once again. Located at 5,820 feet in elevation, Waterrock Knob is the Parkway's . Sample Page; ; The two of them squatted down beside Odin. Fort Ridge Overlook to Waterrock Knob is an out-and-back trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Sylva, North Carolina. The remains of a German plane still sit in the Norwegian wood where it crashed in 1942. I recommend bringing lunch with you to enjoy at the top of Browning Knob. This shed some light on the mystery. January 11, 2022 | Julie Roland Realty | Route 64 Blog, Route 64 Journal. Headed over to the browning knob/plane crash site, this part of the trail wasn't to hard to follow with AllTrails map downloaded. Learn how your comment data is processed. The thing about getting to any summit is that you gotta go uphill. They were drawn to our yellow lab, Odin. She was a quick talker. . 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. Have you hiked to this plane crash before? The visitor center is located at 5,820 feet and the summit itself . 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. Once you are done enjoying the view from Browning Knob, be on the lookout for a small, unmarked trail to the left. 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. While we were gathered at the crash site more people started to come. 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. But please, be careful! 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. The wreckage still lies in the quiet mountains where it landed, leaving a unique site for hikers. Required fields are marked *. The plane was inbound from Chicago on November 24th, 1983. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. Have you ever been to this crash site before? Download Millions Of Videos Online. There are no engines at the site as they were salvaged soon after the crash. Roots and rocks were everywhere along the earthy trail. However, by eight-years-old he wasnt getting free ride. 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 plane slammed into the mountain, killing Martin and his passenger immediately. 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. Your email address will not be published. Much of the Cessna 414 is still up there on the mountain. Her love for travel has taken her to many parts of the world. It has a bit of wow factor yet its eerie all at once. Id still like to find some old newspaper articles on the crash if they existand know more about the people who died here. The adventure started at Waterrock Knob. Shame how some ruin it for everyone. OP watch out for dinos!! All we could hear was brushing of leaves and distant howls from the wind. Graffiti covered the white paint. Climbing up this mountain was quite a Hike and was a bigger chore than I realized it would be. And be prepared. Stay at our historic Sixty-One Park Farmhouse located right in downtown! Its a good idea to have someone with you. When you start returning back down the trail from the summit, youll see the small plane crash trail on your right. Additionally, the FAA found a blood alcohol level of .04%. The trail begins as a paved path then turns into a rocky dirt trail. I found it easier to follow the spray paint on trees and rocks to stay on the trail. Most often these travelers offer an interesting departure from the quiet along the trail. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. How are you!, She responded, I never run into you outside of work., We asked about the crash. Copyright 2017 CleanBlog | Theme by AirThemes. 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. Im pretty sure there are some ghosts there. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Drew had said it was a short hike from Waterrock to Browning Knob, and that the plane crash was just off to the left. My legs and arms were feeling slightly fatigued, but I was still looking forward to the climb. The sun shining down on the North Carolina mountains is truly a sight we will never forget! 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. Take this trail. 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. as well as check out the abandoned plane crash of a Cessna 414A that happened back in 1983. 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. 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. Because this hike is difficult, you will more than likely get hungry! The hike continues for about .7 milesalong the ridge of the mountainbut with a lot of elevation change (the equivalent of about 68 flights of stairs!) Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The entire trek to the plane and back is a little more than two miles round trip. Thats not very clearly markedThanks for trying to help with your big write up that didnt help much thanks. Read more in my about section. 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: The remains of a doomed Antarctic plane, buried beneath layers of ice and snow, await those willing to do a bit of digging. And you just stay left. Copyright Lil Blue Boo 2023 | Privacy Policy, The Great Smoky Mountains and Western NC Hiking. Have you hiked at Waterrock? I thought about our hikes 20 years ago, when our son our Alex was five-years-old. Upon reaching the parking lot, you will see the visitor center, which is open from 10 AM - 5 PM from mid-April through October. Or have you already been out to see it before? - Cause: 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. However, on that fateful day, he was apparently unaware or unconcerned by the weather awaiting him. It looks so eerie and such a unique hike. The two men onboard didn't survive the crash. Waterrock Knob is a mountain peak in the U.S. state of North Carolina. I took some photos of the wreckage, and I have even more mental photos to share through written words. The main reason we stopped was to walk to the plane crash site, about 2.5 miles off the main trail. You wont be far from the visitors center, but with the thick canopy, its not a great place to be lost in the mountains. Keep these hiking tips in mind: It is important to remember that the two men on the airplane died in the crash. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Deep Gap Trail at Mt. They also found the frozen bodies of the two victims who had sadly died on impact. Youre there, its right up ahead. Ill admit this Sunday, we were trying to talk ourselves out of hiking. It was a CESSNA 414A airplane, which is an American light-pressured twin engine. After making eye-contact with her, I recognized it was Allison from work. If they had only been flying a little bit higher, they probably would have reached their destination. The hike requires you to hike along the ridge of the mountain, maneuvering between trees, ground roots and boulders along the way. Martin had emigrated from Germany sometime after the war, building a company and a fortune in the Chicago area. Its not too far to travel from my home in Toronto. As sad as it is it would be interesting to see this in person especially a plane from the 80s! Experience this 1.7-mile out-and-back trail near Sylva, North Carolina. To start the trail, you simply follow the hike to Waterrock Knob. I wrote about it here in 2015. Pilot error, poor weather conditions, and other fatal mistakes all played a role in the crash that claimed both lives on board. On November 24, 1983, two pilots began their flight from DuPage Airport in West Chicago headed to Jackson County Airport, North Carolina. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. I help women with chronic illnesses develop the confidence to travel the world solo! Two of the boys, probably her son and his friend, started howlinglike wild prey from further up the trail . If you are interested in hiking to this airplane crash, you also will probably enjoy hiking to Shuckstack Fire Tower. Read more . Blue Ridge Parkway Hikes near Asheville (Craggy Gardens to Waterrock Knob) . The Ranger was giving directions to two guys in shorts and tee-shirts. Hey, I said. In addition to that, hed been drinking a little the FAA reported a blood-alcohol level of .04 percent. Its a paved path and well signed so all you need to do is look out for it. Once you are off the main paved trail, it turns into more of an intermediate hike. The human remains, of course, were returned to the family, and the engines and anything else of value were salvaged. Photos (3,774) Directions. 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 was an unmarked trail with thick overgrowth on either side. Before hiking to the airplane crash, it is important to prepare. To learn more, clickhere. Odin still had energy, which increased the challenge for me. The aircraft had impacted mountainous terrain at about 6,000 feet msl and 11 miles from the destination. I asked the family if theyd been to the plane crash. Fewer hikers decide to venture this far out. The pilot's blood alcohol level was at 0.04%. Follow the yellow markers painted on the trees. Tragic story. The trail starts at the last path on the left before the summit. We took some time along the hike back to really appreciate the beauty of the forest and fall foliage. I stayed here and it was just awesome. And one of those trails holds the wreckage of a plane crash from more than 40 years ago. We were nervous we were not going to get a good view of sunset due to the haze and overcast skies, but by the time we arrived back to the parking lot the haze had cleared and we were able to view one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. 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. If you are facing the visitor center, the trail follows an incline on the right. Thank god someone cleaned up the graffiti. Wires clustered through exposed metal. Or perhaps in this case, maybe not quite close enough. Before hitting the trail-head, we ran into a family coming back from the hike. About halfway up though, the trail transitions to a dirt trail with rock steps. It begins as a paved trail, then moves to a dirt and rocky trail, and there are a few small sections with stairs. 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. This spray painted rock points the way. Maybe the Labor Day weekend was causing us to think about work instead of focusing on a true adventure. 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. A black smoke monster chased him away before he had the chance to look. 74 Likes, TikTok video from smoky.mountain.soul (@smoky.mountain.soul): " Have you found the elusive "plane crash" hike in Western North Carolina? Moderate 4.6 (1494) Blue Ridge Parkway. Sadly, it is true. The crash occurred in 1983 as a result of poor weather and alcohol. We said goodbye to Patrick and Tammy; telling them about a few places to visit during their stay. Point to point with a paved section as well as a dirt and tree root based section. Again, sweeping views of the mountains. As it turned out, the plane could have made it over the mountain if it had been about 150 feet higher! I have an awesome cinematic hiking vlog here for you guys!. If you choose to click on them and make a purchase, I may earn a small fee at no additional cost to you. Glad we saw the same thing. For us, this happens on most weekends. They were drawn to our yellow lab, Odin. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. I just give you as much information as possible to make that decision for yourself and I hope that helps. 0. Read more about my story here. If the above hike to an abandoned airplane crash in North Carolina whets your appetite for adventure, read on! This hike is definitely worth it! At least, this was his recollection. Click here are a few of my favorite places near Bryson City. It is the modern-day retelling of the Icarus story of flying too close to the sun. See All . Watch premium and official videos free online. The probable cause of the crash was determined to be due to low visibility from low lying clouds and precipitation. Can You Do Dollywood in One Day? The white aluminum caught my attention; nestled in a downward section of the mountain in a quiet place among trees and other plant life. Last year the door and seats where stolen off the plane. 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. Where to park for the Waterrock Knob Plane Crash hike. Waterrock Knob - Milepost 451.2. If you get the chance, the Great Smoky Mountain National Park is an amazing place to visit. He was right on course, the Civil Air Patrol Major explained to a Chicago newspaper in the winter of 1983. Waterrock Knob is a must-stop along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Of course, you know your kids best so use this guide and your best judgment to decide if its appropriate for yours. Certainly, it is a stark reminder of how powerless we really are in the face of nature. I was getting Uncharted 1 vibes. 2023 Marcus and Jill's Happy Trails. 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. The older man smiled wide and pulled a treat from his pocket. After traversing a few other trails, visitors will come upon the wreckage of a Cessna 414A which crashed in 1983. Press J to jump to the feed. There is a shared bond in braving the elements and climbing to higher altitudes. 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. And as a hiker, I love a challenging hike thanks for sharing. An annual celebration of the region's successful elk reintroduction program. Robin Jarvis is a travel writer and editor for OnlyInYourState.com with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. This is not a maintained path but there are plenty of forums online about how to . This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. An old airplane engine forms an unusual cairn atop this Moroccan peak. 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 . Waterrock Knob is best known for the hiking trail to its summit. All Rights Reserved, Marcus and Jill Thompson. This trail is paved but very steep! It's far worse now than it ever was. The beginning portion of the trail, although still steep, is paved in between stair sections. Maybe the Ranger was trying to discourage us from going on the unofficial hike. When I reached the top of Waterrock Knob, under rather malicious-looking skies, a 60-year old man with . If you decide to go on this hike, you be challenged, rewarded and you will find a group of trail buddies along the way. Just before reaching the top of the Knob, there is a trail to your left. It was quite an eerie sight! 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 . Rethink that selfie. 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. This site is monitored, so please do not remove any items from the crash. 20 reviews of Waterrock Knob "Waterrock Knob is part of the Plott Balsalms range. But the hike is definitley one of my favorites. Skip to main content. Beware. While this hike isnt long, it is difficult. The adventure started at Waterrock Knob. Browning Knob and Waterrock Knob. I hollered up the stairs to Marcus, come on, lets go on the hike!. I heard it might even be getting removed soon because of it. Theres no sign as its unmaintained, but when I did it there was an arrow spray painted on a rock. Quiet reflection will force you to be in the moment with your thoughts. Discover our featured content. When I can make the trip Ill definitely consider doing this hike, it seems like an interesting one I had no idea how dangerous the Smoky Mountains were for planes. Hiked 10/30 2nd time doing this trail and 2nd time doing the entire thing in the clouds!! Make sure you leave your thoughts in the comments, especially if you know of other crashed planes hiding in the wilderness of North Carolina. 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. While we were gathered at the crash site more people started to come. Shuckstack Fire Tower is an old fire observatory tower in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park! A soft warm breeze touched my face, and finally got me to take action. It would be nice to get that garbage off of the ground. 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. You also could like hiking at Deep Creek. Waterrock Knob: Waterrock Knob is one of my favorite hikes and it's always one that I recommend to visitors. I think he and his parents were Hawaiian. It is the highest peak in the Plott Balsams and is the 16th-highest mountain in the Eastern United States. Unfortunately, there has been several tragic airplane crashes in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. In November of 1983, a combination of poor weather and alcohol led to the crash of a small Cessna 414A plane, killing all on board. Marcus and I were wandering around the fuselage like detectives at a crime scene. This nearly 40-year-old plane wreckage is located near the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina. You can use Waterrock Knob Visitor Center in Google Maps to get to the parking area. Why did the plane remain? After crossing snowbird VOR the aircraft turned south and again there were altitude excursions. 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 . Thank you for sharing. Members of the Civil Air Patrol found the wreckage near the summit of Waterrock Knob Peak a week later. Recommendations: We highly recommend a hike to Waterrock Knob to visitors in the Maggie Valley/Waynesville area. A work colleague, Drew, had hooked me into conversation last week about the hike. It was heading to Sylva, just 11 miles from the crash site, but unfortunately they did not make it. After reaching the Waterrock Knob lookout, you will see a trail to the left. You will find the crash site at latitude 35.46354, longitude -83.13207. This portion of the trail is also fairly difficult and is not recommended for novice hikers or lone hikers. 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. 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. Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 451.2: Waterrock Knob Visitor Center and Park Store. The adventure started at Waterrock Knob. 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. Its not right off the side after the knob and its NOT.. And its very very difficult and could take hours. There are some days when you really get the itch to go on a hike. Waterrock Knob is a hidden gem on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Offer subject to change without notice. Your pictures were fabulous! His wife was suddenly standing by my side, close, like she was my friend. Wed love to hear about them! When she's not working, she loves to cook with friends and check out new adventures. That crash occurred just 11 years after this one, and was one of the most tragic plane crashes in North Carolina. His sweat covered hair was tied back in a ponytail. ???? The aircraft had impacted mountainous terrain at about 6,000 feet msl and 11 miles from the destination. I was super interested. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 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. How to Get to Heaven from Waterrock Knob. Completely agree! Spinosaurus might still be there close somewhere. There are also restrooms available and picnic tables with gorgeous panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. The two of them squatted down beside Odin. She brushed her hand across the soft whitish golden fur on Odins head without hesitation. 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The vision of the plane crash is now fixed as part of my memory. Patrick was imagining how the plane first crashed into the mountain; analyzing the trees above, and how the, Feeling the Energy at The Airport Mesa Vortex, A Trail of Luminaries through Old Town Albuquerque. Today, we met people from California, South Carolina, and others from our own town. When you do meet new and interesting people, youll find its like waking up from a sound sleep. It is equal parts morbid and fascinating. 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 moderately difficult two-mile hike begins at the Waterrock Knob Visitor Center and trailhead in Sylva, North Carolina. The young girl was about eight-years-old. North Carolina Hiking: Cessna 414 Plane Crash & Sunset at Waterrock Knob. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. 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. The drive to Waterrock Knob along the Blue Ridge Parkway is arguably one of the most beautiful and scenic drives in the country. I recommend going to the summit first to check out the views, then going to the plane crash after. Thank god someone cleaned up the graffiti. The path is moderately difficult with roots and downed trees and muddy patches to negotiate. The visitor center building with restrooms in the building on the left, This sign points out the start of the trail. Meteorological conditions at the crash site included low clouds and precipitation. Completely agree! 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. Packing the right day hike essentials is super important for your trip. 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 there last fall and someone had spray painted the plane. Follow this trail for half of a mile to reach Browning Knob. He looked at his daughter, she gets tired easily, so we dont go on long hikes anymore.. 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. I was confused. You take the Waterrock Knob Trail, he said. The older man smiled wide and pulled a treat from his pocket. Odins ears perked up. If youre not a confident hiker but still want to explore the area, maybe just do this trail to the summit. 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. What a good movie. People had clearly left their mark over the 36 years. 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.. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Harold Blackwood photo. She brushed her hand across the. It can be easy to get lost or miss the trail that leads to the crash site. Hiked to this wreck back in the 90s when I went to school at Western Carolina University. From Waterrock Knob, which is named for the spring near the summit where hunters would refill their canteens, the trail is small, mostly unmarked and easily missed.