SM500/1000 **Update

Anybody completed any of the Smoky Mountain 500 or 1000?

Looking for intel on good sections, good places to check out along/ near the route.

Thanks.

**Update**

Completed roughly 130 miles of the loop, 2 lane county roads and forest service roads. Interesting stop along the way, Buzzards Roost overlooking I40.

 

This is the first I'm hearing of this (1yr old transplant from MI). Are you planning to take your truck or are you riding a bike? Either way looks like a really cool trail. I will have to do a little more research and try to make it out there if the water stays low for the river crossings.

 

I’m not a bike guy, so the truck it is!

Up near me, it’s mostly (so I’ve been told) decent traveling. There is a section on the SW part (Witt Road) that has the water crossings. As it’s a day trip for me this time, I’m starting up my way.

 

I have not ridden the 'Smokey Mtn 500' per se, however, I have ridden legs of the Cherokee Challenge during a couple of March Moto Madness events and there appears to be few sections that match up. My experience is those roads are well maintained county gravel and some sections are now paved. (I rode these on a BMW K75 touring bike.) Favorite spots (from the bottom, left section) [Tellico Grains Bakery, Tellico Trout Hatchery, Green Cove Motel, Reliance Grocery (Reliance TN), IGA-on-the-state-line Copperhill TN ]

Checking on matching the GPX w/ my buddy's Gaia maps to see if there are more sections and/or info.

TL;DR
Minimum risk adventure on mostly maintained gravel and paved roads.

 

Thanks for the info.
I’m new to TW and Gaia so who knows what’s gonna happen but I’m gonna try to put the 1000 map up.

 

Hope some of it helps. Great area to explore on two wheels or four! As for Gaia, I've had it over a year and still haven't quite figured out how the layers work.