Cataloochee UTV Adventure Rentals

11/09/2024

🚨 Support Cataloochee UTV Adventure Rentals 🚨

As we work to recover from the impact of Hurricane Helene, we’re reaching out to our Facebook family with an idea to help support our small business. ✨If you love the thrill of our UTV adventures or have enjoyed a ride with us in the past, consider purchasing a gift card! Gift cards will have NO expiration and we will offer a 10% discount to every gift card purchased through the end of 2024!

🌲 **Adventure Update:** Portions of the Blue Ridge Parkway are open for rides, offering beautiful views and hiking trails! However, Cataloochee Valley remains closed for the time being as it undergoes restoration.

🎁 **How You Can Help:**
- Purchase a gift card to use on a future trip or to share with a friend
- Spread the word by sharing this post with friends and family who love the outdoors

Thank you for helping us weather this storm. We can’t wait to see you!

11/03/2024

Explore the beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway on one of our Side by Sides! Pack a picnic and bring your family for a day trip with us!

On Wednesday morning, October 30, 2024, the National Park Service restored access to nearly 55 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway from:

Milepost 411.8 to 421, from US 276 to Black Balsam, including:
Graveyard Fields overlook and trailheads at milepost 418.8.
All trails & trails crossings in this corridor (use extreme caution).

Milepost 423.2 to 469, from NC 215 to US 441 in Cherokee, NC, near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance, including:
All trails & trails crossings in this corridor (use extreme caution).
Heintooga Spur Road to the Masonic marker.
Waterrock K**b Visitor Center and Park Store at milepost 451.2, which will be open daily from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. until November 11, 2024.

The section from milepost 421 to 423.2, between the two open sections and including Devil’s Courthouse, remains closed for all uses due to a significant landslide that impacted the roadway during Hurricane Helene. All along the Parkway, areas are closed as crews continue work to clear widespread debris, remove hazard trees, and install hardened closures around road sections that will require lengthy reconstruction. The NPS expects the Devil's Courthouse closure to be in place for an extended period as plans for permanent reconstruction are developed and implemented.

"The Parkway is an important travel corridor for our surrounding communities and a treasured recreation destination,” said Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Tracy Swartout. “Opening these additional miles of the Parkway in North Carolina is an important step forward, but much work remains. We ask that visitors stay out of the Devil’s Courthouse area and all other closed sections, even on foot, for their own safety. Any public use behind closed gates, including hiking and biking, puts workers and visitors at risk.”

Due to the severity of the storm, conditions on park roads and trails are still evolving, and are expected to continue to change over the next weeks and months. Visitors should anticipate changing conditions and share their travel plans with others in advance. The NPS has not yet completed trail assessments and caution is encouraged for trail users who may experience hazards resulting from landslides, downed or leaning trees, wash-outs, and other damage. Exercise caution while visiting open areas, including trails. Current known conditions and updates about the Parkway are online at www.nps.gov/blri and the park’s social media platforms.

10/20/2024

News Release—The National Park Service continues to assess conditions and address damage following the impacts from Hurricane Helene in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The park experienced substantial damage particularly in North Carolina, including Balsam Mountain, Big Creek and Cataloochee Valley.

Within the park, the Cataloochee Valley saw the most significant impacts from Hurricane Helene and will be closed until further notice as staff address damage. Flooding from Rough Fork Creek washed out several roads in the valley. Upper Cataloochee Valley Road saw the worst damage and is not drivable. Various levels of erosion and flooding impacted all trails in Cataloochee Valley and nearly all footlog bridges in the area were washed away during the storm. Cataloochee Valley also experienced fallen trees, flooding at campsites and damaged power lines. There were impacts to historic buildings, particularly the Caldwell Barn, which park staff are currently working to stabilize.

The Balsam Mountain and Big Creek areas are also currently closed until further notice due to storm damage and safety concerns.

Most trails on the Tennessee side of the park are open; several trails on the North Carolina side are closed. The park continues to assess the trails on the eastern end of the park to find the western edge of the damage in the backcountry. Examples of trails that were severely impacted include Big Creek Trail, which saw damage throughout its length and lost a 70-foot steel bridge and its abutments. Gunter Fork Trail experienced a landslide that took out 100 feet of trail.

While there has been some significant damage in the eastern area of the park, many miles of trails in western sections of the park have low impacts and few downed trees. Visitors planning to hike in the Smokies are encouraged (as always) to check the park website and/or talk to staff in visitor centers or the backcountry office about current trail conditions.

Most park roads are open with a few exceptions including Foothills Parkway East, Lakeview Drive, roads in Cataloochee Valley, roads in Balsam Mountain area and Parsons Branch Road (visitors should check the park map). US441/Newfound Gap Road is open 24 hours a day. Commercial vehicles are prohibited in the park, with the exception of the Spur.

All park visitor centers and most park facilities are open. All Tennessee park campgrounds are currently open. North Carolina campgrounds are currently closed, and park staff continue to assess for when they can be safely opened.

Link to release and additional photos: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/news/update-on-great-smoky-mountains-national-park-following-hurricane-helene.htm

10/12/2024

UPDATE Nov 2, 2024
Since portions of the Blue Ridge Parkway are now open, we are too! It’s a beautiful ride up to Graveyard Fields, Black Balsam and other newly opened areas!

————

📢 **Important Announcement** 📢

We regret to inform you that our UTV rental business is temporarily closed due to damage caused by Hurricane Helene. Additionally, popular riding locations, including the Blue Ridge Parkway and Cataloochee Valley, are also closed due to the impact of the storm.

We appreciate your understanding during this time and encourage everyone to stay safe. We will keep you updated and look forward to welcoming you back as soon as conditions improve. If you would like to purchase a gift card to use at a later date, which helps support our small business, send us a message. 🙏

Thank you for your support! 🌲🚙💨

Found on Google from rvtravel.com

09/05/2024

08/20/2024

Thankful to have such great renters. Extra bonus for us when they share photos from their trip! 💚

07/29/2024

Renter shared Elk photos.

05/25/2024

The elk have definitely showed up for our renters so far this weekend!

04/06/2024

It’s getting to be that time… Can’t wait for another great season with all our great customers!

10/17/2023

🍂 More renter photos 🍂

10/15/2023

Some more fall renter photos. 🧡🍁💛