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Cherokee National Forest

September 20, 2020 - September 26, 2020

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TRIP CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19:

 

Volunteers will be working on a 2.8 mile long trail that has not been worked on for over 10 years and was in danger of being decommissioned. But it will make a great loop hike when used in conjunction with the Benton MacKaye Trail/Sycamore Creek Trail. We will log out the trail in advance of the trip, but we will need AHS volunteers to brush out the trail and restore areas of the tread. The trail drops about 2,200 feet in elevation, thus is quite steep. We will work on the upper half of the trail from the Whigg Meadow Road Trailhead on Monday and Tuesday, then work on the lower half of the trail from the Pheasant Fields/Fish Hatchery Trailhead on Thursday and Friday. Volunteers will be housed in a cabin with facilities. There will be evening activities most nights and a free day on Wednesday.

Register

Host

Benton MacKaye Trail Association

Accommodations

Cabin/Lodge

Hiking/Access

Day hiking up to 4 miles each work day

Project Rating

Difficult

Minimum Volunteer Age

16

Maximum Group Size

8

Area and Attractions

The Tellico Ranger District in the Cherokee National Forest is just south of the Great Smoky Mountains NP with very similar terrain. The Benton MacKaye Trail is a 300-mile long-distance trail which courses from Springer Mtn (start of the AT) to the NE end of the Smokies. There are about 200 miles of hiking trails in the ranger district which are maintained by local volunteers. There are numerous waterfalls and high balds, and the Tellico River is well known for trout fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. The Cherohala Skyway is a much visited scenic highway which links Tellico Plains, TN to Robbinsville, NC with high ridge overlooks and trailheads. Mountain and road biking and motorcycling are also popular activities. There are numerous horse trails in the area. In Tellico Plains there is a visitor center, several gift shops and restaurants, a laundromat, and an excellent museum focusing on the region's history. The Tellico Ranger Station is an old CCC camp structure which has been carefully restored. The Ranger House (where the crew will most likely be staying) is adjacent to the Ranger Station and has room for 8 with a stocked kitchen and bathroom/shower facilities. The Ranger Station is about 5 miles by paved road paralleling the Tellico River to the village of Tellico Plains. On the way to Tellico, there is a great ice cream/hamburger/hotdog drive-in and also a deli right on the river and a restaurant/bar right on the river, then in Tellico Plains is a country buffet/bar, a sit-down American cuisine fine restaurant, a Mexican restaurant, and two pizza parlors. There are many bear, bobcats, deer, and turkey in the area and several bald eagles and otters live along the Tellico River. Trout are regularly stocked in the Tellico River and other smaller streams.

Accommodations Description

The cabin with electricity and water will house 8 people in bunk beds, and has a stocked kitchen and a bathroom with shower. There is a common room/dining room with a fireplace. A grill is available, if needed. WiFi is available close by in the Ranger Station and down in Tellico Plains. Volunteers should bring their own linens (twin sized sheets or sleeping bag, pillow, and towel) and personal items.

Travel

Airport Pickup Provided from McGhee Tyson Airport. Airport pickup and dropoff times will be sent to registrants when the trip is confirmed.

Location

Cherokee National Forest
225 Cherohala Skyway, Tellico Plains, TN 37385 United States