Smoky Mountain Jeep invasion 2023

[O-Face]

I'm going to be in the show and shine again this year so no trails for me till the end. If anyone happens to see the Money Pit, stop by and say hi.

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[Puch]

I know this is still quite a while away, but my Dad, son, and I just booked a airbnb in pigeon forge. August 23rd-26th. We plan on going to the Jeep show Thursday or Friday. We would also like to drive over to wind rock to do the badge of honor trails. So if anyone on here is heading to the show and would like to meet up at Windrock Thursday or Friday we could probably get a nice group to go.

On a side note we planned a week trip to Pigeon forge/Gatlinburg June 24th-29th. My wife wanted to go to wind rock a day that week as well, so if anyone is interested in that too let me know.

Jeff

I’ll be heading from ct to tn in about a week towing our camper. Making a few stops on the way.
I still haven’t done my homework and researched the difficulty of the trails at Windrock. I know they have a good selection, but not sure which one will be best for me.
As I said, I’m towing out to TN and back to CT so I have to keep my JT in one piece. As much as I want to challenge myself and the Jeep on the trails, it’s not worth taking the chance. That being said, can anyone suggest a trail that takes a long time, but is somewhat mild? I’m not looking for a 2wd dirt road and I don’t want to be 4lo bouncing off rocks either.
We just want to take a long trail and enjoy the scenery. There’s a few videos of people on Windrock trails, but they don’t give a a picture of the whole trail or if the more challenging parts have a bypass so I can avoid possible damage.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

[Jglad15]

I’ll be heading from ct to tn in about a week towing our camper. Making a few stops on the way.
I still haven’t done my homework and researched the difficulty of the trails at Windrock. I know they have a good selection, but not sure which one will be best for me.
As I said, I’m towing out to TN and back to CT so I have to keep my JT in one piece. As much as I want to challenge myself and the Jeep on the trails, it’s not worth taking the chance. That being said, can anyone suggest a trail that takes a long time, but is somewhat mild? I’m not looking for a 2wd dirt road and I don’t want to be 4lo bouncing off rocks either.
We just want to take a long trail and enjoy the scenery. There’s a few videos of people on Windrock trails, but they don’t give a a picture of the whole trail or if the more challenging parts have a bypass so I can avoid possible damage.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

I went to wind rock in June from MD. We did our family trip this year to Gatlinburg after windrock. Wind rock was fun. We did a lot of blue trails. Being from Connecticut have you been to Rausch creek? To me when you get on a trail at Rausch (let’s say a blue trail) the entire trail to me is considered blue. At wind rock I felt like you would get on a blue trail the majority of the trail felt green till you get to the obstacle itself. Then it tones down till the next obstacle.

But I am heading to the Jeep invasion with my Dad and son on the 23rd. We would be open to going to wind rock Thursday or Friday if we got a few of us to go. We did the boh trail #26 in June. I wouldn’t mind trying to get panther rock while we are down there again. That’s an easier trail. Plenty of scenery down there though. Not that it’s a trail but you can check out Cades cove. It’s a loop that’s paved, but very scenic.

 

[GladLad]

There’s a trail that opened up in the last year or so, that heads out of Cade’s Cove. The starting point is fairly close to the gift shop, and the one-way trail puts you out on some super curvy highway ( tail of the dragon ).

edit : parsons branch road

edit2 : with a Mojave, the ride smooths out if you go a tad faster than most vehicles. Be safe; you probably won’t be the slowest.

Thanks. Looks like an easy trail based on a Youtube video. Probably doesn't need an airdown or taken out of 2wd.

I should still hurry and make my inflation setup choice so I can have it for other trails that week though (TN and KY).

I guess I won't be the slowest, because if there's 8k Jeeps in the area it might be a traffic jam anyway. And we'll all be slow.

 

[Phishs]

Thanks. Looks like an easy trail based on a Youtube video. Probably doesn't need an airdown or taken out of 2wd.

I should still hurry and make my inflation setup choice so I can have it for other trails that week though (TN and KY).

I guess I won't be the slowest, because if there's 8k Jeeps in the area it might be a traffic jam anyway. And we'll all be slow.

im doing this road tomorrow. Always a good time.

 

[GladLad]

im doing this road tomorrow. Always a good time.

Good to hear, and it looks nice. Is my assessment accurate as far as air and 2wd?

Any other roads tameable by a newbie that I should look into?

 

[Volt0]

Thanks. Looks like an easy trail based on a Youtube video. Probably doesn't need an airdown or taken out of 2wd.

I should still hurry and make my inflation setup choice so I can have it for other trails that week though (TN and KY).

I guess I won't be the slowest, because if there's 8k Jeeps in the area it might be a traffic jam anyway. And we'll all be slow.

You won’t need to air down ( wouldn’t hurt to take the factory tires down to 30psi for comfort ), but there are a few steep hill climbs that you’ll have an excuse to use 4wd to keep from damaging the trail. The beginning starts off like the beginning of a roller coaster.

There’s also a one-way scenic gravel road that heads out of Cade’s cove, maybe towards Severville ( that’s not the right name, but something like that ). If you’re staying in Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge, then it’ll be a shorter loop.

If you do plan on doing Parsons Branch, fuel up before you head out, bring water and meal/snacks.

 

[Dougstdig]

I know this is still quite a while away, but my Dad, son, and I just booked a airbnb in pigeon forge. August 23rd-26th. We plan on going to the Jeep show Thursday or Friday. We would also like to drive over to wind rock to do the badge of honor trails. So if anyone on here is heading to the show and would like to meet up at Windrock Thursday or Friday we could probably get a nice group to go.

On a side note we planned a week trip to Pigeon forge/Gatlinburg June 24th-29th. My wife wanted to go to wind rock a day that week as well, so if anyone is interested in that too let me know.

Jeff

In town, pay to park!!! Jeff will get you…lol

 

[Puch]

I went to wind rock in June from MD. We did our family trip this year to Gatlinburg after windrock. Wind rock was fun. We did a lot of blue trails. Being from Connecticut have you been to Rausch creek? To me when you get on a trail at Rausch (let’s say a blue trail) the entire trail to me is considered blue. At wind rock I felt like you would get on a blue trail the majority of the trail felt green till you get to the obstacle itself. Then it tones down till the next obstacle.

But I am heading to the Jeep invasion with my Dad and son on the 23rd. We would be open to going to wind rock Thursday or Friday if we got a few of us to go. We did the boh trail #26 in June. I wouldn’t mind trying to get panther rock while we are down there again. That’s an easier trail. Plenty of scenery down there though. Not that it’s a trail but you can check out Cades cove. It’s a loop that’s paved, but very scenic.

Haven’t been to Rausch creek yet. I’ve mostly done a few Jeep jamboree around Northeast and the PA Jeep haritage festival. Just got back from the NJ invasion.
I was planning on doing the show Thursday and Friday. I figured that Saturday would be crazy! Thursday might work. Have you been to this invasion before? Do you think the show can be done in one day?

 

[Phishs]

Yes, just 2WD. The invasion usually has their own trail as well close to the event.

Good to hear, and it looks nice. Is my assessment accurate as far as air and 2wd?

Any other roads tameable by a newbie that I should look into?

n u

 

[Volt0]

@GladLad I haven't done it yet, but there are also several vids about Nemo Tunnel ( on my todo list ). There are some online vids from Coddiwomple and Inside Line.

 

[Phishs]

Good to hear, and it looks nice. Is my assessment accurate as far as air and 2wd?

Any other roads tameable by a newbie that I should look into?

a little more on it. There are around 11 creek crossing which are pretty cool. They are concreted so they’re easy to cross. It comes out on US129 in the middle of the tail of the dragon, if you’ve ever heard of that. You can turn right to head back towards Townsend via Foothills Pkwy or turn left to head up to the top of the dragon where there’s a souvenir shop and grill. They’ll take your pic as you drive on the dragon and you can purchase those pics online the day after. It’s not a long ride mileage wise but it takes awhile. Definitely fill up first. Also, I know someone said it opened up a couple of years ago but that’s only part of it. It reopened a couple of years ago after being closed for 6 years due to tree damage and lack of funds. I’ve been driving / riding that road for a couple of decades. It’s just a fun and easy trail.

 

[TigerInFL]

we'll be there on Tuesday.

PSA .. if you drive on the Tail of the Dragon, do NOT cross the double yellow line on the twisty road. You will get a ticket from a state trooper. YMMV.

 

[Volt0]

a little more on it. There are around 11 creek crossing which are pretty cool. They are concreted so they’re easy to cross. It comes out on US129 in the middle of the tail of the dragon, if you’ve ever heard of that. You can turn right to head back towards Townsend via Foothills Pkwy or turn left to head up to the top of the dragon where there’s a souvenir shop and grill. They’ll take your pic as you drive on the dragon and you can purchase those pics online the day after. It’s not a long ride mileage wise but it takes awhile. Definitely fill up first. Also, I know someone said it opened up a couple of years ago but that’s only part of it. It reopened a couple of years ago after being closed for 6 years due to tree damage and lack of funds. I’ve been driving / riding that road for a couple of decades. It’s just a fun and easy trail.

If you do hang a left on US129, isn’t there there some other trails that head back north ( and get a little flexy )?

 

[Phishs]

@GladLad I haven't done it yet, but there are also several vids about Nemo Tunnel ( on my todo list ). There are some online vids from Coddiwomple and Inside Line.

If you do hang a left on US129, isn’t there there some other trails that head back north ( and get a little flexy )?

There may be but I’m not familiar with them.

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