When the water is up in the spring, Roaring Fork Creek, which parallels the road much of the way, is definitely a sight to see. At the stop light, turn left onto Hwy 321 and you will return to the Gatlinburg Parkway.įeatures to See on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

The narrow, winding, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail invites you to slow down and enjoy the forest and historic buildings of the area. Stop and pick up a Roaring Fork Auto Tour booklet (1) at the. Drive this road after a hard rain and the inspiration behind the name will be apparent. The 6-mile Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail starts just beyond the Noah 'Bud' Ogle farmstead and the Rainbow Falls trailhead. About 1 mile from Gatlinburg, TN, the entrance to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is located just past the parking area for the Rainbow Falls hike off of Cherokee Orchard Road. Roaring Fork is one of the larger and faster flowing mountain streams in the park. The motor trail makes a loop and ends in Gatlinburg. Directions: The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is part of a one-way driving loop in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You will follow Historic Nature Trail Road to the Cherokee Orchard entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You will come upon signs to follow for the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. In addition, no trucks, RVs or trailers are allowed along the motor nature trail because the road is extremely narrow.ĭirections to Roaring Fork Smoky Mountainsįrom the main Gatlinburg Parkway (Hwy 441), make a turn at stoplight #8. Keep in mind that Roaring Fork is closed in the winter months due to the ice and snow that cause dangerous driving conditions. It will guide you through the trail, explaining historic areas and parts of the forestry that you may not have noticed on a drive alone. At the visitor center, pick up one of the $1 guide books for the nature trail. If you plan to go hiking in the mountains, of course, expect to spend more time.įor the best experience along the Roaring Fork Smoky Mountains trail, stop by one of the national park visitor centers before you start your trip. You should expect to spend at least 2 hours on the tour. You can take a fairly quick drive along the trail or you can spend time pulling off the trail to take photos and enjoy the mountain scenery. The loop road driving trail is a little over 5 miles long, and you can make the adventure last as long as you want. Significance: Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is one of the most narrow roads in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It gets its name from the large, fast stream that flows next to the trail - “Roaring Fork.” The motor nature trail is popular because you get to experience the wooded forestry views as well as some of the history of the national park. Roaring Fork is one of the most popular driving tours in the Smoky Mountains.

Roaring fork motor trail