USDA Forest Service
 

 

   
Cherokee NF Home Page
About Us
Contact Us
Current Conditions
Employment
FAQ'S
Fire & Aviation
Lands
Maps & Brochures
Newsroom
Passes & Permits
Planning
Publications
Recreation
   Camping
   Fish & Wildlife
   Sightseeing
   Trails
   Water-based
Motor Vehicle Use Map
Volunteering
Contracting
Forest Safety
Reservations
Ocoee Whitewater Center
Partners of the Cherokee
Conasauga River
Fire Prevention
Evaluate Our Service

Cherokee National Forest
2800 North Ocoee St
Cleveland, TN 37312
(423) 476-9700

All Forest Offices

United States Department of Agriculture - Forest Service
FirstGov.gov: The United States Government's Official Web Portal
Home » Recreation » Trails  
Trails

Day Hiking Equestrian Trails Mountain Bike Trails OHV Trails Interpretive Trails
   

Appalachian Trail - Watauga Lake VicinityFollow a trail! Over 600 miles of non-motorized trails traverse Cherokee National Forest including the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and four other nationally designated trails. Most trails are designated for multiple use: foot, bike and horse.

Motorized trail opportunities are limited to suitable areas on the Cherokee National Forest. Designated trails and open roads with low maintenance levels provide some opportunities for street legal motorcycles and 4-wheel drive vehicles to access remote, scenic settings on the Forest.

Explore the list of forest trails organized by general vicinities of Cherokee National Forest. Click on the name of a vicinity area for featured trail opportunities.

Find A Trail
Day Hiking
 North Cherokee Trails
Day Hiking
 South Cherokee Trails
Appalachian Trail logo
 Appalachian Trail
Benton McKaye Trail
Mountain Bike Trails
 Bike Trails
Equestrian Trails
 Horse Trails
OHV Trails
 Off Highway Vehicle Trails
Interpretive Trails

Interpretive Trails
Trail Difficulty Ratings
Leave No Trace
Is Your Water Safe?
Bear Safety
Trail Maps
Geocaching
Metal Detectors
 
North Cherokee Trails
Iron Mountain Vicinity
Length
Hike
Bike
Horse
ATV
Trailhead Parking
Water Crossing
Connecting Trails/ Loop
Comments
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
x
W
x
Iron Mountain Trail #54
19
x
x
B
M
x
Rogers Ridge Trail #192
5.8
x
x
x
x
Y
M
x
Gentry Creek Trail #51
2.3
x
x
B
x
D
Laurel Creek Trail
Holston Mountain Vicinity
Length
Hike
Bike
Horse
ATV
Trailhead Parking
Water Crossing
Connecting Trails/ Loop
Comments
Appalachian National Scenic Trail #1
x
x
W
Holston Mountain Trail #44
9.5
x
x
B
M
x
Flatwoods Horse Trail #46
5.4
x
x
x
x
Y
E
x
Backbone Rock Trail #53
2.4
x
x
B
M
x
Backbone Falls #198
0.4
x
x
B
E
x
Little Oak Mountain Trail #601
1.4
x
B
E
Little Oak Trail #52
1.4
x
B
E
x
Jacobs Creek Trail #604
0.3
x
x
B
E
x
Morrell Horse Trail #47
2.2
x
x
x
Y
D
x
Short Spur Trail #48
1.7
x
x
B
D
x
Josiah Horse #45
0.8
x
x
x
Y
M
x
Flint Mill #49
1.4
x
B
D
x
Josiah Hiking #50
2.5
x
B
D
x
Holston Mountain West #2020
6
x
x
x
x
Y
M
x
Chestnut Flats #2021
4.3
x
x
x
x
Y
M
x
Bartee Branch #2022
2.1
x
x
x
x
Y
M
x
Rye Patch #2023
5.9
x
x
x
x
Y
M
x
Low Gap #2024
3
x
x
x
x
Y
M
x
Taylor Ridge #2025
4
x
x
x
x
Y
M
x
Furnace Branch Connector #2026A
0.7
x
x
x
x
Y
M
x
Furnace Branch #2026
1.7
x
x
x
x
Y
M
x
Watauga Lake Vicinity
Length
Hike
Bike
Horse
ATV
Trailhead Parking
Water Crossing
Connecting Trails/ Loop
Comments
Appalachian National Scenic Trail #1
x
x
W
x
x
Cardens Bluff Trail #55
0.7
x
B
E
x
Little Milligan Trail #602 (to be decommissioned in FY05)
1.9
x
x
B
M
Old Homestead Trail #603
2.3
x
x
B
M
x
Watauga Point Trail #59
0.4
x
x
B
E
x
Coon Den Falls #37
1.3
x
B
x
M
x
  
Hampton Blueline #501
1
x
x
B
x
M
x
  
Lacy Trap Trail #36
2.7
x
x
x
G
M
x
Laurel Fork Trail #39
8
x
x
x
B/G
x
x
Pond Mountain Trail #40
4.5
x
B
D
 
Little Pond Mountain Trail #41
5.3
x
B
M
Abandoned ET&WNC (Tweetsie) rail line in Doe River Gorge Scenic Area (trailhead is privately-owned by Doe River Gorge Christian Camp; users must gain permission to hike)
Roan Mountain Vicinity
Length
Hike
Bike
Horse
ATV
Trailhead Parking
Water Crossing
Connecting Trails/ Loop
Comments
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
x
x
W
x
Hackline Road Trail #5328
2
x
x
B
M
x
Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail #193
1.5
x
x
B
M
x
  
Roan Mountain State Park trail systems
Unaka Mountain Vicinity
Length
Hike
Bike
Horse
ATV
Trailhead Parking
Water Crossing
Connecting Trails/ Loop
Comments
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
x
x
W
x
Rattlesnake Ridge Trail #26
3.6
x
x
x
B/G
x
M
x
Dick Creek Trail #27
2.7
x
x
x
x
Y
x
E
x
Little Dark Hollow Trail #28
4
x
x
x
x
Y
x
M
x
Limestone Cove Trail #30
3.2
x
x
B
x
M
x
Stamping Ground Trail #110
4.2
x
x
x
Y
x
M
x
Rock Creek Falls Trail #148
1.5
x
x
B
x
M
Rock Creek Trail #178
0.9
x
x
x
G
E
x
Hemlock Forest Trail #179
0.4
x
x
B
E
x
Trail of the Hardwoods #525
0.2
x
x
B
E
Granny Lewis Trail #108
2.3
x
B
x
M
x
Temple Hill Trail #524
1.7
x
B
x
M
x
Erwin's Indian Creek Greenway
x
x
x
Buffalo Mountain Vicinity
Length
Hike
Bike
Horse
ATV
Trailhead Parking
Water Crossing
Connecting Trails/ Loop
Comments
Buffalo Mountain ATV Trail #29
13
x
x
x
O
M
Buffalo Mountain Park (City of Johnson City)
Proposed Buffalo Trace Greenway
Bald Mountain Vicinity
Length
Hike
Bike
Horse
ATV
Trailhead Parking
Water Crossing
Connecting Trails/ Loop
Comments
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
x
W
x
Horse Creek/Old Forge/Greystone area:
Bullen Hollow #2
2.2
x
x
x
x
Y
D
x
Pete's Branch #12
0.1
x
x
B
x
E
 
Greene Mountain #13
3.7
x
x
x
Y
M
x
Sarvis Cove #14
2.5
x
x
B
M
x
  
Phillips Hollow #17
1.7
x
x
B
x
D
x
Artie Hollow #18
1.9
x
B
x
D
x
Davis Creek #19
2.8
x
x
x
x
Y
x
M
x
Jennings Creek #21
1.1
x
x
x
x
Y
x
M
x
  
Poplar Cove #22
1.4
x
x
x
x
Y
M
x
Cowbell Hollow #24
1.8
x
x
x
x
Y
M
x
Margarette Falls #189
0.7
x
x
B
x
M
x
  
Doctors Ridge #194
1.1
x
x
x
x
Y
x
E
 
Little Jennings Creek #195
2
x
x
x
x
Y
x
M
x
  
Sampson Mountain Area:
Middle Springs #4
1.9
x
x
B
D
x
  
Turkeypen Cove #15
2
x
x
B
x
D
x
  
Squibb Creek #23
2
x
x
B
x
M
x
  
Hell Hollow #124
0.8
x
B
E
 
Rich Mountain Area
Iron Furnace Trail #109
1.3
x
x
x
Y
M
Patty Ridge #113
2.7
x
B
M
California #114
4.5
x
B
x
M
Sill Branch North #115
0.5
x
B
x
M
x
  
Sill Branch South #116
1.4
x
B
x
M
x
Longarm Branch #1901
3.6
x
x
x
Y
x
M
French Broad River Vicinity
Length
Hike
Bike
Horse
ATV
Trailhead Parking
Water Crossing
Connecting Trails/ Loop
Comments
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
x
W
x
Paint Mountain Trail #7
8.4
x
x
x
x
B/Y
 
M
x
Paint Creek Trail #10
4.4
x
x
B
x
M
x
  
Little Paint Creek Trail #11
2.5
x
x
B
M
x
Chimney Rocks Trail #154
2.9
x
x
x
x
Y
D
x
Paint Rock Trail #154A
1.3
x
x
x
Y
M
x
Allen Branch Pond Interpretive Trail #209
0.3
x
x
B
E
x
Burnett Gap #510A
7.5
x
x
x
x
Y
M
x
Brush Creek #510B
3.8
x
x
x
x
Y
M
x
Meadow Creek Mountain Trail #6
14
x
x
x
x
Y
M
x
Gum Springs #5
1.3
x
x
x
x
Y/B
 
M
x
Gum Springs Connector #5A
1.3
x
x
x
x
Y
E
x
Wolf Creek Vicinity
Length
Hike
Bike
Horse
ATV
Trailhead Parking
Water Crossing
Connecting Trails/ Loop
Comments
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
x
W
x
Walnut Mountain Trail #135
2.8
x
x
B/G
M
x
Harmon Den trail system (Pisgah National Forest)
Max Patch Mountain access trail (Pisgah National Forest)
Pigeon River Vicinity
Length
Hike
Bike
Horse
ATV
Trailhead Parking
Water Crossing
Connecting Trails/ Loop
Comments
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
x
x
W
Stone Mountain Trail #9 with associated roads
2.8
x
x
x
x
Y
M
x
 
 

South Cherokee Trails

BIG  FROG  MOUNTAIN Vicinity
Length
Hike
Bike
Horse
ATV
Trailhead Parking
Water Crossing
Connecting Trails/ Loop
Comments
Benton MacKaye FS # 2 ( No ROG Avail )
 
Conasauga River Trail 61
5.1
x
x
x
x
M
x
 
Chestnut Gap Trail FS # 63 Bike
1.93
x
x
x
x
M
x
 
Big Frog/ Benton MacKaye FS # 64*
5.5
x
x
M
x
 
Licklog Ridge FS # 65*
5.9
x
x
M
x
 
Wolf Ridge FS # 66*
4.1
x
x
x
x
M
x
 
Grassy Gap # 67*
3.5
x
x
M
x
Also known as barkleggin trail
Big Creek Trail # 68*
5.6
x
x
M
x
Popular camping
Fork Ridge/ Benton MacKaye Trail #69*
1.9
x
x
M
x
 
Rough Creek/ Benton MacKaye # 70*
2.9
x
Hike 1.1 mi. on big frog to trailhead
M
x
 
West Fork/ Benton McKaye # 303*
3.9
x
x
x
M
x
Biking to wild bound- 1.7mi.
Yellow Stand Lead # 73*
2.9
x
x
M
x
 
Hemp Top FS # 145*
0.8
x
x
x
x
M
x
 
OCOEE RIVER Vicinity
Length
Hike
Bike
Horse
ATV
Trailhead Parking
Water Crossing
Connecting Trails/ Loop
Comments
Tanasi Trail System
Fee if park at OWC
Old Copper Road Trail #306
2.4
x
x
x
E
2.4 mi one way
Thunder Rock Express #340
1.3
x
x
x
M
x
 
Bear Paw Loop #334
2
x
x
x
E
x
 
Chestnut Mountain Loop #335
6.2
x
x
M
x
 
Quartz Loop #339
1.61
x
x
D
x
 
River View Loop #336
3.3
x
x
M
x
 
1330 Bypass #337
0.82
x
x
M
x
 
West Fork #303
5.3
x
x
M
x
 
Chilhowee Complex  Map
Fee if park at Chilhowee day- for all these
Azalea Trail #140
2
x
x
x
E
x
 
Arbutus Trail #141
0.7
x
x
x
E
x
 
Red Leaf Trail # 144
0.3
x
x
x
E
x
 
Clear Creek Trail # 79
5.43
x
x
x
D
x
 
Benton Falls Trail #131
1.5
x
x
x
M
x
 
Scenic Spur Trail # 78
1.7
x
x
x
x
M
x
 
Clemmer Trail # 302
3
x
x
x
M
x
 
Rim Rock #77
4.5
x
x
x
M
x
 
Slickrock Loop #332
5.1
x
x
x
D
x
 
Thunder Rock/ Benton MacKaye # 305
1.5
x
x
M
x
 
Little Frog Trails
 
Dry Pond Lead Trail #76
4.4
x
x
M
x
 
Rock Creek #325
5.5
x
x
E
x
 
Brush Creek Trail#341
7.13
x
x
x
M
 
Boyd Gap Bike Trail # 331
0.5
x
x
x
M
x
Fee if park at OWC or #3 dam
64 Connector
1
x
x
x
E
x
 
HIWASSEE RIVER Vicinity
Length
Hike
Bike
Horse
ATV
Trailhead Parking
trail_blaze.shtml
Water Crossing
Connecting Trails/ Loop
Comments
John Muir Trail #152*
20.7
x
x
M
x
 
Benton MacKaye
 
Fisherman's Trail # 167*
1.4
x
x
E
Fee @ Hiwassee Picnic
Spanking Stump Interpretive Trail #169*
0.3
x
x
E
x
 
Lowery Falls Trail #168*
0.2
x
x
M
 
Oswald Dome #80*
3.8
x
x
D
Fee @ Hiwassee Picnic
Turtletown Falls #78
3.8
x
x
E
 
STARR MOUNTAIN Vicinity
Length
Hike
Bike
Horse
ATV
Trailhead Parking
Water Crossing
Connecting Trails/ Loop
Comments
Starr Mtn Horse Trail Complex
x
E-D
 
Starr Mountain #120
5.5
x
x
x
x
 
Bullet Creek #121
2.7
x
x
x
x
 
Bullet Creek Spur #188
0.7
x
x
x
x
 
Burkett Ivens #122
0.6
x
x
x
x
 
Yellow Creek #123
1.2
x
x
x
x
 
Hogback #126
5
x
x
x
x
 
Hogback Spur #126a
1.8
x
x
x
x
 
Gee CreekTrail #191
1.9
x
x
x
M
 
Gee Creek Watchable Wildlife Trail #151*
0.6
x
x
E
x
 
Chestnut Mountain Horse Trail #104*
5.7
x
x
x
x
M
Trail begins at Lost Corral Horse Camp
COKER CREEK Vicinity
Length
Hike
Bike
Horse
ATV
Trailhead Parking
Water Crossing
Connecting Trails/ Loop
Comments
Unicoi Turnpike
2.5
x
x
M
x
Interpretive Trail
Unicoi Mountain #117 (Benton MacKaye Trail)
9.9
x
x
x
x
M
x
 
Coker Creek Falls #183
3.5
x
x
M
x
To John Muir
Conasauga Falls #170
0.8
x
x
x
M
 
Warriors Passage National Recreational Trail # 164
8.1
x
M
 
TELLICO RIVER Vicinity
Length
Hike
Bike
Horse
ATV
Trailhead Parking
Water Crossing
Connecting Trails/ Loop
Comments
Kirkland Creek # 85
4.7
x
x
x
M
x
to Benton MacKaye Trail
Bald River # 88
5.6
x
x
E
x
wilderness
McNabb Creek # 92
3.9
x
x
x
M
could connect to #93
Laurel Branch FS # 93
3
x
x
x
M
could connect to #92
Henderson Mountain #107
4.2
x
x
M
x
Wilderness
Indian Boundary #129
3.2
x
x
E
 
Panther Branch #162
2.2
x
x
x
M
x
 
Sycamore Creek #163 (Benton MacKaye Trail)
6.1
x
x
M
x
 
Cow Camp FS # 173
0.8
x
x
M
x
Wilderness
Brookshire Creek Trail # 180 (Benton MacKaye Trail)
6.7
x
x
x
x
M
x
Benton MacKaye Trail
Upper Tellico OHV Area (Nantahala NF)
x
x
 
CITICO CREEK Vicinity
Length
Hike
Bike
Horse
ATV
Trailhead Parking
Water Crossing
Connecting Trails/ Loop
Comments
Jeffery Hell # 196
2.2
x
x
x
M
x
 
North Fork Citico #98
5.5
x
x
D
x
to Benton MacKaye Trail
South Fork Citico #105
9.5
x
x
x
D
x
 
Grassy Branch #91
3.3
x
x
M
x
 
Rocky Flats #100
4.5
x
x
x
M
 
Mill Branch #96
2.6
x
x
D
x
 
Crowder Branch #84
2.5
x
x
x
M
x
 
Stiffknee #106
3.2
x
x
x
D
x
 
Big Stack Gap Branch #139 (Benton MacKaye Trail)
1.8
x
x
D
x
 
Coldspring Gap #149 (Benton MacKaye Trail)
2.7
x
x
x
M
x
 
Little Citico Horse Trail #165-1
1.5
x
x
x
x
E
x
 
Little Citico Horse Trail #165-2
x
x
x
x
x
 
Little Citico Horse Trail #165-3
x
x
x
x
x
 
Little Citico Horse Trail #165-4
x
x
x
x
x
 
Falls branch FS # 87
1.4
x
x
D
Cherohala trailhead
Grassy Gap FS # 91
3.5
x
x
M
x
Cherohala trailhead
Fodderstack FS # 95 (Benton MacKaye Trail)
12.2
x
x
D
x
 
Flats Mountain # 102
6.2
x
x
M
Wilderness
Pine Ridge Horse Trail #
3.6
x
x
x
M
x
 
   

USDA Forest Service - Cherokee National Forest
Last Modified: Friday, 02 October 2009 at 13:38:09 EDT
USDA logo which links to the department's national site. Forest Service logo which links to the agency's national site.