The 21-mile John Muir National Recreation Trail, named after world-famous naturalist and Sierra Club founder John Muir, stretches along the Hiwassee River and follows the path Muir took hiking between Kentucky and Florida in his book, A Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf.
Luckily for Chattanoogans, this natural retreat is just a short trip away. “The John Muir Trail is excellent for a number of reasons,” says Jeff Hunter, director of Tennessee Wild, a group dedicated to protecting wilderness on the Cherokee National Forest and educating the community on the importance of conservation and wildlife appreciation. “It’s one of the closest and most accessible trails to Chattanoogans that is in the forest itself. I would say that the gateway to the John Muir trail is the small community of Reliance, Tenn. From Chattanooga you can be there in maybe an hour.”
A group of hikers along the John Muir National Recreation Trail.Hunter suggests visiting the Childers Creek Trailhead, which is an excellent option for all skill levels. According to the Cherokee Forest Trail Guide, this trail was built with senior citizens in mind because the grade is very easy.
“The trail itself is 19 miles in length. The section in particular that I like, the western terminus of the trail itself, is the Childers Creek Trailhead,” he says. “Folks can park there and walk 3 miles to the Big Bend Trailhead. They could turn around and go back, so it would be a 6-mile hike to do that.”
If hikers need a rest before the return trip, they can hike an additional 1/4 mile east beyond the Big Bend Trailhead, where they will find a picnic area perfect for a stop and a quick lunch. This section of the trail provides amazing views of the Hiwassee River, which it parallels for all of its length, and great opportunities for photography.
“The last time I hiked on the trail, I saw a bald eagle soaring and a pair of osprey,” says Hunter. “The flora is phenomenal. If you like flora and fauna, there is an abundance of things to see and talk about and photograph. It’s beautiful and it’s got that diversity that Appalachia is known for.”
WHILE YOU’RE THERE…
Go fishing! Hiwassee River is a stocked trout fishery managed by Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. A 3-mile section between Big Bend and the L&N railroad bridge is designated as a quality trout fishing area. River access parking is located along TN 30 at Hiwassee River Picnic Area, and off Hiwassee River Road (Forest Road 108) at Childers Creek, Big Bend, pull-offs alongside the river and at the roads’ end.
Get in the water! Hiwassee River provides a 5-mile section of class I-III whitewater beginning just below the Apalachia Powerhouse. This area is popular for canoeing, kayaking, rafting and tubing. Outfitter and guide services are available and offer boat and tube rentals, and shuttle services. Developed put-in and take-out sites are located along the river at Apalachia Powerhouse, Towee Creek and at the state park site near the bridge at Reliance. Powerhouse and Towee launch sites require a $3/vehicle use fee.
Sleep under the stars! Quinn Springs Recreation Area is located off TN 30, where site amenities include tables, fire rings, showers and drinking water. Gee Creek State Park is located on the northern bank of the Hiwassee River and offers campsites with tables, fire rings, showers and drinking water as well as a group camping area. Lost Creek Campground provides a more remote experience, located off Forest Road 103, with tables and fire rings, but no showers or drinking water.
Source: Ocoee/Hiwassee Ranger Station