South Loop Road form R/R run form Zenith to Oneida:
1-From Downtown Allardt (last chance for gas, food beverage) at the intersection of SR 296 and SR-52 (N36^22.832� W84^53.074) head East on SR-52 for 7-8 Miles and look for signs directing you to ‘Zenith’.
2-At approximately N36^22.405’ W84^45.708 turn Left onto Noah Buck/Sam Smith Road.
3-Travel North and East along Sam Smith Road (will turn into Mt. Helen Rd) until arriving at Zenith Road (gravel) on your left (N36^24.290 W84^43.896’) (sign points ‘To Zenith’).
*Note* you will see on the map that there is al alternate entrance/turn off shown on the map prior to arriving at Zenith Road. Range Cenetery Road will dead end into North White Oak Creek at a (use to be) challenging creek crossing. I have not been to this location in 5-6 years so I do not know it’s condition. If you take this ‘creek’ crossing take a right on the trail after crossing the creek and follow it east until it connects with the directions below at approximately N36^25.734 W84^44.435.
4-Continue to follow signs/gravel road till arriving in an open gravel/dirt staging/parking area (1-1.25 miles) N36^25.340 W 84^43.849. *Air down here*. As you pull into the staging area you will notice the road/trail crossing a small creek to your left, this is the direction you will leave the staging area.
5-Leave the staging area by crossing the small creek and follow the gravel/dirt road to the ‘Creek’ (more like a river) Crossing N36^25.734 W84^44.435
*NOTE* *WARNING* If it has been raining much in two days prior to your arrival at the crossing send the best equipped vehicle first!!!! In normal conditions, this crossing can be made by a stock Kick on highway radials (I did it) but can become deep after rains. Even at low water, stay on the apparent direct crossing between the in and out, there are deep holes just down stream form this crossing.
6-After making the crossing turn right (east) along the old R/R bed and follow it for the rest of your journey. You now have miles and miles of old R/R bed ahead of you with beautiful scenery to the end of the trip, with 1 catch ?.
7-While in Logging Hollow at approximately N36^27.323 W84^40.322 you have one more wide creek/river crossing.
*NOTE* *DO NOT FORGET THIS OR SOMEONE WILL SUBMERGE THEIR RIDE!!!!!!* At this crossing, DO NOT take the shortest line to the OUT of the trail. There are deep holes that will swallow 42’s. You need to make this crossing by driving perpendicular to the flow, bump up on the small under water rock ledge just left of the 4’ tall rock, then traverse down the far bank (around the BIG rock till coming out on the gravel).
Proper Crossing path (33’s)
Proper Crossing Path (35’s)
Just down stream of perpendicular crossing (42’s) and it got A LOT deeper about 15’ down stream
8-Continue along old railroad bed for approximately 1.5 miles till coming to the R/R bridge crossing. It’s old, but it’s safe! Don’t let the height get to ya
9-Once you cross the bridge you can air back up, unlock the hubs etc…. Its all gravel from here.
10-Stay on gravel road (if in question follow the heaviest traveled or stay right). It will turn into O&W Road and take you into Oneida, TN where you will be cursed with paved roads again.
This trail can be taken in either direction as long as it is still open to vehicular traffic. PLEASE watch for Horses and stop the entire caravan and shut off all motors and radios while they are passing. This is a trail frequented by equestrian groups and they actually don’t mind courteous 4x4 groups and we would like to keep it as friendly as possible.
There are more trails West of Zenith but we have only aimlessly roamed these areas. The trails West of Zenith and ‘Up on the hill’ (you will know what I mean when you are there) are MUCH more challenging than the Zenith to Oneida R/R run. But they are a lot of fun to explore.
Like I said previously, I have not been there in a couple of years, and it has been an ongoing battle to keep this area open for years prior to my moving to Florida. So call ahead and confirm with the Big South Fork Park Services, that the “South Loop R/R Trail is still open to vehicular traffic. I will try to call and check for you sometime later this week.
HTH,
Zig
Map image to come.
