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. __TOC__ List The following roadways were listed b ...

that connects

Tellico Plains, Tennessee Tellico Plains is a town in Monroe County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 859 at the 2000 census and 880 at the 2010 census. History The area along the Tellico River was inhabited for thousands of years by indigenous peoples. The h ...

Robbinsville, North Carolina Robbinsville is a town in Graham County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 620 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Graham County, county population 8,861. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the town h ...

in the southeastern United States. Its name is a

portmanteau A portmanteau word, or portmanteau (, ) is a blend of wordsCherokee The Cherokee (; chr, ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯᎢ, translit=Aniyvwiyaʔi or Anigiduwagi, or chr, ᏣᎳᎩ, links=no, translit=Tsalagi) are one of the indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, t ...

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 Citico Creek Wilderness is a wilderness area within the Cherokee National Forest in the U.S. state of Tennessee. The wilderness contains the entire upper drainage of Citico Creek, which consists of the north and south forks and at least eight tri ...

, the Bald River Gorge Wilderness, and the remote interior of the

Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest is an approximately 3,800-acre tract of publicly owned virgin forest in Graham County, North Carolina, named in memory of poet Joyce Kilmer (1886–1918), best known for his poem "Trees". One of the largest contiguo ...

. 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 State Route 165 (SR 165) is an east to west secondary highway in Monroe County, Tennessee, United States that is long. It is the Tennessee portion of the Cherohala Skyway which runs through Cherokee National Forest and connects Tellico Plains wi ...

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 Haw Knob is a mountain located in the central Unicoi Mountains in the southeastern United States. The peak is located in Monroe County, Tennessee and Graham County, North Carolina, and has an elevation of above mean sea level. It located near the ...

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 Hooper Bald is a grassy bald mountain in the Unicoi Mountain Range located in the Cheoah Ranger District (northwestern district) of Nantahala National Forest in Graham County, North Carolina, United States. The summit is 5,429 ft/1,655 m. ...

(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 The Benton MacKaye Trail or BMT is a footpath nearly in length in the Appalachian Mountains in the southeastern United States and is blazed by a white diamond, 5″ across by 7″ tall. The hiking trail was created and is maintained by the Ben ...

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