The Tennessee Overhill is blessed with scenic drives where the breathtaking fall and spring colors stretch as far as the eye can see. Two national scenic byways top the list. The following are good choices:
Cherohala Skyway - Hwy. 165 from
Tellico Plains takes you across the mountains that border NC and TN. Spectacular
new road with pull-offs has been declared a National Scenic Byway by the
Federal Highway Administration. This road offers a great new east-west route
to connect Tennessee and North Carolina. A side trip to
Bald River Falls on the Old River Road is worth the time. The
Joyce Kilmer Slickrock Wilderness is nearby.
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Ocoee Scenic By-Way--US
Highway 64 / FS 77: First National Forest Scenic By-Way in the
United States. Located in the Cherokee National Forest, it consists
of 26 miles of highway that winds alongside the Ocoee River in Polk
County and up to the Chilhowee Campground on Forest Service Road #77. The
highway passes through scenic areas dominated by rock bluffs, mountain peaks
and historic sites such as the Ocoee Flume Line and Powerhouses, Confederate
Camp and Old Copper Road. The panoramic views from the Chilhowee Overlooks
and Boyd Gap are favorites of photographers. |
Hwy 30 from 411 Hwy to to Hwy 64.
Drive along the scenic Hiwassee River, through the Historic District of Reliance,
the mountain community of Greasy Creek to Parksville Lake on Hwy.64. This
route takes you through Reliance where visitors can stop at
Webb Brothers General Store,
or drive up to
the Hood Mountain
Overlook.
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