Cherokee National Forest

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cherokee National Forest is a large National Forest operated by the U.S. Forest Service. It contains some 640,000 acres (2,600 km²). The forest is located in eastern Tennessee, along the border with North Carolina, and comprises nearly the entire border area except for the part of it within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Cherokee National Forest has two separate sections: a northern region directly north of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and a southern section directly south of the Smokies. A very small part of the northern section actually extends into northwestern North Carolina. [1] Forest headquarters are located in Cleveland, Tennessee.

The Cherokee National Forest was created on July 19, 1936, by President Franklin Roosevelt. Most of the land had been logged at some time, and continues its recovery today.

The forest contains such notable sites as the Ocoee River, site of the 1996 Olympic whitewater events; 150 miles (240 km) of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail; Citico Creek Wilderness; and Big Frog Mountain within Big Frog Wilderness.

The forest is located in parts of ten counties in Tennessee and one county in North Carolina. In descending order of forestland area they are Polk, Monroe, Carter, Unicoi, Cocke, Johnson, Greene, Sullivan, Washington, McMinn, and Ashe counties. (Ashe County, with the smallest forestland area, is the only county that is in North Carolina; all the rest are in Tennessee.) ^[1]

[edit] Recreation

Recreation opportunities in the forest are diverse.

The forest's fast-flowing rivers support trout fishing. Rainbow trout are stocked in many Cherokee streams and rivers. Brook trout and brown trout are also present. Bass, bluegill and crappie are found in the forest's lakes, which are also open to wind sailing, water skiing and boating.

Trails criss-cross the Forest. In addition to the Appalachian Trail, these include the John Muir Recreation trail, other hiking trails, and some trails designed for equestrian use. Bicycle trails are being developed.

Camping is available in RV campgrounds and tent-only camping areas.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Cherokee National Forest

v • d • e Protected Areas of Tennessee National Park Service Andrew Johnson National Historic Site • Appalachian National Scenic Trail • Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area • Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park • Cumberland Gap National Historical Park • Fort Donelson National Battlefield • Fort Donelson National Cemetery • Great Smoky Mountains National Park • Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail • Natchez Trace Parkway • Obed Wild and Scenic River • Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail • Shiloh National Cemetery • Shiloh National Military Park • Stones River National Battlefield • Stones River National Cemetery • Trail of Tears National Historic Trail National Forests Cherokee National Forest • Land Between the Lakes National Wildlife Refuges Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge • Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge • Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge • Lake Isom National Wildlife Refuge • Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge • Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge • Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge Wilderness Areas Bald River Gorge Wilderness • Big Frog Wilderness • Big Laurel Branch Wilderness • Citico Creek Wilderness • Cohutta Wilderness • Gee Creek Wilderness • Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness • Little Frog Mountain Wilderness • Pond Mountain Wilderness • Sampson Mountain Wilderness • Unaka Mountain Wilderness East Tennessee State Parks and Natural Areas Big Ridge • Booker T. Washington • Cove Lake • Cumberland Mountain • Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail • Davy Crockett Birthplace • Fort Loudoun • Frozen Head • Harrison Bay • Hiwassee/Ocoee • Indian Mountain • Norris Dam • Panther Creek • Pickett • Red Clay • Roan Mountain • Sycamore Shoals • Warriors' Path Middle Tennessee State Parks and Natural Areas Bicentennial Capitol Mall • Bledsoe • Burgess Falls • Cedars Of Lebanon • Cordell Hull Birthplace • David Crockett • Dunbar Cave • Edgar Evins • Fall Creek Falls • Harpeth River • Henry Horton • Johnsonville • Long Hunter • Montgomery Bell • Mousetail Landing • Old Stone Fort • Port Royal • Radnor Lake • Rock Island • Sgt. Alvin C. York • South Cumberland • Standing Stone • Tims Ford West Tennessee State Parks and Natural Areas Big Cypress Tree • Big Hill Pond • Chickasaw • Fort Pillow • Meeman-Shelby • N. B. Forrest • Natchez Trace • Paris Landing • Pickwick Landing • Pinson Mounds • Reelfoot Lake • Ross Cross Landing • T.O. Fuller State Forests Bledsoe • Cedars of Lebanon • Chickasaw • Chuck Swan • Franklin • Lewis • Lone Mountain • Martha Sundquist • Natchez Trace • Pickett • Prentice Cooper • Scott • Standing Stone • Stewart Pocket Wildernesses Honey Creek * Piney Falls • Laurel-Snow • North Chickamauga Creek Gorge • Stinging Fork Falls • Virgin Falls Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (web) - Tennessee Department of Agriculture {web}