Site 67 — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Lakeshore Drive, better known as the“Road to Nowhere,” has a sad history, but today it has become a beautiful place to drive. I will not go into detail about the history, except to say that the road ended in the middle of construction and terminates at a vehicle tunnel. A barricade prevents vehicles from entering the tunnel, but it provides an interesting hike, which leads to campsite 67. There is a trail that bypasses the tunnel for those who don’t want to walk through it, but walking through the tunnel is much more exciting. Once you get to the other side of the tunnel, the only things you will hear might be the rustling of leaves or an occasional jet in the distance. It is one of the most peaceful places I have ever visited in the mountains of western North Carolina. 

To get to campsite 67, walk through the tunnel and for another two miles(give or take a half mile). Along the way, there will be some remnants of at least one home and a stone chimney. You will walk to the far reaches of Fontana Lake before you get to it. You will need to take water unless you have a good water filtration system. Bears have been present in the area, so you also want to make sure you do not eat near your tent or leave garbage that would attract them. There are no facilities there, so everything you take is what you have there. Obviously, there is no way an RV or a travel trailer can camp there. It is walk-in only. 

Overall, it’s great for solitude and peace. The trail is moderate and sometimes steep, but I highly recommend it.