Should you choose Elkmont Campground or Cades Cove Campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park? And did we mention the amazing views? Williams dreamed of leading his own wagon train from his home in Tellico Plains to the Unakas of North Carolina. To give you an idea of the size, all sites can accommodate a 26 camper. 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Email Us Terms of Service Privacy Policy Disclosures. The Cherohala Skyway is a 43-mile (69km) National Scenic Byway and National Forest Scenic Byway that connects Tellico Plains, Tennessee to Robbinsville, North Carolina in the southeastern United States. Reserve one of their 87 sites equipped with picnic table, fire ring, and electric hookup. Keep as close to the white line as you can. We drove from Tellico to Robbinsville and back to out home. Tip: Remember to bring hand soap--none is provided in the restrooms. #3 of 20 things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 71 Fontana Rd Fontana Dam, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, NC 28733-6105. The Hooper Bald parking area is on the right side of the road where you will conveniently find restrooms, two picnic tables, a 1/4-mile long trailhead to the bald and a kiosk with the known history of these balds. It offers 28 rooms, a gorgeous riverfront location, two restaurants, and a 125-acre site filled with walking paths and hammocks. So, here's why you should check it out: Cades Cove is notoriously the busiest area of the Smokies. 96% of travelers recommend this experience. Clean restrooms at the overlooks, hiking trails all around, and several spots or interest points to see and enjoy! Its a beautiful stretch of road, an easy drive, and right in the middle of some of the most beautiful landscapes in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Having camped at both as children and as adults, we give you the breakdown of the pros and cons of each. The 36-mile scenic byway connects TN 68 with NC 143. The trail-head is a small asphalt pull-off on the right if you are coming from Tellico Plains. As you climb the mountain in your vehicle the outside temperature drops and so does your stress level. VRBO 592878. From the trail-head the trail starts up and almost all of the trial is an uphill incline on the way there with about 700 feet of elevation change over 1.5 miles. These are our familys top 10 favorite activities when we camp at Elkmont. 5,560ft or 1,690m), Santeetlah Overlook (Mile 11) 5,390-foot (1,640m) view of the upper Santeetlah Creek watershed, Big Junction Overlook (Mile 12) View south from the 5,235-foot (1,596m) gap between Haw Knob and Big Junction, Cherohala Skyway Welcome Plaza (Mile 17) picnic area; connection to Forest Service Roads 81/Old Santeetlah Road and 217/North River Road, Unicoi Crest (Mile 18) Tennessee-North Carolina state line, view of the Tellico River valley, Falls Branch Falls Trail (Mile 21) short trail through a patch of old growth forest to a 55-foot (17m) cascade waterfall, Forest Service Road 345/Indian Boundary Road (Mile 29) to Indian Boundary Lake campground, Forest Service Road 210/River Road (Mile 39) to Tellico District Ranger Station and Bald River Falls, Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center and Charles Hall Museum (Mile 43), This page was last edited on 8 September 2022, at 23:34. The Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center in Tellico Plains is also worth a stop for maps and info. The road was opened in 1996 and is a National Scenic Byway with beautiful overlooks, hiking trails and a beautiful waterfall. Cherohala Skyway National Scenic Byway - VISIT MONROE TN Once youve tamed the Dragon, stick around to explore the regions towering waterfalls, crystal-blue lakes, atmospheric mountain towns, and truly scenic highways. Tip 2: All sites have electric hookup. Tellico Plains, TN Phone: (828) 479-8400 Address: 43 mile National Scenic Byway Website: https://cherohala.com/ Cherohala Skyway The Cherohala Skyway was completed in the fall of 1996 after planning and construction for some thirty-four years. There are also two apartments, a pair of firepits, and tennis courts. Cherokee National Forest - Cherohala Skyway - US Forest Service Its name is a portmanteau of Cherokee and Nantahala, the two national forests through which it passes. This is a nice drive with beautiful overlooks. It is North Carolina's most expensive highway at a cost of $100,000,000 (about $3 million a mile!). Have fun and check out Tellico Grains Bakery as you go through. Open Tuesday-Saturday; 10-4. Check out the Dragon Tree of Shame, which is covered with decades of detritus from motorcycle crashes on the road. However, we are including the road from beginning to end in our mileage total. April through October is the peak time for Dragon slayers to hit the highway; winter weather in the area is unpredictable and can make the drive even more treacherous. Cherohala Skyway: Best Road Trip in North Carolina The campground is open from mid-April through the end of October. Located just 22 minutes from the Indian Boundary Recreation Area, you will find a magnificent 90 waterfall on Forest Service Road 210 off the Cherohala Parkway (the Bald River Falls turn off is clearly marked on the Skyway.) As a result, many found themselves to be considered enemies of both sides. For diners, that means delicious bites like hush puppies made with aged cheddar and served with Sriracha aioli, and green tomato salad with spicy pecans and a grilled pork chop brined in sweet tea and served with molasses barbecue sauce. Unknown man killed by Kirkland Bushwackers is buried near Stratton Gap. There are outdoor bathrooms near the TN NC state line. The mile-high ride is always a new and unforgettable experience. Map provided by http://www.tellico-plains.com/cherohala-skyway.html, A fall view from one of the overlooks on the Cherohala Skyway. Drive along the sparkling rush of the Tellico River, stop at overlooks to take in expansive views of the Tennessee Valley and waves of mountain peaks, hike to high elevation mountain balds or nearby . Huckleberry Knob, Lake Santeetlah, North Carolina - The Outbound Ill definitely be back on the Cherohala Skyway when Im in town. This weekend road trip along the Cherohala Skyway starts in Tellico Plains, TN and ends in Robbinsville, NC. We had the water to ourselves and it was still shallow enough for safe swimming with little ones. Owned by Monroe County, the visitor center provides free travel maps and can update you on current driving conditions on the Skyway. It offers hiking, biking, kayaking, a 96 acre lake, and its campground is terrific. The trail has picnic tables along the river for the first mile, and the kids will enjoy skipping rocks and dipping their feet in the ice cold water. Blue Ridge Parkway to Tail of the Dragon map - The Cherohala Skyway offers sweeping curves and views to match with scenic overlooks at 5000+ ft. It was too crowded for us, so we opted to swim at another lake access area just before the fishing dock on your way to the beach. Located in Robbinsville near the entrance to the Cherohala Skyway. CHEROHALA SKYWAY The drive is about 50 miles long with views of ancient forests where Cherokee tribes and early pioneers traveled and settled in the Appalachian Mountains along with mile-high vistas with magnificent views. Navigating the Byway: * Start on NC 143 at Robbinsville, NC, and continue on NC 143 until the Tennessee/North Carolina state line. The skyway can be reached 12 miles west of Robbinsville on N.C. 143. The dream of the Cherohala Skyway began in 1958. One tragic event happened in the Goldmine Branch- Rock Creek area. Campsite At Indian Boundary Recreation Area. Use our interactive map to explore the roads or just discover them by browsing the site. We want your experiences too! History of the Cherohala Skyway, including Hooper Bald Lodge and the Russian Blue Boar, Tellico Wagon Train, Kirkland Bushwackers. But not all citizens were loyal to the Confederate Army, especially in the mountain area. It winds up and over 5,400 foot mountains for 18 miles in North Carolina and descends another 23 miles into the deeply forested back country of Tennessee.