This 43-mile Appalachian road climbs a mile into the sky between two states

It’s half Cherokee, half Nantahala

The Cherohala Skyway starts at 900 feet in a Tennessee river valley and climbs to over 5,400 feet at the North Carolina state line.

In 43 miles, you cross through two national forests, pass 15 overlooks, and gain nearly a mile of elevation. The name says it all: “Chero” from Cherokee, “hala” from Nantahala.

The drive takes about two hours if you don’t stop, but you will stop.

The overlooks pull you in, and the best parts of this road happen when you get out of the car.

A wagon train joke turned into a $100 million highway

Back in 1958, a member of the Tellico Plains Kiwanis Club cracked a joke about the old wagon trails being the only way between Tennessee and North Carolina.

That joke turned into an actual wagon train, with 67 covered wagons and over 300 riders on horseback crossing the state line. The stunt worked.

Congress funded the route in 1962, and after 34 years of planning and construction, the Skyway opened in October 1996. The final cost hit $100 million, making it North Carolina’s most expensive highway at the time.

Lunch above the clouds at 5,390 feet

Santeetlah Overlook sits at the Skyway’s highest point, 5,390 feet up.

From here, you look out over Lake Santeetlah and ridge after ridge of mountains fading into the distance. Picnic tables line the overlook, so you can eat lunch with nothing but sky around you.

Along the ridgeline, natural grassy meadows called balds crown the mountaintops.

The temperature can drop 20 degrees between the base and the top of the road, so bring a layer even in summer.

Flame azaleas light up Hooper Bald in June

Hooper Bald sits near Mile 8 on the North Carolina side at about 5,290 feet. A short trail, roughly a mile round trip, leads you to a wide grassy meadow at the summit.

In early June, flame azaleas cover the bald in bright orange and red.

The rest of the year, the open summit gives you wide views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. The parking area has restrooms and picnic tables, so it works as a quick stop or a longer break.

Huckleberry Knob tops out at 5,560 feet

The highest point in the Cheoah Ranger District sits at 5,560 feet, and you can hike to it.

The trail to Huckleberry Knob runs about 2.5 miles round-trip from the Skyway trailhead.

You climb through a thicket of dwarfed trees and shrubs before the forest drops away and a grassy bald opens up beneath you.

From the top, mountain ranges roll out in every direction.

The trailhead sits near the Tennessee-North Carolina state line, close to several other overlooks along the road.

A fully paved trail for every visitor

Spirit Ridge Trail, near Mile 10 on the North Carolina side, is ADA-accessible and fully paved. The path runs about three-tenths of a mile one way with almost no elevation gain, so anyone can walk it.

It winds through the forest and ends at an overlook with long views of the mountains. Two picnic tables sit under large shade trees along the ridge top.

Of all the stops on the Skyway, this one opens the road to visitors of every ability.

See a 90-foot waterfall without leaving your car

Bald River Falls drops roughly 90 feet and sits about six miles off the Skyway on Tellico River Road. You can see the whole thing right from the road.

A rebuilt bridge with a dedicated observation deck, railings, and benches reopened in mid-2025 after a two-year project. The parking area has restrooms and picnic tables.

Just downstream, a smaller cascade called Baby Falls drops into a pool that draws kayakers when the weather warms up.

400-year-old trees still standing in Joyce Kilmer Forest

The Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest covers 3,800 acres near Robbinsville and holds one of the largest remaining stands of virgin forest in the eastern United States.

Some trees here are over 400 years old, stand more than 100 feet tall, and measure 20 feet around the trunk. The forest holds more than 100 species of trees, from yellow poplar to oak to sycamore.

An easy two-mile figure-eight trail loops through it all, passing a memorial plaque honoring poet Joyce Kilmer, who died in World War I.

Walk through Poplar Cove’s giant trunks

The lower loop of the Joyce Kilmer trail runs 1. 25 miles and passes a bronze memorial plaque set into a boulder.

The upper loop covers three-quarters of a mile and takes you through Poplar Cove, where the largest trees grow. Ferns, wildflowers, and mosses blanket the forest floor.

Little Santeetlah Creek runs through the woods, and a small bridge crosses over it. The trailhead has restrooms, picnic tables, and parking, but spaces fill fast on summer weekends.

Get there early.

Swim, fish, and camp at Indian Boundary Lake

Indian Boundary Lake covers 96 acres in the Cherokee National Forest, about two miles off the Skyway. A sandy swim beach, a small boat launch, and an accessible fishing pier sit along the shore.

You can hike or bike the 3.2-mile trail that circles the lake with mountain views the whole way.

The 87-site campground has electric hookups, picnic tables, grills, restrooms, and showers. The lake holds bass, catfish, and bluegill, and you might spot beaver in a nearby pond.

Fall color rolls down the mountains through November

Spring brings wildflowers across these mountains, and rhododendron, mountain laurel, and azalea bloom in late spring and early summer.

Black bears, white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, raccoons, and foxes live along the Skyway. In winter, fresh snow on the road reveals tracks from deer, turkeys, and sometimes bears.

Fall foliage peaks in late October, with maples turning red, orange, and yellow, and birches glowing bright. The color starts at higher elevations in late September and works down to the lower slopes through mid-November.

Cast a line in the Tellico River valley

The Tennessee side of the Skyway follows the Tellico River at lower elevations, and the river is a well-known trout stream. Anglers come here for brook, brown, and rainbow trout.

The valley gives you rushing water, moss-covered rocks, and thick forest pressing in on both sides. At Mile 21, the Falls Branch Falls Trail leads through old-growth forest to a waterfall in the Citico Creek Wilderness.

Keep one thing in mind: there are no gas stations, stores, or services for the entire 43 miles, so fill up in Tellico Plains or Robbinsville before you head out.

Drive the Cherohala Skyway in Tennessee and North Carolina

If you want to drive this road yourself, start at the Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center at 225 Cherohala Skyway in Tellico Plains, Tennessee.

The center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with free admission, free maps, and current road conditions.

On the Tennessee side, the road follows TN-165. On the North Carolina side, it follows NC-143.

The Graham County Visitor Center in Robbinsville also has information if you come from the east. Either way, fill your tank before you start.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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