We made the slow climb up the side of the mountain. Waterrock Knob: Waterrock Knob is one of my favorite hikes and it's always one that I recommend to visitors. Both occupants lost their lives in the crash, so it is important to be respectful of the crash site when visiting. Hike the relatively easy Waterrock Knob Trail for 0.9 miles: mostly uphill and paved, with impressive views. 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. Here are some of the best state parks in North Carolina: The real question iswhat state park shouldnt you visit in North Carolina? https://www.baaa-acro.com/sites/default/files/2020-03/N6623C.pdf, http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=6623C, http://videotarts.com/video/6GrSrJC0NAk/abandoned-airplane-in-the-middle-of-the-woods.html, https://www.lilblueboo.com/2018/08/hiking-to-a-plane-crash-in-the-smoky-mountains-via-waterrock-and-browning-knobs.html, Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency], Updated [Time, Operator, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative], Updated [Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]. All we could hear was brushing of leaves and distant howls from the wind. Hiked 10/30 2nd time doing this trail and 2nd time doing the entire thing in the clouds!! Thank you! Seriously makes me hope there's truth in the super natural. Hiking to the Waterrock Knob plane crash is one of the most interesting hikes I have ever been on. North Carolina Hiking: Cessna 414 Plane Crash & Sunset at Waterrock Knob All we know is that two men in 1983 were suddenly cast into a situation that was out of their control. Tammy arrived after Patrick; she was standing behind the plane on the slope. A work colleague, Drew, had hooked me into conversation last week about the hike. Hey, I said. Before hitting the trail-head, we ran into a family coming back from the hike. 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. He looked tired but exuded deep satisfaction. The views are epic and sweeping: Its definitely sad but interesting to see! The mountain is a popular destination with tourists and amateur hikers, as it is easily accessible from the parkway. 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. Its a paved path and well signed so all you need to do is look out for it. Once you reach Browning Knob, you should see another unmarked trail to the left. Waterrock Knob plane crash is located in Sylvia, North Carolina, right outside of Maggie Valley. Hope you prayed for the departed. Thank god someone cleaned up the graffiti. This portion of the trail is also fairly difficult and is not recommended for novice hikers or lone hikers. You wont be far from the visitors center, but with the thick canopy, its not a great place to be lost in the mountains. The trail is obviously used often based on the wear but we didnt see anyone while we were hiking: Spraypainted yellow dots help to mark the trail. There are affiliate links included in this post. Follow this trail for half of a mile to reach Browning Knob. January 11, 2022 | Julie Roland Realty | Route 64 Blog, Route 64 Journal. Buffalo Creek Vacations: Sleep in a Caboose Where Buffalo Roam Located at Milepost 451.2, it is the sixteenth highest mountain in the East. And one of those trails holds the wreckage of a plane crash from more than 40 years ago. 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 hike requires you to hike along the ridge of the mountain, maneuvering between trees, ground roots and boulders along the way. Another blond haired woman with a baseball cap and a group of grade school aged kids were heading towards us. At one point, I said something funny. See. It was time to head back. I created this little PDF with some very basic info thats easy to print off if you are thinkingabout hiking to the crashclick here or click the image below to download: Do you have any favorite hikes in the Smoky Mountains? In order to reach the site of the airplane crash, you will need to start off on the Waterrock Knob trail located off of mile marker 451 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The elevation change is said to be equivalent to about 68 flights of stairs. as well as check out the abandoned plane crash of a Cessna 414A that happened back in 1983. Waterrock Knob - Milepost 451.2. I asked the family if theyd been to the plane crash. The cause of the crash was determined to be a combination of weather conditions/poor visibility and alcohol (the pilots blood alcohol level was 0.04%). Wed love to hear about them! Deep & Dark Mammoth Cave: Like Navigating Another World, Woodfin Cascades: Best Kept Secret Hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains, Finding My Life Purpose and Passion in Happy Trails, Success Isnt About Money When Your Heart is in the Game. Accident Cessna 414A Chancellor N6623C, 24 Nov 1983 - Aviation Safety People are going there and tagging it with spray paint and being disrespectful as many people in the states are. . I know its been a minute since you posted, but my husband and I hiked this last week and I am sad to report that it has been re-tagged. There are 41 sparks and recreation areas across the state, and each one seems to be more beautiful than the next. Why did the plane remain? She brushed her hand across the soft whitish golden fur on Odins head without hesitation. My legs and arms were feeling slightly fatigued, but I was still looking forward to the climb. They also found the frozen bodies of the two victims who had sadly died on impact. Patrick was imagining how the plane first crashed into the mountain; analyzing the trees above, and how the position of the plane on the ground seemed to reveal clues about the crash. Retumbo 8lbsIn addition, it is an Extreme Powder, making it perfect for big game hunting under all types of. After navigating rocky outcrops, a steady up and downhill path, and another patch of overgrowth, the trail became thick and somewhat confusing. 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. The latest music videos, short movies, tv shows, funny and extreme videos. That crash occurred just 11 years after this one, and was one of the most tragic plane crashes in North Carolina. What! This shed some light on the mystery. Its not too far from where you live. He continued by describing how this plane had crashed sometime in the 70s off the Blue Ridge Parkway. While sad, this hike is definitely unique and interesting. Plane Crash at Waterrock Knob. Waterrock Knob - Blue Ridge Parkway Stay at our historic Sixty-One Park Farmhouse located right in downtown! The windows were smashed; dark holes appearing to mysteriously lead into another dimension. Overall, this is one of the interesting and rewarding hikes that I have been on in North Carolina.My thoughts are with the families of the two lives that were lost in the crash. Once you are done enjoying the view from Browning Knob, be on the lookout for a small, unmarked trail to the left. Plane Crash at Waterrock Knob - Sylva, North Carolina - Atlas Obscura A couple of homemade signs nailed to trees a short ways down the path offer tips and warnings for proceeding ahead. You can un-subscribe at any time. - Cause: Odin pulled me up the rocky path with a spring in his four legs. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Waterrock Knob [Suggest Edits] 10 votes. . The Blue Ridge Parkway spans 469 miles, most of which are right here in North Carolina. PLANE DOWN A plane crash that occurred in November 1983 is now the end-point for an off-beat hike that starts at Waterrock Knob, one of WNC's most popular outdoor destinations. Theres more details below so please read the full guide to see if its a good option for you. Please feel free to subscribe below fornotifications regarding new blog posts, travel destinations, photography updates and newly available art. One wing torn off, the cockpit exposed, no windshield. When you start returning back down the trail from the summit, youll see the small plane crash trail on your right. 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. Just before you reach the last stretch of trail to the top, you should see a fairly obvious trail leading off to the left, marked with flagging tape. If youre looking for a hike with a view, wed recommend catching the sunset on Green Knob, or perhaps hiking Looking Glass Rock for the mountaintop views. Again, this area is full of little trails or paths and steep drops. Browning Knob is less traveled and isolated from other official National Park Service trails. Download Millions Of Videos Online. Skip to main content. WATERROCK KNOB & BROWNING KNOB - A Walk In The Woods Patrick and Tammy, two hikers from South Carolina, arrived at the wreckage just after us. There is a shared bond in braving the elements and climbing to higher altitudes. Odin still had energy, which increased the challenge for me. My first thought after the second picture, Theresa falls up the stairs, Theresa falls down the stairs, The occupants died in the crash so that probably adds to that feeling as well, Info on the incident. You will hike to the beautiful Waterrock knob and Browning knob on your way to the plane crash site. Have you hiked to this plane crash before? Waterrock Knob is a must-stop along the Blue Ridge Parkway.Located at Milepost 451.2 (just 18 miles from the end of the Parkway), it features the last hiking trail along the Parkway as you travel toward the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.This peak (6,292 ft.) is the 16th highest mountain in the Eastern United States - and the 15th highest of the 40 mountains in North Carolina over 6,000 feet. His wife was suddenly standing by my side, close, like she was my friend. Required fields are marked *. On November 24, 1983, a Cessna 414 was en route to the Jackson County Airport from Chicago when it crashed into the mountainside just before 6:00 pm. There were several up and down altitude excursions. I think about the moments before, during and after the crash. In fact, it is one of dozens of unsalvageable flying machines that crashed in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and have been left where they came to rest. 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. Waterrock Knob Plane Crash NC - downsouthliving.org As interesting as the crash site can be, it was important for us to remember the two pilots who lost their lives in this very spot and treat the area with respect. How to Get to Heaven from Waterrock Knob. Her voice had an upward inflection. The plane could have made it over the mountain if it had just been about 150 feet higher. Plane Crash Site from 1983, Waterrock Knob, North Carolina, USA Areas; NC West and Mountains . Here on the mountain side, seats and wreckage were scattered all over the steep terrain. At least, this was his recollection. 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 Browning Knob. 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. 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. Today the wreckage is still on Browning Knob and is a reminder of the many dangers that are present in the mountains of Western North Carolina. 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. Down that trail about 100 feet, youll be able to see the plane in the distance down the hill. Robin Jarvis is a travel writer and editor for OnlyInYourState.com with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. The aircraft then descended and crossed the snowbird VOR at about 6,700 feet. However, on that fateful day, he was apparently unaware or unconcerned by the weather awaiting him. 2023 Marcus and Jill's Happy Trails. Take the Blue Ridge Parkway to mile marker 451.2 into the Waterrock Knob Visitor Center located inSylva, NC to begin the hike to the crash site. You take the Waterrock Knob Trail, he said. I help women with chronic illnesses develop the confidence to travel the world solo! Marcus and I were wandering around the fuselage like detectives at a crime scene. About 2 hours return depending on your pace. Heres my full guide on how to hike to the Waterrock Knob plane crash with everything you need to know to plan your outing. Of course, many people come to Waterrock Knob to also hike to a tragic plane crash site. Nature brings out the best in people. Martin had emigrated from Germany sometime after the war, building a company and a fortune in the Chicago area. The remains of the plane are still scattered along the hillside making it a super neat place to explore and .