(865) 977-1669 Maryville, TN
(865) 977-1669 Maryville, TN

Parsons Branch Loop

Little River Gorge, Cades Cove, East Tennessee Mountains
Parsons Branch RoadParsons Branch Road

This segment starts and ends at Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson, Maryville, TN.

This ride starts out and gives you a tour of the finest East Tennessee Mountain real estate. Bring your checkbook friends you’re bound to find a place along East Millers Cove Road and Long Rifle/Whetstone roads that you want to buy. This twisty mountain road does not disappoint with the views from the top, great roads, and Log cabins. You then transition to perhaps the prettiest roads in East Tennessee. Little River Gorge and Laurel Creek Road are amongst the most scenic. Winding along the river with its rapids on one side and cliffs on the other. Then Laurel Creek Road goes into the famous Cades Cove. A favorite tourist viewing area for Elk and Bears. Next, we go to the dirt, with multiple paved water crossings, and a well-maintained one-way road, 8 miles into the woods. Forge Creek Road to Parsons Branch RD through the deep Tennessee woods. Then you are in for a surprise when you pop out onto 129 the famous Dragon. You enter the Dragon Tail in the middle and turn right (if you want to turn left and go to the bottom and return go ahead). Next, it’s the twisty pair of roads Happy Hollow and Butterfly Gap, two of my favorites. Have fun, the dirt portion can be run on 80/20 tires.

Note: Drive times rely on road conditions, closures, and speed on dirt roads. Your drive time will vary based on these factors. Due to road closures, the map may be briefly changed, but the turn-by-turn instructions remain accurate

Parsons Branch Loop

  1. Start at Smoky Mountain H-D
  2. Head east on W Lamar Alexander Pkwy (US-321 N). Go for 1.4 mi.
  3. Continue on W Lamar Alexander Pkwy (US-321 N). Go for 1.8 mi.
  4. Turn right onto S Court St. Go for 0.7 mi.
  5. Turn slightly left onto Wilkinson Pike. Go for 4.5 mi.
  6. Turn left onto Laws Chapel Rd. Go for 2.9 mi.
  7. Turn right onto Payne Hollow Rd. Go for 0.4 mi.
  8. Turn left onto Barb Hollow Rd. Go for 1.0 mi.
  9. Turn slightly right onto Rocky Branch Rd. Go for 1.5 mi.
  10. Turn left onto E Lamar Alexander Pkwy (US-321 S). Go for 0.1 mi.
  11. Turn right onto Melrose Station Rd. Go for 0.2 mi.
  12. Turn right onto Old Walland Hwy. Go for 1.6 mi.
  13. Turn left onto Dalton Ln. Go for 0.2 mi.
  14. Turn left onto E Millers Cove Rd. Go for 0.2 mi.
  15. Turn slightly left onto E Millers Cove Rd. Go for 3.6 mi.
  16. Turn slightly left onto E Millers Cove Rd. Go for 2.2 mi.
  17. Turn right onto Long Rifle Rd. Go for 0.2 mi.
  18. Turn left onto Long Rifle Rd. Go for 3.1 mi.
  19. Turn right onto Long Rifle Rd. Go for 0.1 mi.
  20. Turn right onto Long Rifle Rd. Go for 0.3 mi.
  21. Turn right onto Whetstone Rd. Go for 0.9 mi.
  22. Turn left onto Whetstone Rd. Go for 0.1 mi.
  23. Turn right onto Whetstone Rd. Go for 0.5 mi.
  24. Turn left onto Whetstone Rd. Go for 0.4 mi.
  25. Turn right onto Happy Hollow Rd. Go for 2.5 mi.
  26. Turn left onto Wears Valley Rd (US-321). Go for 0.9 mi.
  27. Turn right toward Line Springs Rd. Go for 171 ft.
  28. Turn slightly right onto Line Springs Rd. Go for 0.3 mi.
  29. Continue on Line Springs Rd. Go for 1.2 mi.
  30. Continue on Wear Cove Gap Rd. Go for 1.2 mi.
  31. Optional stop Medcalf Bottoms
  32. Turn right onto Little River Gorge Rd. Go for 7.7 mi.
  33. Optional stop Meigs Falls
  34. Turn left onto Laurel Creek Rd. Go for 7.5 mi.
  35. Continue on Cades Cove Loop Rd. Go for 5.5 mi.
  36. Turn slightly right onto Forge Creek Rd. Go for 2.1 mi.
  37. Turn right onto Parson Branch Rd. Go for 8.1 mi.
  38. Turn right onto US-129. Go for 10.3 mi.
  39. Turn right onto Happy Valley Rd. Go for 8.2 mi.
  40. Turn sharp right onto Flats Rd. Go for 1.9 mi.
  41. Turn slightly right onto Flats Rd. Go for 1.7 mi.
  42. Turn right onto Butterfly Gap Rd. Go for 0.2 mi.
  43. Continue on Butterfly Gap Rd. Go for 3.4 mi.
  44. Turn left onto Butterfly Gap Loop. Go for 1.0 mi.
  45. Turn left onto Butler Mill Rd. Go for 1.9 mi.
  46. Turn left onto Old Piney Rd. Go for 0.4 mi.
  47. Turn slightly right onto Old Piney Rd. Go for 2.4 mi.
  48. Turn left onto Montvale Rd (TN-336). Go for 98 ft.
  49. Turn right onto 6 Mile Rd (TN-336). Go for 3.4 mi.
  50. Turn right onto Knob Rd. Go for 1.1 mi.
  51. Turn left onto Knob Rd. Go for 1.1 mi.
  52. Turn left onto Mint Rd. Go for 0.7 mi.
  53. Continue on Indian Warpath Rd. Go for 2.8 mi.
  54. Turn right onto Calderwood Hwy (US-129). Go for 5.7 mi.
  55. Continue on Clover Hill Rd. Go for 1.7 mi.
  56. Turn right onto Morganton Rd. Go for 0.1 mi.
  57. Turn left onto Clendenen Rd. Go for 2.0 mi.
  58. Turn right onto Big Springs Rd. Go for 2.1 mi.
  59. Continue on S Old Glory Rd. Go for 0.6 mi.
  60. Turn right onto W Lamar Alexander Pkwy (US-321 N). Go for 0.7 mi.
  61. Arrive at Smoky Mountain H-D.
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