[TraumaOne]

I'm down in Chattanooga interviewing for a job. I have to drive all the way back to G'ville tomorrow, and realized as I was driving down I-75 that Deals gap wasn't too far away. I'm thinking about cutting through there to get through the smokies rather than going all the way up to Knoxville then across to Asheville.

Can anyone tell me how to get to Deals Gap from here? I can look at a map but there are many ways to go and I didn't know if there was a best or easy way to get to the gap. Thanks for any help...

[NinerPilot]

Disregard the times and mileage as I took from Chattanooga downtown leaving at 9am. Courtesy of MS Streets and Trips.


Time Mile Instruction For Toward

9:10 AM 7.5 Merge onto I-75 (East) 47.1 mi
9:55 AM 54.6 At I-75 Exit 49, turn off onto Ramp 0.2 mi
9:55 AM 54.9 Merge onto SR-30 [Decatur Pike] (South-East) 4.6 mi
10:04 AM 59.5 Bear LEFT (East) onto SR-39 [New Englewood Rd] 5.8 mi
10:14 AM 65.3 Turn LEFT (North-East) onto US-411 [N Amhurst Pl] 21.2 mi
10:40 AM 86.6 Turn RIGHT (East) onto SR-72 8.5 mi
10:55 AM 95.1 Bear RIGHT (East) onto US-129 [Calderwood Hwy] 20.3 mi
11:19 AM 115.4 Entering North Carolina
11:20 AM 115.4 Arrive Deals Gap

Let me know if you want a longer route going over the Cherehola skyway to get there.
Chris

[sheepofblue]

If you can, go to the Cherohala a very pretty drive. I assume you are going to be in a cage (Cherohala is a mile up). Also if you want I can tell you where a pretty cool waterfall is off of the Cherohala.

[Northern RR]

Please share oh wooly one..I am there at least 2 times a year and am yet to see this waterfall that the "locals' talk about, you can post it up or even better PM it to me to keep the tourists away

[evl_twn]

Bald River Falls. Easy to find if you are on the skyway. Look for FS210 on the Tennessee side, not too far from Tellico. It's several miles up that road, but well worth the trip!

http://www.tailofthedragon.com/maps/chero_tn_map.gif

http://www.rc30.us/images/gap04/DSCF0030.jpg

[Northern RR]

thanks, I will be sure to stop by on the week of may 24 (I can't wait )

[Getsome]

If you end up in Chattanooga let me know. I am about 2 1/2- 3 hours away in Kingsport, TN.

Good luck with the job prospect...

[sheepofblue]

Two very cool falls:
The easiest is Bald River Falls, from Tellico Plains take TN165 (the road to Cherohala) to (Tellico) River Rd (about 6miles) turn right and follow that. You can't miss it as there is a bridge that crosses the river right in front of it. Also if memory serves me there is a sign for the falls at the head of River Rd.

The second involves hiking but is a neat fall. Fall Branch Falls. Follow TN 165 further and about 1.5 miles before you cross into NC (at Beech Gap) there is a lot on your left. The wall has a gap in the end of the lot furthest from NC (no sign when I was there) take the trail left (a old road bed) and follow it, there is a marked trail that leaves that and takes you down to a fall which despite it's altitude runs all the time as far as I can tell. The hike down is about 1.3 miles down and the section after the roadbed is moderate to difficult in rating. Also for the best view you need to cross the river at the end however I was able to do this with dry hooves.
EDIT: It might be very wet this time of year though, I was there in June or July last time.

Check my site I have some pics of both under waterfalls and Tellico Plains Area.

[TraumaOne]

Cool, thanks, I will see how I feel after the day of interviewing. Yeah, I'm in the Camaro. I might just do the Cherohala skyway. My grandfather lives up in Kingsport, I have been there a bunch... Chattanooga seems pretty nice... The hotel is near the aquarium and IMAX theater. I was just out doing tequila shooters with the other folks here...

[NinerPilot]

Plus you would be halfway between me and Bubba . Meaning 2 hours from Road Atlanta....
Chris

[sheepofblue]

Originally Posted by TraumaOne

Cool, thanks, I will see how I feel after the day of interviewing. Yeah, I'm in the Camaro. I might just do the Cherohala skyway. My grandfather lives up in Kingsport, I have been there a bunch... Chattanooga seems pretty nice... The hotel is near the aquarium and IMAX theater. I was just out doing tequila shooters with the other folks here...

At the risk fo getting See Rock City. I actually thought it was neat when I went with my folks a few years ago.

[NinerPilot]

Here are the directions via the Skyway, again courtesy of streets and trips.

Time Mile Instruction For

9:00 AM 0.0 Depart Chattanooga on Local road(s) (South) 54 yds
9:00 AM 0.1 Turn RIGHT (West) onto US-41 [W Main St] 164 yds
9:00 AM 0.1 Turn LEFT (South) onto US-11 [Broad St] 0.3 mi
9:01 AM 0.4 Turn LEFT (East) onto SR-58 [W 20th St] 0.5 mi
9:02 AM 1.0 Turn off onto Ramp 0.1 mi
9:02 AM 1.1 Merge onto I-24 [US-27] (East) 5.9 mi
9:09 AM 7.0 At I-24 Exit 185, turn off onto Ramp 0.5 mi
9:10 AM 7.5 Merge onto I-75 (East) 18.9 mi
9:28 AM 26.4 At I-75 Exit 20, turn off onto Ramp 0.2 mi
9:28 AM 26.6 Bear RIGHT (East) onto US-74 [SR-40] 1.3 mi
9:30 AM 27.8 Turn RIGHT (South) onto Ramp 0.2 mi
9:31 AM 28.0 Turn LEFT (North-East) onto US-11 [US-64] 142 yds
9:31 AM 28.1 Turn RIGHT (East) onto US-64 [US-74] 5.0 mi
9:38 AM 33.1 Bear RIGHT (East) onto Ramp 0.3 mi
9:38 AM 33.3 Bear RIGHT (East) onto US-64 [US-74] 7.5 mi
9:47 AM 40.8 Turn LEFT (North) onto US-411 [SR-33] 19.2 mi
10:10 AM 60.0 Turn RIGHT (East) onto SR-310 6.4 mi
10:22 AM 66.4 Continue (East) on SR-39 [Mecca Pike] 8.0 mi
10:36 AM 74.4 Turn RIGHT (South) onto SR-165 [Bank St] 12.4 mi
10:57 AM 86.7 At SR-165, stay on SR-165 (South) 9.1 mi
11:13 AM 95.8 Entering North Carolina
11:13 AM 95.8 Turn RIGHT (South) onto Cherahala Skyway 1.6 mi
11:17 AM 97.4 Turn LEFT (North-East) onto National Forest Rd 10.5 mi
11:38 AM 107.9 Bear LEFT (North) onto SR-1127 2.3 mi
11:43 AM 110.2 Turn RIGHT (East) onto SR-1134 5.2 mi
11:53 AM 115.4 Turn LEFT (North-East) onto SR-1147 0.5 mi
11:55 AM 115.9 Turn LEFT (North) onto US-129 10.2 mi
12:07 PM 126.1 Arrive Deals Gap

SUMMARY
Driving distance: 126.1 miles
Trip duration: 3 hours, 7 minutes

[slodsm]

The skyway is a very nice drive too. The Gap is so damn curvy it's almost no fun in a car, you get bored quick, or at least I did.

[TraumaOne]

Well, the turn off came sooner than I expected. By the time I looked for it I was 20 miles past and said screw it and kept going. That trip form Chattanooga to Greenville, NC was a loooong one...