Forest Service Road 87 Grandfather Mountain Backcountry Trail

Forest Service Road 87 cuts a narrow swath through the wild backcountry of Grandfather Mountain, starting from the Boone Fork area and climbing through dense rhododendron thickets toward the mountain’s craggy eastern face. The route passes the old CCC camp remnants near mile marker 3 and tackles a notorious rock garden section that has claimed more than a few oil pans over the years. Weather-carved granite outcrops force careful tire placement, while the canopy opens to reveal sweeping views across the Pisgah National Forest toward Mount Mitchell.

This is solid intermediate territory requiring high-clearance 4WD and skid plates for the boulder fields. Summer thunderstorms can turn the clay sections into grease, so spring and fall offer better traction. No permits needed, but fuel up in Banner Elk since you’re committing to a full day in remote country. The payoff is legitimate wilderness solitude and some of the finest ridge-running views in the southern Appalachians—just you, the mountains, and the kind of silence that reminds you why we chase dirt roads.