My son-in-law, grandson and I hiked up Waterrock Knob and followed the one mile plus trail to the site of a plane crash on the side of this mountain. Now it's 100% covered with graffiti. How to Get There. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn a commission if you book through the link. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Abandoned Plane Crash Remains from 1983 - YouTube How could that be, you ask? When I reached the top of Waterrock Knob, under rather malicious-looking skies, a 60-year old man with . A highly-rated trail for hikers and explorers alike, the trail is two miles . Martin had emigrated from Germany sometime after the war, building a company and a fortune in the Chicago area. 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. The pilot was also determined to have been impaired, with a blood alcohol content of 0.04%. Note: When hiking to this area please be respectful of the site. Follow this trail for half of a mile to reach Browning Knob. I found the spray paint trail markings most helpful since some of the ties had been blown away in storms, When you come to this clearing, take the path left (this spray painted rock points the way) and you are very close to the crash. It clearly says its on the right if you are returning down the trail after the lookout. Debris is scattered everywhere in about a 20 to 30 foot radius. CESSNA 414A airplane, which is an American light-pressured twin engine. At one point, I said something funny. True! 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. Read more . Browning Knob and Waterrock Knob | Map, Guide - AllTrails Due to these panoramic views, Waterrock Knob has become one of the most popular locations to witness sunset or sunrise along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The human remains, of course, were returned to the family, and the engines and anything else of value were salvaged. That was my co-worker who cleaned it up! Hike the relatively easy Waterrock Knob Trail for 0.9 miles: mostly uphill and paved, with impressive views. Thankfully, though, there are only a few places where you'll stumble upon airplane crash ruins in North Carolina. There is a steep ascent and some of the trails are not well marked. North Carolina Hiking: Cessna 414 Plane Crash & Sunset at Waterrock Knob Waterrock Knob, Maggie Valley, North Carolina - Hiking Project This is a beautiful hike but the trail down to the plane crash is a bit strenuous! Once you start at the visitor center, you will climb .5 miles up to the top of Waterrock Knob. The remains of the plane are still scattered along the hillside making it a super neat place to explore and . She brushed her hand across the soft whitish golden fur on Odins head without hesitation. It would be nice to get that garbage off of the ground. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. And some of the trees along the trail have been marked with yellow spray paint to make it easier. His pack animal instinct was causing him to be on alert. It was a dark night and the final radar contact was at 6100 feet and 1 mild from the crash site. Down that trail about 100 feet, youll be able to see the plane in the distance down the hill. His sweat covered hair was tied back in a ponytail. Plane Crash at Waterrock Knob. Making a Composition Book Art Journal. How to Make a DIY Printing Press from a Panini Press. Rethink that selfie. What a good movie. Keep reading to learn how to hike to an airplane crash in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park via the Waterrock Knob trail. It was quite an eerie sight! If you are walking uphill as opposed to returning from the summit, it will be on the left. 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. Not only are the views spectacular but the flowers and wildlife are too: The sides of the trail were covered with butterflies when we went, so many it looked like the mountains were moving: Just as you get to the top of Waterrock Knob you will notice a small unmarked trail to the leftyou might even miss it if you werent looking for it. The older man smiled wide and pulled a treat from his pocket. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Blue Ridge Parkway Hikes near Asheville (Craggy Gardens to Waterrock Knob) . It was heading to Sylva, just 11 miles from the crash site, but unfortunately they did not make it. It is the highest peak in the Plott Balsams and is the 16th-highest mountain in the Eastern United States. Not only is Waterrock Knob the trail you need to take to get to the airplane crash, it also offers amazing views of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Its not something you would climb in or on, but it is interesting to see and take some photos of. Browning Knob and a Plane Crash Site - Nancy East Plane Crash Site from 1983, Waterrock Knob, North Carolina, USA The path was straight down the side of the mountain; winding around moss covered trees and through what seemed like mile high pines overhead. The visitor center building with restrooms in the building on the left, This sign points out the start of the trail. They also found the frozen bodies of the two victims who had sadly died on impact. We talked about the dented metal and torn off debris; and tried to visualize what had happened. 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 the remnants of an old Cessna plane that crashed there many years ago that you can hike to. For mountain views wed recommend Mount Mitchell, standing a whopping 6,684 feet above sea level that allows hikers to see up to 100 miles past the point. Theres more details below so please read the full guide to see if its a good option for you. THIS NEARLY 40-YEAR-OLD PLANE WRECKAGE is located near the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina.A moderately difficult two-mile round trip hike from the Waterrock Knob Visitor Center and trailhead in Sylva, North Carolina lead to the wreckage.. The young girl was about eight-years-old. Deep Gap Trail at Mt. And, a Hawaiian woman who I will most likely never see again, held my hand, as if she were one of my closest friends. 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. We were nervous we were not going to get a good view of sunset due to the haze and overcast skies, but by the time we arrived back to the parking lot the haze had cleared and we were able to view one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. The path is moderately difficult with roots and downed trees and muddy patches to negotiate. Finding the summit is easy as the trail turns towards . Waterrock Knob: Waterrock Knob is one of my favorite hikes and it's always one that I recommend to visitors. Harold Blackwood photo. It is the modern-day retelling of the Icarus story of flying too close to the sun. However, on that fateful day, he was apparently unaware or unconcerned by the weather awaiting him. Thank you for sharing. Drew had said it was a short hike from Waterrock to Browning Knob, and that the plane crash was just off to the left. 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. Once you reach Browning Knob, you should see another unmarked trail to the left. However, by eight-years-old he wasnt getting free ride. The aircraft had impacted mountainous terrain at about 6,000 feet msl and 11 miles from the destination. Once we arrived to the parking lot, we spent some time at the visitor center, were met with beautiful fall foliage, and eventually began our trek towards Waterrock Knob and the Cessna 414 crash. Waterrock Knob Plane Crash - BEST Hike in North Carolina? Fewer hikers decide to venture this far out. Last year the door and seats where stolen off the plane. The Mixa' hike Waterrock Knob. Of course, many people come to Waterrock Knob to also hike to a tragic plane crash site. Waterrock Knob has the highest elevation on the Parkway. Yes. We passed by the hiker, shoulder-to-shoulder, thanking him for his time, and we followed the path through the brush. Love North Carolina? It can be muddy and slippery if its been raining, so just take your time as you walk over the tree roots. Thats so crazy! These cookies do not store any personal information. This site is monitored, so please do not remove any items from the crash. Waterrock Knob - Wikipedia It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Here are some of the best state parks in North Carolina: The real question iswhat state park shouldnt you visit in North Carolina? A couple of homemade signs nailed to trees a short ways down the path offer tips and warnings for proceeding ahead. Located at Milepost 451.2, it features the last hiking trail along the Parkway as you travel toward the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I alway come prepared, he said. After navigating rocky outcrops, a steady up and downhill path, and another patch of overgrowth, the trail became thick and somewhat confusing. 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 . The windows were smashed; dark holes appearing to mysteriously lead into another dimension. The hike requires you to hike along the ridge of the mountain, maneuvering between trees, ground roots and boulders along the way. Offer subject to change without notice. Just keep an eye out for the small path. In my opinion the trail is intermediate because its unmaintained so you are hiking over a lot of tree roots and it requires more awareness to keep on track. Experience this 1.7-mile out-and-back trail near Sylva, North Carolina. There are also restrooms by the visitor center which is your last chance to go before you start hiking. Sample Page; ; Both people on board died. Upon reaching the parking lot, you will see the visitor center, which is open from 10 AM - 5 PM from mid-April through October. GPS coordinates: 3527'37.2N 8308'27.0W. The adventure started at Waterrock Knob. My first thought was nah, its on the other side. But, its a wide trail with plenty of room to stop and catch your breath if you need to. I love to hike! If youre planning to make this a weekend trip, I recommend searching on Booking.com to choose a place. Well now I want to go back and rewatch that. It is often used but remains off the beaten path. Again, this area is full of little trails or paths and steep drops. The pilot's blood alcohol level was 0.04. Before hitting the trail-head, we ran into a family coming back from the hike. Download Millions Of Videos Online. 0. Marcus and I were wandering around the fuselage like detectives at a crime scene. 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. 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. Unfortunately, we were still unable to witness any of the panoramic views we had heard about, but noticed another trail leading to the left, which lead to the Cessna 414 plane crash. We took some time along the hike back to really appreciate the beauty of the forest and fall foliage. This is not a maintained path but there are plenty of forums online about how to . Seemed really disrespectful in such a somber place. Thank you! When we arrived to the crash site, the scene was completely somber and serene. Spinosaurus might still be there close somewhere. As sad as it is it would be interesting to see this in person especially a plane from the 80s! Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate and a partner of other affiliate programs including Booking.com, CJ and Tripster, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases via links found in this article. The trail itself is a very difficult seven-mile hike to the top of Grandfather Mountain. I asked the family if theyd been to the plane crash. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information. Being less than 10 miles from Maggie Valley, it is the closest hike and Visitors Center. This is very interesting and eerie at the same time. Read Also: 5 abandoned places in the Smokies you didnt know existed. Thank you for reading this post on how to hike to an airplane crash via the Waterrock Knob trail. Beautiful sunset, viewed from the Waterrock Knob parking lot upon returning after the hike. There are affiliate links included in this post. You will be walking through the quiet woods then all of a sudden the crash appears through the trees. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 13 min to complete. The pilot's blood alcohol level was at 0.04%. 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. The unpredictable weather off a mountain range estimated to sit about 6000 feet above sea level, can change drastically in a short time. Once at Browning Knob (big obvious clearing on the top of a mountain), there's another trail off to the left, which leads down to the crashed Cessna 414. This shed some light on the mystery. fornotifications regarding new blog posts, travel destinations, photography updates and newly available art. Thank you! The nearly 360-degree view from Waterrock Knob stretches the eyes over the heart of the Southern Highlands - including . This short trail will lead you down to the site of the airplane crash. It was an attempt to keep his bearings, which the FAA referred to as up and down altitude excursions. Martin likely would have made it the rest of the way without much incident, had he been a couple of hundred feet higher. Here are some of the best places with cave hikes in North Carolina: Caves are perhaps one of the most fascinating and strange natural wonders out in the wild, especially because of how tempting they are to explore. This information is added by users of ASN. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies.

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