Fodor's Expert Review Parson Branch Road

Following a wagon track, this eight-mile unpaved road has been used for more than 150 years. Some believe that Parson Branch Road was named for ministers who held religious retreats nearby, but others believe it was named for Joshua Parson, an early settler in the area. The road begins at the southwestern edge of Cades Cove Loop Road just beyond the visitor center at the Cable Mill. The road was improved and re-graveled in 2022, but high-clearance vehicles are recommended. It offers no scenic vistas, but it runs through old-growth forests, with huge poplars and hemlocks along the roadway. RVs are prohibited.  Parson Branch is a one-way drive leaving Cades Cove, so plan your day accordingly. Its terminus is the "Tail of the Dragon" (US-129) scenic drive, where it's accessible to bicyclists for a pleasant pedal along the namesake creek.