The Cherohala Skyway is a

National Scenic Byway A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for one or more of six "intrinsic qualities": archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic. The program was established by Co ...

and

National Forest Scenic Byway The National Forest Scenic Byways are roads that have been designated by the U.S. Forest Service as scenic byways. Many are also National Scenic Byways (NSB). The program was initiated in 1987. List The following roadways were listed by the Fede ...

that connects

Tellico Plains, Tennessee Tellico Plains is a town in Monroe County, Tennessee, Monroe County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 859 at the 2000 census and 880 at the 2010 census. Tellico Plains is home to several communities that include Coker Creek, Belltown, ...

, to

Robbinsville, North Carolina Robbinsville is a town in Graham County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 597 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is the county seat of Graham County, county population 8,030. History A trading post was established ...

, in the southeastern United States. Its name is a

portmanteau In linguistics, a blend—also known as a blend word, lexical blend, or portmanteau—is a word formed by combining the meanings, and parts of the sounds, of two or more words together.

Cherokee The Cherokee (; , or ) people are one of the Indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, they were concentrated in their homelands, in towns along river valleys of what is now southwestern ...

and Nantahala, the two national forests through which it passes. Along with multiple vistas and overlooks, the skyway provides easy vehicular access to various protected and recreational areas of the

Unicoi Mountains The Unicoi Mountains are a mountain range rising along the border between Tennessee and North Carolina in the southeastern United States. They are part of the Blue Ridge Mountain Province of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The Unicois are ...

, including the Citico Creek Wilderness, the Bald River Gorge Wilderness, and the remote interior of the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. Planning for the Cherohala Skyway began in 1958 and the road was completed on October 12, 1996, at a final cost of about $100,000,000. The western (or Tennessee) half of the skyway follows Tennessee State Route 165 for nearly from Tellico Plains to the state line at Stratton Gap. The eastern (or North Carolina) half follows North Carolina Highway 143 for just over from Stratton Gap to Robbinsville. The skyway gains over in elevation, rising from a low point of just under at Tellico Plains to a high point of just over on the slopes of Haw Knob near the Tennessee-North Carolina state line. The North Carolina half of the skyway terminates near the south shore of Lake Santeetlah.

Route description

Skyway highlights

* Santeetlah Gap (Mile 0) — junction with Kilmer Road, which accesses Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest * Hooper Cove (Mile 2) — picnic area * Shute Cove (Mile 3) — picnic area * Huckleberry Knob (Mile 9) — short trail to the summit of Huckleberry Knob (elev. ) * Hooper Bald (Mile 10) — short trail to the summit of Hooper Bald (elev. ) * Santeetlah Overlook (Mile 11) — view of the upper Santeetlah Creek watershed * Big Junction Overlook (Mile 12) — View south from the gap between Haw Knob and Big Junction * Stratton Ridge (Mile 16) — picnic area; Benton MacKaye Trail access * 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 cascade waterfall * Lake View Overlook (Mile 25) * Turkey Creek Overlook (Mile 27) * 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)

History

References

External links

*
Cherohala.org
- official website

- Cherohala Skyway info, photos, maps, visitor info

- pictures, maps, and information
Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center: A Dream Come True!
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061009152434/http://www.bywaysonline.org/articles/52634 , date=2006-10-09 - the building and dedication of the TN Visitor Center in Monroe County.
Cherohala.com
- commercial site with much good information, history, maps, and pictures.

- tips and information on driving the Cherohala National Scenic Byways Transportation in Monroe County, Tennessee Transportation in Graham County, North Carolina National Forest Scenic Byways Tourist attractions in Monroe County, Tennessee Tourist attractions in Graham County, North Carolina