Cherokee National Forest

Cherokee National Forest/Ocoee Whitewater Center
4400 Hwy 64
Copperhill, TN 37317
423-496-5197 OR 877-692-6050
http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/cherokee/

The Cherokee National Forest, which covers 633,000 acres east Tennessee and is located in the southern most potion of McMinn County offers many opportunities to view wildlife throughout the year. From hiking trails and scenic drives birds, butterflies and blooms can be viewed in breathtaking color or stroll along designated Watchable Wildlife trails within the Cherokee National Forest. The Cherokee National Forest features habitat for black bears, European boar, red squirrels, eastern chipmunks, and red and grey foxes. The forest also offers excellent birdwatching for black-capped chickadees, ravens, blackburing warblers, veerios, red breasted nuthatches, flickers and woodpeckers. The John Muir Trail and Hiwassee River Area is also home to an assortment of wildlife. Beaver activity is easily seen along the John Muir Trail with hellbender salamanders, the largest in North America, seen resting on the river rocks.

The Cherokee National Forest has the first Forest Service Scenic Byway in the nation. The route includes 19 miles of US 64 and seven miles of Forest Service Road 77 in Polk County. Along this drive are panoramic overlooks, Parksville Lake and the whitewater activities of the Ocoee River.

The Cherokee national forest welcomes hunters and anglers, campers, bikers and hikers, whitewater enthusiasts and everyone who has an appreciation of nature.

Amenities: Camping, picnic tables, hiking trails, boating, swimming, hunting, bicycle paths, canoeing