Cherohala Skyway Forest Road 217

Forest Road 217 branches off the Cherohala Skyway near Santeetlah Gap, dropping down through thick rhododendron tunnels toward Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. The real prize here isn’t the destination — it’s the side spurs that dead-end at primitive camping spots with views back toward the Smokies. Around mile 4, you’ll hit a creek crossing that gets spicy after heavy rain, and the road surface transitions from gravel to rutted dirt with some decent-sized rocks.

This is moderate territory — stock 4WD with decent ground clearance handles it fine in dry conditions, but wet weather turns those clay sections into slip-and-slides. Best tackled May through October when the rhododendrons aren’t blocking visibility completely. No permits needed, but you’re sharing space with hikers heading to the old-growth giants. What you get is legitimate backcountry access within spitting distance of one of North Carolina’s premier scenic drives.