Cherokee National Forest releases road reopening schedule

Slater Teague
·3 min read

UNICOI, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Cherokee National Forest has announced the schedule for reopening seasonal roads to vehicles in the northern portion of the forest.

Most roads will reopen on March 15 with seasonal limitations to protect wildlife, reduce road maintenance costs, and for public safety, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

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Road reopenings may be delayed due to poor road conditions caused by weather or fire danger.

A Motor Vehicle User Map can be found on the forest’s website.

The U.S. Forest Service released the following road opening schedule:

Roads Open March 15, 2024 – December 20, 2024

Carter County

  • Frog Level – NFSR 50F

  • Little Pond Mountain – NFSR 6034

  • Mill Creek/Holston Mountain – NFSR 56/202

  • Bitter End – NFSR 293 – Open to second gate

  • White Rock – NFSR 5314 – Not recommended for highway legal vehicles until repairs are complete

Cocke County

  • Wolf Creek – NFSR 96-1

  • Big Clifty – NFSR 404

  • Meadow Creek Mountain – NFSR 142

  • Weaver Bend Road – NFSR 209C

  • Rattlesnake – NFSR 3242

Greene County

  • Rough Branch – NFSR 422A

  • Little Paint Creek – NFSR 31B

  • Old Forge (Jennings Creek) – NFSR 331

  • Shad Road – NFSR 422 – Dead end at MP 2.6 due to road failure. No access to Shad Road (NFSR 422)

  • Round Knob – NFSR 88

  • Upper Rough Branch – NFSR 93E/93C – Open to second gate

  • Firescald (Kennedy Cabin) – NFSR 358 – Open to boulders blocking road and second gate. No vehicle in fields.

Johnson County

  • Gouge Tract – NFSR 602101

Sullivan County

  • Little Oak – NFSR 87G

Unicoi County

  • Irishman’s Branch – NFSR 313

  • Little Mountain – NFSR 359

  • Unaka Mountain Road – NFSR 230

  • Long Branch/Dark Hollow – NFSR 4365

  • Rich Mountain – NFSR 190

Washington County, Tenn.

  • Briar Creek (Pinnacle Mountain) – NFSR 188 – NFSR 188 to double gate at upper parking area

  • Horse Cove Gap – NFSR 5352

  • Buffalo Mountain ATV Parking Lot

Roads Open March 15 – May 17, 2024

Carter County

  • Piney Grove – NFSR 53351 – Open to second gate

Johnson County

  • Parks Branch – NFSR 6049 – 1.0 mile to second gate

Temporary Access Disrupted

Carter County

  • Cedar Gap – NFSR 293A – Temporarily closed for timber sale

  • George Creek – NFSR 53301 – Temporarily closed for timber sale

  • Griffith Branch – NFSR 5081 – Temporarily closed for timber sale

Johnson County

  • Sink Mountain – NFSR 298 – Temporarily closed until repairs are complete

Sullivan County

  • Camp Tom Howard – NFSR 6099 – Temporarily closed for timber sale

  • Fishdam NE – NFSR 87B – Temporarily closed for timber sale

Unicoi County

  • Unaka Mountain Road – NFSR 230 – Temporarily closed for construction. Expected opening mid-May

Recommended Avoidance to Highway Legal Vehicles Due to Weather Damage

Cocke County

  • Rocky Top – NFSR 249 – Not recommended/impassable for vehicle usage until repairs are complete

  • Chestnut Ridge – NFSR 22501 – Not recommended for highway legal vehicles until repairs are complete

  • Brown Gap – NFSR 2250 – Not recommended for highway legal vehicles until repairs are complete

  • Hall Top (From MP 4.06 to 7.28) – NFSR 207 – Not recommended for highway legal vehicles until repairs are complete

Roads Not Scheduled to be Opened Due to Resource or Storm Damage

Carter County

  • Cherry Flats – NFSR 50A

Johnson County

  • Whetstone Branch Road – NFSR 124

Sullivan County

  • Dogwood Bench – NFSR 4431

  • Big Creek – NFSR 87C

Unicoi County

  • Rocky Branch – NFSR 4343

  • Martin Creek – NFSR 410

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