The Cherokee National Forest is located in Eastern Tennessee and stretches from Chattanooga to Bristol along the North Carolina border. The 640,000-acre forest is the largest tract of public land in Tennessee.  It lies in the heart of the Southern Appalachian mountain range, one of the world's most diverse areas.

Current Events

Tennessee Wilderness Act of 2010

Tennessee Wilderness Act of 2010: On June 9, 2010 Tennessee Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker introduced the Tennessee Wilderness Act of 2010 that would designate seven areas totaling 19,556 acres as wilderness in the Cherokee National Forest. These areas were recommended as Wilderness Study Areas in the Cherokee National Forest’s 2004 Land and Resource Management Plan....

Gypsy Moth Project

UNICOI, TN - June 4, 2010 ... The US Forest Service in cooperation with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture will treat approximately 360 acres in Johnson County, Tennessee for gypsy moth control. The Project area includes approximately 100 acres of private land and 260 acres in the Cherokee National Forest. At this time, the Johnson County population is at a fairly low density level.

Update on Indian Boundary Campground Improvements

TELLICO PLAINS, TN – May 26, 2010… Forest Service officials at the Cherokee National Forest report that improvements to Indian Boundary Campground in the Tellico Ranger District are underway. The work on this facility will contribute to...

Cave and Mine Closure Extended

ATLANTA (May 20, 2010)— In response to the uncontrolled spread of white-nose syndrome affecting bat species, the USDA Forest Service Southern Region is renewing its closure order on all caves and abandoned mines on national forests in the Southern Region...

May persons possessing handgun carry permits possess their handguns while in the Cherokee National Forest?

YES - Recent State legislative changes provide that individuals who possess a carry permit may possess their handgun while on Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) wildlife management areas, public hunting areas, or refuges open to hunter access. Because the Cherokee National Forest is managed under an agreement with the Forest Service, USDA and TWRA as a Wildlife Management Area this legislative change applies to the Cherokee National Forest. The handgun may not be used for taking game unless specifically permitted by TWRA regulation. For more information regarding this legislative change and related TWRA information please contact the TWRA at 1-800-332-0900 or visit their web site.

Fire Prevention Website

This site is designed for homeowners, public land visitors, wildfire prevention professionals, volunteers, and others. It is filled with information on where the big fires are burning throughout the nation, what the wildfire severity level is in your state, rules and regulations for burning debris in your state, and how to protect your home against wildfire. It tells you about educational materials that are available in the arena of fire prevention, the Wildland Urban Interface, Smokey Bear, and Woodsy Owl.

Pinnacle Mountain Fire Lookout Tower Partnership

CLEVELAND, TN – April 19, 2010 … The Partners of the Cherokee National Forest, local groups, individuals and organizations are partnering with the USDA, Forest Service to help rehabilitate the historic Pinnacle Mountain Fire Lookout Tower. The tower is located...