Located in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains in Monroe County, Tellico Plains is nicknamed "The Little Town with a Big Back Yard." Outdoor recreational opportunities are plentiful with hiking, camping, picnicking, swimming, bicycling, boating, fishing, hunting, sight-seeing and more.
Backpackers can discover the nearby 640,000-acre Cherokee National Forest. Tellico Plains is known as a "Trail Town," so designated by the Southeastern Foot Trails Coalition and the Benton MacKaye Trail Association.
Bald River Falls, just a short drive from the center of Tellico Plains into the Cherokee National Forest, cascades nearly 100 feet. The Coker Creek Gold Festival heralds autumn with old-fashioned family fun, and music in the town square gazebo attracts crowds for Independence Day. Cherokee roots in this area are also preserved and celebrated.
The Tellico Plains area is a rich and diverse natural habitat for a variety of birds, wild animals and vegetation - over 20,000 species of plants, mammals, reptiles and fish.
Christina Presley uses a sluice to prospect for gold on Coker Creek near Tellico Plains, Tenn. (AP Photo/Saul Young, Knoxville News Sentinel)More Info
CHEROHALA GATEWAYTellico Plains is considered the gateway to the Cherohala Skyway, which was opened and dedicated in 1996. Designated a National Scenic Byway, the road cost over $100 million to construct.>The Skyway crosses through the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee and the Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina. The name “Cherohala” comes from the names of the two national forests: “Chero” from the Cherokee and “hala” from the Nantahala.
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CHEROKEE FORESTLocated in the southern Appalachian Mountains of East Tennessee, the Cherokee National Forest is divided into northern and southern sections by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The 650,000-acre forest is the largest tract of public land in Tennessee and adjoins other national forests in Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia.
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ONLINE GUIDEThe Guide to Tellico Plains is an online directory for visitors, residents and newcomers that contains information on lodging, vacation rentals, cabin rentals, camping, restaurants, dining, barbecue, history and maps. There is also extensive information for those looking to live, retire or locate a business in Tellico Plains.