Cherokee National Forest Guide: Road and Rail Journeys
Cherokee National Forest Highlights
- Off-road driving experiences are very limited in the Cherokee. There is no singular, large area with multiple trails anywhere within the 500,000-acre forest. However, just beyond the North Carolina border beside the Tellico River, is the Upper Tellico Off-Highway Vehicle area. This is most easily accessed from the Tennessee side of the mountains and thus is a primary destination.
- On Buffalo Mountain near Johnson City, is the Cherokee's best off-roading opportunity. Starting at Horse Cove Gap, the 13-mile Buffalo Mountain Trail ascends to the crest of the mountain, then travels west to reach an observation tower with 360-degree views. Beyond the tower, the trail continues winding along the mountain crest to end at Organ Gap.
- Near Horse Creek Recreation Area by Greeneville Horse Creek Road (Forest Road 94) offers another venue. The rugged road, devastated by floods in the early 2000s, was restored and ascends to come near Cold Springs Bald, a mountaintop field with views.
- The Dicks Creek area, near the town of Unicoi, is another popular four-wheeling site in upper East Tennessee. Though small, the area draws motorized vehicles from monster trucks to ATVs.
- Two motorcycle-only trails, Unicoi Trail (Forest Trail # 82) and the Smith Mountain Trail (Forest Trail #81), offer nearly ten miles of riding. Smith Mountain is a ridgetop run south of the Hiwassee River, while the Unicoi Trail is also a ridgetrop track and is north of the river.
- Beaverdam Bald is a six-mile forest road open to four-wheelers. It runs along the North Carolina-Tennessee state line and is very near the upper Tellico Off-Highway Vehicle area. Both areas are accessed by Tellico River Road (Forest Road 210).
By Travel Expert:
Johnny Molloy
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