McFarland Directions 

   We had such a dickens of a time locating McFarland that  I decided to type up some directions.   It is public land and okay to visit, but the area  is a confusing maze of roads.  I have typed up the directions approaching from both north and south.   I am to trying  to make the directions understandable. 

Driving Directions Heading South on SR 68

From the intersection of Hwy 68 South turn RIGHT onto Underwood Drive.

You will pass the Farner Post Office on your right within sight of where you made your turn.

Stay on Underwood Drive for 0.30 miles crossing the railroad tracks and turning LEFT onto Duggan Rd . It is poorly signed from this direction, and it may look like you are turning into someone's drive way. This is not the case. It is just a narrow road here and lots of houses around.

Drive 0.20 miles on Duggan Road to a LEFT turn onto Farner Road which was well signed. 

Drive on Farner Rd 3 miles (you will pass the turn for Turtletown Falls at 1/2 mile)

Then turn RIGHT onto McFarland Rd. also well signed.  Stay on McFarland Rd for 6 miles. 

At around the 6 mile mark you will come to the first ungated potential right turn on a dirt road. This is the LOWER McFarland Road.  Avoid this going perhaps 250 feet further to the 2nd right hand turn.  This is the correct one. It is unsigned. There had been survey tape, but even this was gone.

Follow this dirt track about 0.50 miles to the point where it Y's off.  The cement plant ruins are on the right... the McFarland spillway is to the left.  

Driving Directions to McFarland Heading North 

From the intersection of US 64 and SR 68 in Ducktown, Tennessee turn LEFT onto SR 68 and head north for 12.50 miles to a LEFT turn onto Duggan Road which is unsigned at Hwy 68,  but appears on Google Maps correctly. 

Drive on Duggan Road for a little over 0.50 miles to a RIGHT turn onto Farner Road.  It is easier to see the sign coming in this way.   Drive 3 miles on Farner Road and turn RIGHT onto McFarland Road.  Stay on McFarland Road for about 6  miles and you will come to an unsigned gravel road . 

TURN RIGHT into this road.  Drive 0.25 miles or less and you will come to a Y.  On the right of the Y you can see the ruins of the McFarland cement plant in plain view.  to the LEFT the road continues a tiny bit further and you arrive in front of the McFarland Spillway and pipeline access. It looks like a manmade waterfall. 

Above: McFarland Cement plant ruins

Below:  McFarland Spillway

The road was  rocky, but in fair condition.  It is passable by most vehicles.  If you are on a road that is very rough and ends in a large washout you are one road below McFarland.  

You need to  go back you have missed the turn if  you come to a wooden sign on the right at a road for Butler Cemetery. 

 Points Along This Route that Could Lead to Confusion: 

You will pass a signed road  #238  that bears right near the start of McFarland Road. It is the first place you could possibly turn right.  This is not the way to go. 

#23A --Turtletown Adit road  prior to the right turn for McFarland also goes right and steeply uphill.  It is another place worth checking out, but is different. Not your way to go if you're heading to McFarland. 

FR 23A for  Turtletown Adit  is another place to view the Apalachia Aquaduct Pipeline, train tracks,   and trestle over Turtletown Creek.  The road is longer and  rougher.  Do not try it without a high clearance, four wheel drive vehicle and a chainsaw.  It is narrow, rutted, and washed out with few spots to turn around .  It often has downed trees across it.

Take a chainsaw with you.   These roads have potential to either prevent you from reaching your goal by downed trees or worse. They could  prevent you from leaving because you are trapped down there by falling trees.

No joke when it is bitterly cold like it was today and you have no phone signal and are a long way from civilization.