The Cherohala Scenic Skyway
The Cherohala Skyway is a beautiful mountain highway named after the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee and the Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina. It connects Tellico Plains, TN, to Robbinsville, NC, as it winds through forests of hardwoods and evergreens on about a 50 mile stretch. The Skyway was 38 years in the making, cost over $100 million dollars and was opened in October of 1996. Elevations range from 900 ft. above sea level at Tellico to over 5400 ft. above sea level at the TN/NC state line. There are no service stations or restaurants on the Cherohala, so be sure to top off your tank and pack a picnic basket before hitting the road.
Designated as a National Scenic Byway and also one of National Geographic’s “50 Drives of a Lifetime,” traveling the Skyway will be an experience you won’t soon forget. The road is two-laned and maintained by both states’ Departments of Transportation. The forests that it traverses are managed by the US Forest Service. The Skyway has wide shoulders and fifteen scenic overlooks. The trip across the Cherohala takes about two hours, with breath-taking scenery around every curve. Take your time. This highway was built specifically for sightseeing. It is much less travelled than the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Skyway is very popular with motorcyclists as well as those with sports cars, minivans and motor homes. Along the way you can expect very little cell phone service and limited restroom facilities. There are plentiful picnic sites, trailheads for hiking and waterways for kayaking and canoeing.
Some highlights along the Cherohala Scenic Skyway include:
- The Visitors Center
Be sure to stop here first, assuming that you are starting your journey from Tellico Plains. It is located on Hwy 165. You can pick up free brochures and maps, and get local weather conditions. The friendly staff is happy to help you plan your trip, guiding you to waterfalls, the best fishing spots, etc.
- Bald River Falls
At the start of your drive, you’ll be following the Tellico River. This section of the Tellico is very popular with white water enthusiasts and well known to fly fishermen. Trout are heavily stocked and plentiful. From the Visitors Center, go 5 miles and turn onto State Route 210 and drive 6 miles to see the 100’ Bald River Falls. You can see them from your car, or you can get out and hike the adjacent trails and have a picnic. It’s a gorgeous setting for some photo ops.
- Indian Boundary Campground
Thirteen miles from Tellico Plains you will find the turnoff, Forest Rd 345, for the Cherokee National Forest’s Indian Boundary Campground on Boundary Lake. It is set among hardwoods and tall pines, offering 100 various camping opportunities. Some sites have electrical hookups and a modern bath house. Other sites are more rustic with outdoor showers and fire rings. You can also come here for day-use if you want to picnic, mountain bike, swim or fish. Call toll free (877) 444-6777 for reservations. The campground is open April through October.
- Santeetlah Overlook
As you cross into North Carolina the road continues to rise. One of the highest points is the picnic spot at the 5,390’ Santeetlah Overlook. From here, travelers can see panoramic views of the Great Smokies, the Appalachians, the Snowbird, the Slickrock and the Joyce Kilmer forest. Even the distant peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are visible.
- Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest
This is probably the most famous spot on the Skyway. It is a two-mile side trip on NC 134 to a wilderness section of 400 year old stands of poplar and hemlock. The old growth forest erupts into vivid colors every fall. Joyce Kilmer (whom I always thought was a woman—who knew??) was actually Sgt. Alfred Joyce Kilmer, an American journalist and poet. He’s best known for his poem “Trees”—“I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree.” His writings celebrated the beauty of nature. He was killed in a WWI battle at the age of 31.
The Cherohala Skyway offers a glimpse into an unspoiled forest environment where Cherokee tribes and early pioneers travelled and settled in the Appalachians. Expect to see magnificent vistas, seasonal foliage and some seldom seen portions of the wilderness. The Cherokee National Forest contains more than 600 miles of hiking trails, including a section of the famous Appalachian Trail. Once devastated by logging, but protected since 1911, the woodlands are home to 262 species of birds, 154 types of fish, 55 different amphibians and reptiles and 43 species of mammals. The Nantahala National Forest abounds with recreational activities. You can hike, fish, camp or white water raft on the Nantahala River. Commercial outfitters offer a variety of guided services.
Tellico River Bald River Falls
Visiting downtown Tellico Plains is a great place to start your adventure on the Cherohala Scenic Skyway. It is a small vintage mountain town, in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. You’ll notice its simpler pace of life and hospitable spirit. The surrounding rolling farmlands and weathered barns are quite picturesque. The traditional Appalachian mountain heritage is evident and appreciated, and Cherokee roots in this area are preserved and celebrated. Robbinsville, at the NC end of the Skyway, is also a charming little town. Two famous movies have been filmed in and around Robbinsville. “The Fugitive,” starring Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones, was filmed at nearby Cheoah Dam. Remember the scene where Harrison Ford jumped out of a drainage pipe when he was being chased at the dam, and fell to the water way down below? The movie, “Nell,” starring Jodie Foster, was also filmed here. The remote lush setting makes Robbinsville a perfect place for filming. In addition, there is a museum honoring Chief Junaluska, a Cherokee Indian who escaped from the Trail of Tears in the late 1830’s. He hid out in the mountains of the area and became famous.
While the Cherohala Skyway is open year round, it is best travelled April through October. With its high elevations and winding turns, the snowy winter months can be hazardous. Always check weather conditions before starting out. You can call the Visitor’s Center at (423) 253-8010 or go to www.cherohala.org for maps and up to the minute weather forecasts. From Blue Ridge, Georgia, it is only a 45 mile drive up to Tellico Plains. So, when you stay with Rainbow Cabins in the North Georgia Mountains, be sure to take a day trip up to the awe-inspiring Cherohala Scenic Skyway.