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Cherohala Skyway

{{Short description|Scenic highway in North Carolina and Tennessee}}

{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox road

|country=USA

|type=NSB

|route=Cherohala Skyway

|map={{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|type=line|from=Cherohala Skyway.map}}

|map_custom=yes

|map_notes=

|length_mi=43

|length_round=0

|length_ref=

|allocation={{Plainlist|

  • {{jct|state=TN|Sec|165}} (Tennessee)
  • {{jct|state=TN|NC|143}} (North Carolina)

}}

|established={{start date|1996|10|11}}{{cite web |publisher= Monroe County |url= http://www.cherohala.org/history.html |title= History of the Cherohala Skyway |accessdate= November 25, 2014}}

|maint=TDOT & NCDOT

|states=Tennessee, North Carolina

|counties=Monroe, TN; Graham, NC

|system1={{infobox road/browselinks/USA|state=TN}}

|system2={{infobox road/browselinks/USA|state=NC}}

}}

The Cherohala Skyway is a {{convert|43|mi|km|sing=on}} National Scenic Byway and National Forest Scenic Byway that connects Tellico Plains, Tennessee, to Robbinsville, North Carolina, in the southeastern United States. Its name is a portmanteau of Cherokee 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, 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 {{convert|25|mi|km}} from Tellico Plains to the state line at Stratton Gap. The eastern (or North Carolina) half follows North Carolina Highway 143 for just over {{convert|18|mi|km}} from Stratton Gap to Robbinsville. The skyway gains over {{convert|4000|ft|m}} in elevation, rising from a low point of just under {{convert|900|ft|m}} at Tellico Plains to a high point of just over {{convert|5400|ft|m}} 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

File:NC TN CherohalaSkyway.jpg

Image:North Carolina Cherohala Santeelah01.jpg

File:Road near Tellico Plains.jpg

{{Expand section|date=November 2014}}

=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. {{convert|5560|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=or}})
  • Hooper Bald (Mile 10) — short trail to the summit of Hooper Bald (elev. {{convert|5429|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=or}})
  • Santeetlah Overlook (Mile 11) — {{convert|5390|ft|m|sing=on}} view of the upper Santeetlah Creek watershed
  • Big Junction Overlook (Mile 12) — View south from the {{convert|5235|ft|m|sing=on}} 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 {{convert|55|ft|m|sing=on}} 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

{{Empty section|date=November 2014}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Attached KML}}

  • {{commons category-inline}}
  • [http://www.cherohala.org/ Cherohala.org] - official website
  • [http://tellico-plains.com/cherohala-skyway.html Tellico Plains Chamber of Commerce] - Cherohala Skyway info, photos, maps, visitor info
  • [http://www.telliquah.com/skyway.htm Drive Among The Clouds] - pictures, maps, and information
  • [http://www.bywaysonline.org/articles/52634 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.
  • [http://www.cherohala.com/ Cherohala.com] - commercial site with much good information, history, maps, and pictures.
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20070625135217/http://www.tailofthedragon.com/cherohala.html Tail of the Dragon] - tips and information on driving the Cherohala

Category:National Scenic Byways

Category:Transportation in Monroe County, Tennessee

Category:Transportation in Graham County, North Carolina

Category:National Forest Scenic Byways

Category:Tourist attractions in Monroe County, Tennessee

Category:Tourist attractions in Graham County, North Carolina