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State Parks |
State Parks
Smoky Mountain Vicinity
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Tennessee |
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Hiwassee Scenic River and Ocoee
River Recreation Area
P.O. Box 5 Spring Creek Road
Delano, TN 37325
Phone: (423) 263-0050 |
Hiwassee Scenic River State Park is
located on Maggie Road at U.S. Highway 411, the Ocoee River on U.S.
Hwy 64. The Hiwassee was the first river managed in the State
Scenic River program. A 23-river mile section, from the N.C. State
line to U.S. Hwy. 411 north of Benton, has been declared a class III
partially developed river. This stretch of river offers canoeing,
rafting, fishing, hiking and nature photography. A scenic portion of
the Join Muir Trail winds through the river gorge. Numerous public
access sites provide boat launch ramps. At the Gee Creek Wilderness
of the Cherokee National Forest. The Ocoee River is a premier
white-water river in the Southeastern Unites States
possessing Class III and IV rapids. Access sites are
maintained |
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Fort Loudon State Historic Park
338 Fort Loudon Road
Vonore, TN 37885
Phone: (423) 884-6217
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Off U.S. 411. This 867 acre site is
the location of one the earliest British fortification on the
western frontier. built 1756. Nearby were the principle towns of the
Cherokee Nation including Tenase, namesake for the state, and
Tuskegee, birthplace of Sequoya, commemorated by the Cherokee
Nation's Museum. Today, the fort and the 1794 Tellico Blockhouse
overlook TVA's Tellico Reservoir and the Appalachian Mountains. An
interpretative center offers information on the area's history and
artifacts that were excavated prior to the Fort's reconstruction. |
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Panther Creek State Park
2010 Panther Creek Road
Morristown, TN 37814
Phone: (423) 587-7046 |
West of I-81 just off U.S. Hwy. 11E.
Located on Cherokee Reservoir in the historic Holston River Valley,
this 1,965-acre park is six miles west of Morristown. It is named
for nearby Panther Creek Springs, a pioneer landmark. A 1,460 foot
ridge provides a panoramic view of the East Tennessee Ridge and
Valley region. Bird watchers gather at this high vantage point to
observe migrating hawks and waterfowl. Camping, swimming , and
picnicking are available. |
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North Carolina |
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Mount Mitchell State Park
2388 State Highway 128
Burnsville, NC 28714
Phone: (828) 675-4611
Park hours
November-February, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
March and October, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
April and September, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
May-August, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
Closed Christmas Day
Park office hours
8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays
Closed Christmas Day |
Mount Mitchell State Park is located
in Yancey County, 33 miles north of Asheville off the Blue Ridge
Parkway at mile marker #355. There are a few places in the world
that still stand apart from the ordinary. Rising more than a mile
high, surrounded by the gentle mist of low-hanging clouds, Mount
Mitchell State Park is one of these extraordinary places.
In the crest of the timeworn Black Mountains lies the summit of
Mount Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi. For those
who ascend this mighty peak, what looms in the horizon is a feast
for the eyes—breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, rolling
ridges and fertile valleys. Forested and forever misty, 1,855-acre
Mount Mitchell State Park will provide you with some of the most
tranquil moments you'll ever experience. |
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Mount Jefferson State Natural Area
PO Box 48,
Jefferson, NC 28640
Phone: (336) 246-9653
Park hours
November-February, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
March and October, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
April, May, September, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
June-August, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Closed Christmas Day
Park office hours
8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays
Closed state holidays |
Mount Jefferson Area is in Ashe
County on the US 221 Bypass between the towns of Jefferson and West
Jefferson. It rises abruptly to more than 1,600 feet above the
surrounding landscape, serving as a landmark for area motorists.
Acquaint yourself with this mighty peak by viewing it first from the
Mount Jefferson Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Rising as a
long, forested prominence, its dark color is conspicuous among
neighboring peaks on the Ashe plateau.
Though the mountain is magnificent from a distance, Mount Jefferson
is best appreciated up close. On a clear day, you can see for miles
from its peak. A great part of Ashe County spreads out below;
fields, farms, forests and mountains mingle in kaleidoscopic
patterns. On the horizon, the Blue Ridge Mountains form a striking
backdrop.
Yet what looms in the distance is no more spectacular than what is
right before your eyes, for the forests of Mount Jefferson are a
botanical paradise. The interesting and unusual plant life of the
park rendered it worthy of designation as a national natural
landmark. |
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