View Full Version : Davenport Gap
Hello,
Can you park for a few days at Davenport Gap? Big Creek is closed. I tried calling the General Store and it is closed too. Any ideas for safe parking for a few days around Davenport Gap? Thank you.
HooKooDooKu
05-11-2020, 14:36
Hello,
Can you park for a few days at Davenport Gap? Big Creek is closed. I tried calling the General Store and it is closed too. Any ideas for safe parking for a few days around Davenport Gap? Thank you.
If you have a back country permit, you should have no issues with the NPS parking there.
However, I'm still under the impression that the area is still sketchy.
Saw in another forum the guy that owns the land right at the 4 way stop entering Big Creek was charging $10 for people to park on his property {but there was also some questions raised as to it's legality... unlikely the owner has a business license for such activity}.
So, it is still a bad idea to just park at Davenport Gap? I don't mind paying the guy to park as long as my car is safe. Can you PM me the info if you have it? BTW @hookoodooku I am hiking the loop you suggested in another thread in 2 weeks. Very excited. Thank you.
i wouldnt park at davenport gap.....
notorious for break ins....
you didnt say when the trip is------for all we know----big creek could be open in a few weeks...
if so, park at the ranger station....
either double back on the road to davenport gap or take chestnut branch up to the AT....
and i saw that picture Hoo refers to-----its the site of a stable.....not sure if stable (non Park) is still in business but dude was letting people park there for money...
and to be honest----for an overnight trip----i wouldnt park anywhere on the roads around big creek.....
i would park at rangers station or up near the Big creek trailhead....
If they remain closed, you might want to look at parking at Standing Bear Hostel and walking from there to the Park. It would add a few miles to the trip but not too many.
full conditions
05-11-2020, 16:54
Big Creek ranger station is just two miles down the road from DG and it has a large hiker parking lot. I've used it multiple times over the years w/o any issues.
Big Creek ranger station is just two miles down the road from DG and it has a large hiker parking lot. I've used it multiple times over the years w/o any issues.
as noted in OP first post in this thread-----big creek is closed......
Thank you for the messages so far. I confirmed with the park service that the station WILL be closed this Wednesday when I plan on going. @TNhiker can you elaborate on what you mean by the Big Creek trailhead? I would consider the hostel, but I already have a shuttle ordered and I don't know how they would feel about that. I also called the Big Creek General Store to ask if I could park there and left a message.
HooKooDooKu
05-12-2020, 00:10
I don't mind paying the guy to park as long as my car is safe. Can you PM me the info if you have it?
I don't have any other "inside-info" beyond what people were reporting on a Hike the Smokies Facebook group... so I can't even say what they guy would charge or allow you to park multiple nights.
I've been comfortable parking at the ranger station and the Baxter Creek trailhead. But with that section of the park closed, I don't have any other recommendations beyond what the others are telling you.
HooKooDooKu
05-12-2020, 00:15
@TSWisla
While my son needs several trails in the Cosby and Big Creek area on his way to the 900 Miler Club, with the existing road closures, I opted for a loop I could access from the Cades Cove area.
@TNhiker can you elaborate on what you mean by the Big Creek trailhead?
there's a big ol parking lot back in the area of the big creek trail head......
parking for hiking and people who have picnics...
tons of parking back there...
it's essentially at the end of the road before it loops back to exit....
I don't have any other "inside-info" beyond what people were reporting on a Hike the Smokies Facebook group... so I can't even say what they guy would charge or allow you to park multiple nights.
yeah...........the FB post stated dude was charging 10 bucks to park...
no mention of overnight...
and my guess, and strictly a guess, that nobody on saturday was doing any parking for over night trips there....
rmitchell
05-12-2020, 12:54
there's a big ol parking lot back in the area of the big creek trail head......
parking for hiking and people who have picnics...
tons of parking back there...
it's essentially at the end of the road before it loops back to exit....
Big Creek Road is closed according to parks website. I think that is the OP's problem.
Big Creek Road is closed according to parks website. I think that is the OP's problem.
yes....
i addressed this in one of my previous posts....
this was a follow up question asking about the parking back at the trailhead...
Standing Bear helped me out. Thank you everyone for your advice.
HooKooDooKu
05-12-2020, 20:38
Standing Bear helped me out. Thank you everyone for your advice.
Glad to hear it... hope you have a fun and safe hike.