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Smoky Mountain Driving Tour: Roaring Fork Motor Nature TrailDistance: 8 miles one way The Roaring Fork route is very popular. It showcases
The loop road begins and ends a short distance from downtown Gatlinburg. From Hwy 441, turn onto the Airport Road, it's the eighth traffic light. Airport Road becomes Cherokee Orchard Road, then Roarking Fork Motor Nature Trail begins 3 miles later. The first site you'll see is The Noah "Bud" Ogle Nature Trail. It's an easy stroll through a mountain farmstead with a stream - side tub mill. What's a tub mill? An improvised contraption to churns and grinds corn. As we drive on, once you come to the Rainbow Falls Trailhead, the road becomes a narrow, twisting one - way road. But it follows one of the park's most beautiful streams. The road also takes you through an impressive stand of old - growth eastern hemlocks. Some are 100 feet tall and 5 feet across. Other trails that you'll come across are the
Of historical interest are the original homesteads of Ephraim Bailes and Alfred Reagan. And the last sight you'll see -- er, acturally drive under -- is the unique waterfall, Place of a Thousand Drips. The Roaring Fork Motor Trail is closed from January to mid - March and buses, trailer and RV's are not permitted. www.smoky-mountain-solitude.com
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