Directions to Deep Gap, NC USFS 71

[shoe]

I need to get my husband directions so that he can come and pick me up.
Directions from Atlanta would be great

Thanks :)
Melissa

[blitz134]

I was there a couple of weeks ago...

Go up 85...then 985 and ride it out to Gainesville, around Gainesville take US 23 North up through Tallulah Falls and then Clayton and then up to Franklin NC. In Franklin take US 64 West and ride on it for about 12-14 miles. FS 71 will be on the left (there is a small brown sign that says Deep Gap on it, too). It is the first road on the left after crossing the county line, so just just look for that. Deep Gap parking area is 8 miles down this gravel road.

[shoe]

thanks blitz. i do appreciate it.

[Yonah Ada-Hi]

Note- The Forest Service sometimes gates off the road about 2.5 miles from Deep Gap, cannot say why or when.

[Repeat]

Road is open all the way. Much improved. Was there Tuesday 4.11.06. Stay to the left as you travel the gravel.
Jackie

[Kerosene]

I used Microsoft Streets & Trips to generate the following directions, starting in the middle of Atlanta at/near the I-85/I-20 interchange, and ending at the end of the Forest Service Road in Deep Gap (about half a mile from the Standing Indian Shelter):

Summary: 139.0 miles (2 hours, 46 minutes)

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width=576 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="10%" height=0>Time

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>Mile

</TD><TD width="41%" height=0>Instruction

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>For

</TD><TD width="32%" height=0>Toward

</TD></TR><TR><TD width="10%" height=0>9:00 AM

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>0.0

</TD><TD width="41%" height=0>Depart I-85, Atlanta, GA 30312 on Ramp (North)

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>0.4 mi

</TD><TD width="32%" height=0>

</TD></TR><TR><TD width="10%" height=0>9:00 AM

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>0.4

</TD><TD width="41%" height=0>Merge onto I-20 [SR-402]

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>0.7 mi

</TD><TD width="32%" height=0>

</TD></TR><TR><TD width="10%" height=0>9:01 AM

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>1.1

</TD><TD width="41%" height=0>At exit 59A, turn RIGHT onto Ramp

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>0.2 mi

</TD><TD width="32%" height=0>Boulevard / Zoo Atlanta / Cyclorama

</TD></TR><TR><TD width="10%" height=0>9:01 AM

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>1.3

</TD><TD width="41%" height=0>Turn LEFT (North) onto Boulevard SE, then immediately turn LEFT (West) onto Ramp

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>0.3 mi

</TD><TD width="32%" height=0>

</TD></TR><TR><TD width="10%" height=0>9:01 AM

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>1.6

</TD><TD width="41%" height=0>Merge onto I-20 [SR-402]

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>0.6 mi

</TD><TD width="32%" height=0>

</TD></TR><TR><TD width="10%" height=0>9:02 AM

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>2.3

</TD><TD width="41%" height=0>At exit 57, turn RIGHT onto Ramp

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>0.2 mi

</TD><TD width="32%" height=0>I-75 / I-85 / Macon / Montgomery / Chattanooga / Greenville

</TD></TR><TR><TD width="10%" height=0>9:02 AM

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>2.5

</TD><TD width="41%" height=0>Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto I-75 [I-85]

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>3.7 mi

</TD><TD width="32%" height=0>I-75 / I-85 / Chattanooga / Greenville

</TD></TR><TR><TD width="10%" height=0>9:06 AM

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>6.2

</TD><TD width="41%" height=0>Keep LEFT onto I-85 [SR-403]

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>28.4 mi

</TD><TD width="32%" height=0>I-85 / Greenville

</TD></TR><TR><TD width="10%" height=0>9:32 AM

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>34.6

</TD><TD width="41%" height=0>Keep LEFT onto I-985 [SR-365]

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>21.3 mi

</TD><TD width="32%" height=0>I-985 / Lanier Pkwy / Gainesville

</TD></TR><TR><TD width="10%" height=0>9:52 AM

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>55.9

</TD><TD width="41%" height=0>At exit 22, turn RIGHT onto Ramp

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>0.3 mi

</TD><TD width="32%" height=0>US-129 / Gainesville / Jefferson

</TD></TR><TR><TD width="10%" height=0>9:53 AM

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>56.2

</TD><TD width="41%" height=0>Bear LEFT (North) onto Local road(s)

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>21 yds

</TD><TD width="32%" height=0>

</TD></TR><TR><TD width="10%" height=0>9:53 AM

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>56.2

</TD><TD width="41%" height=0>Turn LEFT (West) onto US-129 [SR-11]

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>1.0 mi

</TD><TD width="32%" height=0>

</TD></TR><TR><TD width="10%" height=0>9:54 AM

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>57.2

</TD><TD width="41%" height=0>Bear LEFT (North-West) onto US-129 Bus [SR-11]

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>3.7 mi

</TD><TD width="32%" height=0>

</TD></TR><TR><TD width="10%" height=0>10:00 AM

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>60.9

</TD><TD width="41%" height=0>Bear LEFT (North-West) onto US-129

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>20.5 mi

</TD><TD width="32%" height=0>

</TD></TR><TR><TD width="10%" height=0>10:25 AM

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>81.4

</TD><TD width="41%" height=0>Turn RIGHT (North-East) onto SR-75 [Unicoi St]

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>6.8 mi

</TD><TD width="32%" height=0>

</TD></TR><TR><TD width="10%" height=0>10:33 AM

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>88.2

</TD><TD width="41%" height=0>Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-17 [SR-75]

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>19.9 mi

</TD><TD width="32%" height=0>

</TD></TR><TR><TD width="10%" height=0>10:57 AM

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>108.1

</TD><TD width="41%" height=0>Bear LEFT (North-West) onto US-76 [SR-17]

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>3.2 mi

</TD><TD width="32%" height=0>

</TD></TR><TR><TD width="10%" height=0>11:02 AM

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>111.3

</TD><TD width="41%" height=0>Turn RIGHT (North-East) onto SR-175 [SR-75]

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>6.8 mi

</TD><TD width="32%" height=0>

</TD></TR><TR><TD width="10%" height=0>11:07 AM

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>114.9

</TD><TD width="41%" height=0>Entering North Carolina

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>

</TD><TD width="32%" height=0>

</TD></TR><TR><TD width="10%" height=0>11:13 AM

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>118.1

</TD><TD width="41%" height=0>Turn LEFT (West) onto SR-175

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>0.9 mi

</TD><TD width="32%" height=0>

</TD></TR><TR><TD width="10%" height=0>11:14 AM

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>119.0

</TD><TD width="41%" height=0>Turn RIGHT (East) onto US-64 [Highway 64 E]

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>13.7 mi

</TD><TD width="32%" height=0>

</TD></TR><TR><TD width="10%" height=0>11:31 AM

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>132.7

</TD><TD width="41%" height=0>Keep RIGHT onto National Forest Rd

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>5.7 mi

</TD><TD width="32%" height=0>

</TD></TR><TR><TD width="10%" height=0>11:45 AM

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>138.4

</TD><TD width="41%" height=0>Bear LEFT (East) onto Local road(s)

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>0.5 mi

</TD><TD width="32%" height=0>

</TD></TR><TR><TD width="10%" height=0>11:46 AM

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>139.0

</TD><TD width="41%" height=0>Arrive Appalachian Tr, Franklin, NC 28734

</TD><TD width="9%" height=0>

</TD><TD width="32%" height=0>

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[NINpigNIN]

Anyone been out that way in the last month? We're planning on ending our upcoming section-hike there (6/3 - 6/10, starting at Springer). Also, is there room to leave a vehicle. our current plan is to leave one at Deep Gap, then another hiker's wife is going to drop us off at the USFS-42 crossing near Springer on her way to visit family in GA and the three of us will hike back to the vehicle and drive home.

[shoe]

I just got there at my ended section hike on wednesday night. I might be a little leary of leaving a vehicle there. It is very remote. I saw on some other forums that people left their vehicles at the actual campground.

Maybe someone else will have some better advice

[NINpigNIN]

I might be a little leary of leaving a vehicle there. It is very remote.

Danke! At least we know that it should be possible to get back in there (as long as that situation doesn't change in the next 2-3 weeks). As for leaving the vehicle there, it's eightiesguy's vehicle, so I guess that'll be his call to make in the end.

[Gadog430]

Last time I was there, there were indeed parking lots. But it is very remote. But, on the other hand, I have never heard tales of vandalism there. Doesn't mean it hasn't happened. Wasn't a bad road last time there.

Dawg

[NINpigNIN]

Is there a good way to get there from the north (we're coming from the Cincinnati area)? What I'm finding is that once we hit Knoxville (we're coming down I-75) we can either divert down through Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg and then take 441 (Newfound Gap Road) through GSMNP and down that way into Franklin and then hit 64 to USFS-71. Or we can take 129 south from Knoxville down around the park (I imagine passing Shuckstack and Fontana) and then it would take us either into Franklin or to 441 and from there into Franklin. I don't know which route would be better (faster), but I imagine it would be to take 129 since that way you're not dealing with the touron traffic in Gatlinburg. Or is there a totally different way to get there that's better than either of those two.

Our current plans are to drive down the late afternoon of June 2 and shack up at the Hampton in Franklin, then the next morning drop the car and head for Springer.

[papa john]

Going through the park will take you forever due to the mass of tourists up there this time of year. Much better to continue on east on I40 and go around the park. 129 is one curvy road and you will be lucky to average 20 miles an hour through there.

[NINpigNIN]

Take I-40 all the way to route 64, or get off earlier and hop on route 23 into Franklin? I hadn't really thought about going around the park to the east, it seemed too far out of the way. Of course that's the whole point of the excursion I suppose.

[papa john]

I'd take I40 to hwy 276 and then go south on that until you get to route 23, take that into Franklin and then get on 64 going back west. You'll have to really look for that marker for the USFS road as it is very small.