Be sure to also check out these other top destinations in the Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina: This post may contain affiliate links. After traversing a few other trails, visitors will come upon the wreckage of a Cessna 414A which crashed in 1983. 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. What! While we were gathered at the crash site more people started to come. The Ranger continued on up Waterrock and out of site. The trail begins as a paved path then turns into a rocky dirt trail. Odins ears perked up. 601. It was an unmarked trail with thick overgrowth on either side. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. Meteorological conditions at the crash site included low clouds and precipitation. He was right on course, after all, just a little low. - Cause: Take a left turn into the forest . Thank you for reading this post on how to hike to an airplane crash via the Waterrock Knob trail. Read more . Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 451.2: Waterrock Knob Visitor Center and Park Store. The aircraft then descended and crossed the snowbird VOR at about 6,700 feet. He was right on course, the Civil Air Patrol Major explained to a Chicago newspaper in the winter of 1983. It is equal parts morbid and fascinating. Im pretty sure there are some ghosts there. Beautiful sunset, viewed from the Waterrock Knob parking lot upon returning after the hike. The outdoor adventures found along the parkway include a multitude of trails, visitor centers, and stunning overlooks. The elevation change is said to be equivalent to about 68 flights of stairs. Tammy arrived after Patrick; she was standing behind the plane on the slope. Archive photos: Airplane crashes in the Smoky Mountains 1956-1997 Retumbo 8lbsIn addition, it is an Extreme Powder, making it perfect for Will you be taking the hike? Marcus and I were wandering around the fuselage like detectives at a crime scene. ???? The pilot was also determined to have been impaired, with a blood alcohol content of 0.04%. Browning Knob and a Plane Crash Site - Nancy East The crash occurred in 1983 as a result of poor weather and alcohol. It has a bit of wow factor yet its eerie all at once. 20 reviews of Waterrock Knob "Waterrock Knob is part of the Plott Balsalms range. Length 1.7 miElevation gain 692 ftRoute type Out & back. Its a paved path and well signed so all you need to do is look out for it. Hiking to the Waterrock Knob plane crash is one of the most interesting hikes I have ever been on. While this hike isnt long, it is difficult. We were there last fall and someone had spray painted the plane. Browning Knob - HD Carolina Graffiti covered the white paint. Renovating a 1960s ranch house and an old train depot. 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. It was an unspoken closeness she was expressing; after she and I had shared a few things we had in common with our lives. Debris is scattered everywhere in about a 20 to 30 foot radius. Some North Carolina Cherokee have been keeping their history alive for decades with a single play. There are affiliate links included in this post. Packing the right day hike essentials is super important for your trip. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). A black smoke monster chased him away before he had the chance to look. as well as check out the abandoned plane crash of a Cessna 414A that happened back in 1983. They were drawn to our yellow lab, Odin. Start at the Waterrock Visitor Center at Milepost 451.2 off the Blue Ridge Parkway. When you visit the crash site, you can tell that the airplane almost cleared the mountain. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. The adventure started at Waterrock Knob. The aircraft had impacted mountainous terrain at about 6,000 feet msl and 11 miles from the destination. Waterrock Knob , Maggie Valley - Inspirock I think about how this section of the mountain range probably wasnt a trail at the time. People had clearly left their mark over the 36 years. 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 be prepared. why is aurora, nc abandoned - Nissho-jyouhou.jp Two people died in this crash. Accident Cessna 414A Chancellor N6623C, 24 Nov 1983 - Aviation Safety If you plan to visit, it's recommended to hike with a partner or let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return, as there are many unmarked side trails, difficult terrain, and steep drops along the way. PDF Plott Balsam Trail Hike to Plane Crash - Ashley Hackshaw / Lil Blue Boo Browning Knob and Waterrock Knob | Map, Guide - Sylva, NC | AllTrails Read more about my story here. Offer subject to change without notice. I dont think a flight plan was filedwhich means the pilot may have just been flying by sight and ducking under clouds. 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. North Carolina Hiking: Cessna 414 Plane Crash & Sunset at Waterrock Knob. Aside from Harrison Ford jumping off a dam waterfall, the most iconic scene from the 1993 film, The Fugitive, . Upon reaching the parking lot, you will see the visitor center, which is open from 10 AM - 5 PM from mid-April through October. The crash lays there as it landed with frayed cords and broken windows serving as a reminder of the final journey. Hike to plane crash site - Review of Waterrock Knob - Tripadvisor In fact, he didnt file a flight plan as required in that situation. Marcus and I were wandering around the fuselage like detectives at a crime scene. Certainly, it is a stark reminder of how powerless we really are in the face of nature. Hiking to a Plane Crash in the Smoky Mountains via Waterrock and It was a CESSNA 414A airplane, which is an American light-pressured twin engine. 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. The vision of the plane crash is now fixed as part of my memory. A couple of homemade signs nailed to trees a short ways down the path offer tips and warnings for proceeding ahead. All Rights Reserved, Marcus and Jill Thompson. Hike to an Airplane Crash in North Carolina - Julie Roland Realty Do you remember the terrifying crash of USAir Flight 1016 near Charlotte Douglas International Airport? Subscribe to our newsletter and receive a FREE PRINTABLE TRAVEL PLANNER! Why did the plane remain? This spray painted rock points the way. The possibility the pilots decision making ability on a cloudy night could have also been impaired by alcohol and other factors we just dont know. Print/PDF map. How to Hike to an Airplane Crash in the Great Smoky Mountains Oh the main graffiti tag is coming off tomorrow. This short trail will lead you down to the site of the airplane crash. It is the highest peak in the Plott Balsams and is the 16th-highest mountain in the Eastern United States. The plane could have made it over the mountain if it had just been about 150 feet higher. The windows were smashed; dark holes appearing to mysteriously lead into another dimension. Before hiking to the airplane crash, it is important to prepare. The Waterrock Knob Plane Crash - Here's A Step By Step Hiking Guide Plane Crash at Waterrock Knob - Sylva, North Carolina - Atlas Obscura When you do meet new and interesting people, youll find its like waking up from a sound sleep. We started early, only 3 other cars in lot. Look at a map before you go as it's a little tricky. It begins as a paved trail, then moves to a dirt and rocky trail, and there are a few small sections with stairs. Before hitting the trail-head, we ran into a family coming back from the hike. Ill admit this Sunday, we were trying to talk ourselves out of hiking. 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. Hike this trail for another .5 mile and you will then reach the top of Browning Knob. And as a hiker, I love a challenging hike thanks for sharing. How to Get to Heaven from Waterrock Knob | Outdoors | themountaineer.com When the weather turned low lying clouds and rain he began ducking the plane under the clouds. WATERROCK KNOB - 83 Photos & 20 Reviews - Yelp 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. All rights reserved. The remains of a doomed Antarctic plane, buried beneath layers of ice and snow, await those willing to do a bit of digging. Martin had emigrated from Germany sometime after the war, building a company and a fortune in the Chicago area. Browning Knob is less traveled and isolated from other official National Park Service trails. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/38801. Your email address will not be published. Thank god someone cleaned up the graffiti. The older man smiled wide and pulled a treat from his pocket. You can use 'Waterrock Knob Visitor Center' in Google Maps to get to the parking area. I just give you as much information as possible to make that decision for yourself and I hope that helps. Waterrock Knob - Milepost 451.2. Finding the summit is easy as the trail turns towards . After crossing snowbird VOR the aircraft turned south and again there were altitude excursions. Id like to know why the plane was left there. Waterrock Knob - Milepost 451.2 - National Park Service 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. The operating hours, policies and procedures of other businesses may change at any time without notice. The human remains, of course, were returned to the family, and the engines and anything else of value were salvaged. Knowing that two lives were lost at the site, the vibe was pretty heavy. If you follow that trail for a little bit you will see a tree with the following signs on it: Yes, there are warningsmake sure you tell someone where you are hiking just in case! 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. I noticed it as a gap in the tall grass at first. Two of the boys, probably her son and his friend, started howlinglike wild prey from further up the trail . Dont be disrespectful, dont leave trash behind, dont graffiti the airplane, and dont take anything with you. Before hitting the trail-head, we ran into a family coming back from the hike. The pilot's blood alcohol level was at 0.04%. Waterrock Knob: Waterrock Knob is one of my favorite hikes and it's always one that I recommend to visitors. Just before the summit, you will see the path to the plane crash on the left. The last recorded elevation of the airplane was about 6,000 ft. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. Thats so crazy! The mountain is a popular destination with tourists and amateur hikers, as it is easily accessible from the parkway. All we know is that two men in 1983 were suddenly cast into a situation that was out of their control. Waterrock Knob, Maggie Valley, North Carolina - Hiking Project They also found the frozen bodies of the two victims who had sadly died on impact. To get here first drive to the visitor center at Waterrock Knob, (one of our favorite places to bring visitors too. John Gullion, Managing Editor at the Citizen Tribune, is a freelance contributor for TheSmokies.com LLC the parent company of TheSmokies.com and HeyOrlando.com. The plane was inbound from Chicago on November 24th, 1983. The rest of the debris is slowly being reclaimed by the forest or has been carried off by visitors over the years. Theres more details below so please read the full guide to see if its a good option for you. 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. 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. I was ahead of Marcus with Odin on his leash in the lead. Meteorological conditions at the crash site included low clouds and precipitation. Make sure you leave your thoughts in the comments, especially if you know of other crashed planes hiding in the wilderness of North Carolina. Headed over to the browning knob/plane crash site, this part of the trail wasn't to hard to follow with AllTrails map downloaded. Make sure when you visit, however, that you take care to follow all safety precautions listed by the park in question. Waterrock Knob on Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina - RomanticAsheville At one point, I said something funny. Waterrock Knob Plane Crash NC - downsouthliving.org Guest columnist: You can love Jesus and strippers at the same time. Here on the mountain side, seats and wreckage were scattered all over the steep terrain. 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 . An annual celebration of the region's successful elk reintroduction program. This trail is rocky, narrow . It rises a total of 2,000 feet in just about three . Plane Crash at Waterrock Knob. It clearly says its on the right if you are returning down the trail after the lookout. The beginning portion of the trail, although still steep, is paved in between stair sections. Head down that trail about 100 feet and you should see the plane in the distance down the hill. 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. Haha.thats Sam! There are the remnants of an old Cessna plane that crashed there many years ago that you can hike to. On November 24, 1983, two pilots began their flight from DuPage Airport in West Chicago headed to Jackson County Airport, North Carolina. The Waterrock Knob Plane Crash Heres A Step By Step Hiking Guide, these are my favorite beginner hiking shoes, I like to have a couple of these energy gels. If the above hike to an abandoned airplane crash in North Carolina whets your appetite for adventure, read on! Hey, I said. Youre there, its right up ahead. Can You Do Dollywood in One Day? Its a very good idea to tell multiple people where you are heading, and its probably not a trail you should tackle alone. Thank you for reading! The probable cause of the crash was determined to be due to low visibility from low lying clouds and precipitation. Thats not very clearly markedThanks for trying to help with your big write up that didnt help much thanks. I thought about our hikes 20 years ago, when our son our Alex was five-years-old. If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can. - 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. It is often used but remains off the beaten path. Located at 5,820 feet in elevation, Waterrock Knob is the Parkway's .