Cove Mountain Mining Road

This forgotten mining road cuts deep into Cherokee National Forest, following Cove Creek through a narrow valley where coal hoppers once rumbled down from mountaintop strip mines. The route starts near Jellico and climbs through dense hardwood forest, crossing Cove Creek multiple times before reaching the abandoned mining infrastructure at 2,800 feet. Along the way, you’ll navigate around massive sandstone boulders that have tumbled onto the roadbed and pass rusted mining equipment half-swallowed by kudzu.

Moderate difficulty demands high-clearance 4WD for the creek crossings and loose shale sections that get slick when wet. Spring through fall offers the best conditions, though summer brings heavy canopy and limited visibility. No permits required, but bring recovery gear and check creek levels after rain. The payoff is solitude in forgotten Tennessee backcountry and glimpses into the region’s coal mining heritage that most overlanders never see.