Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Whitesburg, Kentucky
Trail 23 - Flatwoods Road
Trail 23 is the main artery for the Dorton/Flatwoods Area of the new Pike County Hillbilly Trails System. Trail 23 is a wide, graded dirt and gravel access road for an array of utilities and… Learn more about Trail 23 - Flatwoods Road
Total Miles
4.1
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Trail 10
You can expect a nice easy cruise up the mountain. It is a fairly gradual grade increase with occasional sections of loose rocks along the way. During the fall it seemed as though the trail… Learn more about Trail 10
Total Miles
2
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Decoy-Magoffin Loop
As with many trails in the under-development system that will become Eastern Kentucky's expansive off-road trail offerings, this route is a DIY adventure created by locals that know these mountains like the backs of their… Learn more about Decoy-Magoffin Loop
Total Miles
27.4
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Clinch Mountain Fire Tower
This trail goes up and over Clinch Mountain and descends into Moccasin Valley. There are many vistas along the way, both ascending and descending the mountain. The surrounding area is full of history and places… Learn more about Clinch Mountain Fire Tower
This is mainly a gravel trail with several muddy spots. The trail is mainly flat but does have rolling hills to travel through. I encountered several mud holes but none of which are of any… Learn more about Flatwoods Road 87D
Total Miles
4.3
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Flatwoods Road to 87A
Running Flatwoods road from Hickory Tree TN to HWY 421. This includes a section of Forest Service Road 87A when open. The main route is open year-round and is a combination of gravel and unimproved… Learn more about Flatwoods Road to 87A
Total Miles
22.7
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Jacobs Creek
This is a combination of gravel and dirt. It starts in the Jacobs Creek area and travels through the Cherokee National Forest from TN into VA. There are a few camping locations along the way,… Learn more about Jacobs Creek
Total Miles
3.4
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Jennings Creek Road
Jennings Creek Road travels along the border of Cherokee National Forest between the Horse Creek Recreation Area and the Old Forge NF Campground. The campground has walk-in sites with a parking lot only 10 to… Learn more about Jennings Creek Road
Total Miles
2.3
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa
Cave Fork Rd DBBB
A beautiful trail with plenty of scenery and a few shallow creek crossings. There are plenty of spots to pull over and enjoy the outdoors, and the creeks are cold and clear. This trail is… Learn more about Cave Fork Rd DBBB
Total Miles
2.7
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Su
Bald Rock Fork Rd
This is a great trail for beginners, and has a little bit of everything. Mostly gravel roads with a couple creek crossings, creek bed and a steep gravel hill. There are old oil buildings and… Learn more about Bald Rock Fork Rd
Total Miles
2.2
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
McQueen's Gap
This is the only unpaved route across South Holston Mountain. There are many off shoot trails that are open seasonally, but the main route isn't ever closed. You can access the Appalachian Trail from the… Learn more about McQueen's Gap
Total Miles
5.7
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Wade Adkins Branch Road
This trail is Easy/Medium. We started on a paved road then it turned to dirt. As we went farther the trail was more off-road and we came across some water crossings, hills, mud and woods… Learn more about Wade Adkins Branch Road
Total Miles
12.7
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su
Fixer Rd DBBB
Fixer Road is another section of the Daniel Boone Backwood Byway. This trail has a creek crossing, a creek bed section and some mud. It is very scenic and ties in with a few other… Learn more about Fixer Rd DBBB
Total Miles
2
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Myers Fork Road
A very scenic paved back road. This road will take you down and in between many trails in the area. This road is also part of the Daniel Boone Backcountry Byway. A fantastic set of… Learn more about Myers Fork Road
Total Miles
11
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Wentworth School Rd
The trail less traveled. This is an old road that leads to the Smyth Cemetery. Its a nice easy trail with a lot of low hanging branches. Learn more about Wentworth School Rd
Total Miles
2.5
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
No Business Knob
No Business Knob is a tight but simple trail located in Cherokee National Forest. You will most likely get pinstripes from the branches lining the trail in an SUV or Truck. The trail is just… Learn more about No Business Knob
Total Miles
4.3
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
5583
The trail at the time was snow-covered (approximately 3-4 inches) but it is mostly a dirt/mud trail. I didn't encounter anything that a normal 4x4 couldn't handle. The trail from the road is mostly uphill.… Learn more about 5583
Total Miles
0.7
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa / Su / Sp
Indian Creek Road
Indian Creek Road located in one of the northern portions of Daniel Boone National Forest and is a popular local summer destination for camping, swimming, and fishing. The majority of the road is gravel, two… Learn more about Indian Creek Road
Total Miles
4.5
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su
Hurricane Gap
Hurrican Gap is a well-maintained gravel road that travels from the Houston Valley area to just outside of Hot Springs, NC. While it's not particularly challenging, there are some great side trips along the way.… Learn more about Hurricane Gap
Total Miles
8.9
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Paint Mountain Road
Paint Mountain is a great way to connect Hurricane Gap to the east, with some of the other roads and trails west of this area. It's 1 to 1.5 cars wide and outside of a… Learn more about Paint Mountain Road
Total Miles
3.7
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa
Bearwallow Trail
Trails differ in skill level from blue and green to black and double black diamond. Very friendly for beginners/stock enthusiasts after their first badge. The double black diamond look to be a bit rough. I… Learn more about Bearwallow Trail
Total Miles
4
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Fa
Meadow Creek Tower Road
This short two-mile trail is a great quick route to visit the tower. It's relatively tame outside of a few sections with larger rocks. When paired with Big Clifty, it makes for a nice 10-mile… Learn more about Meadow Creek Tower Road
Total Miles
2.2
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Big Clifty Road
Big Clifty is a mild introduction to the forest roads in the area. This seven-mile track climbs to the Meadow View Lookout Tower and is easily traversed by a 2WD vehicle. Cell service is available… Learn more about Big Clifty Road
Total Miles
6.4
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Brush Creek Road
Brush Creek starts out as a narrow paved road, but once it meets the western end of Weaver's Bend it transitions to gravel. This is a beautiful drive and the namesake creek parallels the road… Learn more about Brush Creek Road
Total Miles
4.5
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp
Weaver Bend
Weaver Bend Road runs from its intersection with Brush Creek to the French Broad River. It transitions from gravel to dirt. Along the road, there are several marked campsites including several riverside. At it's namesake… Learn more about Weaver Bend
Total Miles
2.2
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Rich Mountain Lookout
This short route is a must-see if you're in the area. If you're traveling Hurricane Gap it's well worth the detour. There area few campsites on the way up the mountain. Cell service is available,… Learn more about Rich Mountain Lookout
Total Miles
1.2
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Fitchburg Stone Furnace
The Fitchburg Furnace is a historic iron furnace located in the Daniel Boone National Forest in Estill County, KY. The furnace is the world's largest charcoal iron furnace and the last to be built in… Learn more about Fitchburg Stone Furnace
Total Miles
3.3
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
White Sulphur ATV Loop to Overlook
White Sulphur OHV Trail System is composed of several Forest Service roads and trails in the White Sulphur area, forming a 17-mile trail system of connecting loops. It is located near Cave Run Lake in… Learn more about White Sulphur ATV Loop to Overlook
Total Miles
3.3
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Henry Mtn Rd
This is a beautiful gravel road that leads to a walking trail for the old cottage furnace. It is easy gravel road with beautiful trees and wildlife. There are a few other side roads that… Learn more about Henry Mtn Rd