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Nature and Outdoors

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The Great Outdoors of Tennessee

One visit to Tennessee and it is evident this land was created for those who love the outdoors.

From the Mississippi River in the west, to the Cumberland Gap and the Great Smoky Mountains in the east, Tennessee is the premier destination to discover awe-inspiring scenic beauty and thrilling outdoor adventures.

For unparalleled outdoor adventures, Tennessee offers more than 125 lakes for fishing, 150 courses for golfing, 1,800 miles of trails for biking, 54 state parks and four national parks for camping, hiking and boating. In the east, the Cherokee National Forest and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park encompass 10 of the state’s 95 counties. World renowned for the diversity of its plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the preservation of its Southern Appalachian mountain culture, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is America’s most visited national park.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a hiker’s paradise with over 800 miles of maintained trails, ranging from short leg-stretchers to strenuous treks that may require backcountry camping. However, hiking is not the only reason to visit the Smokies. Camping, fishing, picnicking, wildlife watching and auto touring are also popular activities. For an adrenaline rush, Chattanooga’s Lookout Mountain Flight Park offers the thrill of hang gliding. Soar through the sky while enjoying the pristine, panoramic views of the valley below. West Tennessee and Middle Tennessee offer an abundance of wildlife viewing, along with miles of hiking, biking, horseback riding and off-road vehicle trails at the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.

Reelfoot Lake State Park, located in the northwest corner of Tennessee, is one of the greatest hunting and fishing preserves in the nation. The lake encompasses 25,000 acres and harbors almost every kind of shore and wading bird, as well as the golden and American bald eagles. Fishing at Reelfoot Lake is year-round, with an abundance of crappie, bream, bluegill, bass and catfish.

Reelfoot’s many species of flowering and non-flowering plants attract botany enthusiasts from all over the country.

The Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Southeast Tennessee hosts one of the largest populations of Sandhill Cranes in the world. In the autumn, they congregate in flocks and migrate along a path that takes them through Tennessee to their primary wintering grounds farther south.

Nestled in the mountains of the Highland Rim and the main portal to Dale Hollow Lake, Pickett County is the destination for outdoor recreation. The scenic beauty of Dale Hollow Lake offers over 620 miles of undeveloped shoreline and spring-fed waters. USA Today declared Dale Hollow Lake one of the top 10 locations to “float your houseboat.” Dale Hollow has held the world record small-mouth bass catch since 1955 at 11 lbs. and 15 oz.

The Scenic Trails of Tennessee
The Natchez Trace Parkway marks one segment of North America’s oldest public road, funneling travelers, from prehistory to modern times, from the Gulf of Mexico to the shores of the Great Lakes. The Natchez Trace Parkway is a National Scenic Byway and runs from Nashville to Natchez, Miss. It was originally called the Path of Peace by the Chickasaw Indians because their warriors could pass rivals on the pathway without bloodshed.

The Great River Road through Tennessee traverses highways 78, 181, 88 and 51 along the Mississippi in the west. This scenic trail offers historic and recreational beauty as well as many off-the-beaten-path adventures.

The Cherohala Skyway in East Tennessee is designated as a National Scenic Byway. Route 411 winds upwards through the Cherokee National Forest and after 16 miles, levels out at 5,000 feet, almost a mile above sea level. The entire 43-mile stretch from Tellico Plains offers glimpses of the Tellico River, Tennessee Valley and ridgeline after ridgeline of tree-covered mountains.

The Wild Waters of Tennessee
The largest earthquake in North America’s recent history was along the New Madrid Fault in the winter of 1811. The movement of the earth’s plates in Northwest Tennessee caused the Mississippi River to run backwards until it filled the cypress lowlands, creating Reelfoot Lake. This lake is the only naturally created lake in Tennessee and a 13,000-acre angler’s dream.

The Tennessee Overhill Region, just on the edge of the Appalachian range, encompasses the Cherokee National Forest and offers many attractions, activities and annual events. Rivers, lakes and thousands of acres of forested mountain land set the stage for the Tennessee Overhill experience. Home of the 1996 Olympic Whitewater Competition, the Ocoee Whitewater Center offers paddlers the chance to raft the Olympic Race Channel and access to over 40 miles of hiking and biking trails suitable for all ages.

Tennessee’s waterfalls are record breakers. Fall Creek Falls, in East Tennessee’s Fall Creek Falls State Resort Park, is one of the highest waterfalls east of the Rocky Mountains at 256 feet. The highest waterfall in Tennessee is Buckeye Falls in the Cherokee National Forest of Unicoi County. Buckeye cascades off Sampson Mountain and drops more than 400 feet. Some experts measure the drop to be as much as 700 feet, but the water evaporates before it reaches the valley below the towering 4,060-foot mountain. Tennessee’s tallest underground waterfall, which is open to the public, at 145 feet is Ruby Falls, deep in the heart of Lookout Mountain. Ruby Falls is the oldest tourist attraction in the southeast, opening for tours in 1929.

Beat the summer heat on the Hiwassee River and rent funyaks, tubes and rafts, or canoe and kayak on your own. This peaceful, scenic river runs through the Cherokee National Forest and the pastoral farming community of Reliance, a town listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Enjoy the scenic views on America’s largest aerial tramway in Gatlinburg. The overhead tandem cars take visitors from downtown to the Ober Gatlinburg All Seasons Amusement Park and Ski Resort at the peak of Mt. Harriman. The tramway moves upward at 17 mph and takes riders up 11,000 feet in 10 minutes.

The Beautiful Blooms of Tennessee
Famous for its variety of gardens, Tennessee is home to an abundance of annual home and garden shows, as well as a wealth of greenhouses, garden centers and florists. Tour Willow Oaks Flower Farm and Tellico Flowers and Gallery for floral experiences at both ends of the state. Learn about Tennessee plants at the University of Tennessee’s
Department of Plant Sciences in Knoxville. Marvel at the 400 plant species and enchanting views of Chattanooga’s Rock City Gardens. Explore the Grand Corridor, Needle’s Eye, Lover’s Leap and the “See Seven States” panoramic views high atop Lookout Mountain.

Sunshine Hollow Gardens in Athens offers 1,750 varieties of daylilies, dahlias, roses, hosta, iris, perennials, annuals, shrubs and trees. Trails wind through terraced beds around a two-acre lake and creek. In Middle Tennessee, the Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art was named one of the “Top Five Gardens in the South” by Southern Living magazine. The Memphis Botanical Garden, in West Tennessee, has over 96 acres of beautiful sweeping vistas, lakes, woodland areas and 23 specialty display gardens.

The canvas of Tennessee’s scenic beauty is a unique combination of its natural wonders, with thousands of miles of exciting outdoor adventures to discover.

For more information on Tennessee’s great outdoors, visit tnvacation.com/nature-outdoors.

For information on boating, fishing and hunting regulations, licenses and permits, contact the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency at 615.781.6500.

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