Cool 90' waterfall near the TN end of Cherohala Skyway. After a 2 year long closure, BRF just…read moreopened 3 weeks ago (May 30,2025). It had a great setting with strong cascades after much rain in the Cherokee National Forest. Since August, 2023 much of the roads, parking and the original 1933 Bridge were updated and new observation decks from the Bridge make it enjoyable even for the mobility challenged. The base of the falls and swimming holes can be accessed. I dipped my toes in and the water was warmer than expected on a hot humid (80s) day. There are 2 access roads along the Cherohala Skyway and are easy to miss. River Road is easier and seems to show up on GPS. Turkey run is NOT marked, newly paved but had a big fallen tree blocking much of the road. Parking is limited, about 15 parking spots and a steady stream of cars waiting on a weekDay afternoon. It's worth a stop but be prepared for the crowds and limited parking. No restrooms nor anything else. Leave No Trace!

Definitely put this on your list of places to see! It's a fairly short but scenic drive from…read moreTellico Plains, albeit on a very narrow road for two way traffic. Once you get there, you can park right beside the falls and see it from the bridge or hike down the rocks to the bottom and get even closer. There's also a nice short 1/8 mile hike to get to the top which offers an excellent view as well.

The attraction of this downtown is a network of trails and boardwalks which offer views of the…read moreriver. It's a quiet mountainous area, and while the aesthetics aren't what you'd get at some of the really primo tourist attractions, it is a pleasant and relaxing piece of nature. The upkeep of the infrastructure varied dramatically; some boardwalks looked quite new, while another platform was falling apart. I was on parts of the trails for the better part of an hour but I'm sure there was plenty more that I didn't get to. It is an area that has something to offer regardless of the season, and while I'd rather hit one of the big parks nearby, it was a nice place to spend a little time when I did.

For all you people driving purposefully through the NC mountains, as you drop into Murphy, don't…read moremiss the Murphy River Walk. Easy parking near downtown (I guess it's downtown at least it's town), take a sea-level stroll beside the river while breathing in the surroundings. An extra star for those black walnut trees dropping their wares on the path because we all need more walnuts in our lives. Add in some nice level paths for strolling and it's a fun trip. Allow 30 mins at least, take much longer if you want to enjoy the many twists and turns under the trees. Venture across the walking bridge to the other side of you date challenge the seasoned pros to a pickle match. We didn't dare on this trip since we'd already braved the Sasquatch. I hope to return for another stroll when in the big city again.

Definitely worth checking out! It's a great view, and it's super convenient that you can drive to…read moreit. We had a rental minivan that made it alright (although we stopped in the parking lot right before the really big danger sign and hiked the last little bit). If you had an SUV you could be completely confident driving all the way. The roadway seemed to be well maintained and the signage was clear!

Bell Mountain has some incredible views, but unfortunately this has to be one of the most…read moredisturbing examples of society today. The amount of graffiti and trash is absolutely disgusting and shows a complete lack of respect for the land, the scenery, and the people around you. Nearly every inch of rock is covered in graffiti, including the platforms that taxpayers paid to build so visitors could enjoy the view. The entire place feels reminiscent of movies that depict the breakdown of society and the end of the world--where chaos takes over and respect, responsibility, and common decency no longer exist. This is not artistic expression; it's vandalism and selfishness. Instead of appreciating the beauty of nature, visitors are forced to look at layer after layer of damage left behind by people who clearly have no regard for preserving anything for others to enjoy. It's honestly sad to see such a beautiful place ruined this way.

Murphy is a small, quaint mountain town. This park and recreational area is a great option for…read morefamilies. There is a large, fenced in playground with plenty of equipment for kids to climb on and play. They even have small slides for Littles and a swing for wheelchairs, which is a wonderful new addition. There are bathroom facilities, a covered picnic area, tennis courts, a basketball court, and it is right next to a recreational center/pool/fitness center. It's right on the water and there is a series of trails, with the option of listening to information via an audio tour along the trails. Great area for people of all ages.

We ate here after they moved from the original location. We…read moreeach had the fried fish with beer batter. It was excellent.

This place is awesome. We discovered this driving from Chattanooga to Asheville along highway 74…read more This is located at the Ocoee Whitewater rafting center. There are bathrooms and a large parking lot. It cost $3 a day to park at this park. There is a long trail along the side of the river that leads you to many opportunities to swim in this stunning "blue holes" we walked along the trail for about 20 minutes and got in the water at several locations. The further back you go the less people to share the swimming holes with. We found a private area and enjoyed. We brought bathing suits, a dry bag, water, sun block and water shoes. The rocks are slippery even with water shows so be careful! An amazing natural wonder worth visiting. Great for couples or couples with children. I highly recommend a visit if you are within an hour or two of this area.

I never met a waterfall that I didn't like. We did a driving tour along Little River in Great Smoky…read moreMountains National Park to see if we could spot some wildlife. The Sinks is a lovely waterfall along the river. There is a small parking lot with about a dozen spaces where we found parking. An observation area is a short walk from parking. A sign describes the area and that the falls were manmade. During the late 1800's the river was used to transport logs/timber to the nearby town of Elkmont. After a storm, flood waters caused a jam in the river. Dynamite was used to restore water flow. The blast resulted in a twist in the river and creation of the waterfall. A set of stone steps leads up a hill, offering lovey views of the falls. There are dozens of waterfalls in the Park. Sinks is one of the few that is drivable, which is great for people that cannot hike. I picked up a Waterfalls map at the visitor center that I found interesting and informative. Parking passes are required to park in the lot. There are no amenities at the falls. Plan 15-30 minutes for a stop and photos.

The Sinks is such a fun outdoor experience! Our boys, ages 11 & 13, loved it! The parking is not…read moregreat though, with only about 15 spots in the parking lot and nowhere else to go. It's super busy in the summer, so just be prepared for that. We had to wait about 15 minutes for someone to leave so we could park. That wouldn't keep us from going back, though.

Beautiful park to walk, run, hold events or go to their events. They have a fitness trail type…read moresetup. Lots of gorgeous scenery to take photos of. Parking was easy. No charge to visit. Seems like a popular place, which I can understand after visiting. There is a really cool old historical water wheel. Sometimes it's running. Sometimes not. Apparently people hide painted rocks here on occasion as well. No pets allowed though sadly.

Found a few good shots of flowers and mushrooms at Meeks Park that I had previously taken.read more

Went with a friend who had been recently and loved it. So crowded. Parking was already up and down…read morethe two roads coming in. Makes them one-way. Roads not sedan friendly. We had to back out to let others get out and backed into ditch. Not a big issue because so many people stopped to help immediately. We were finally able to get up to the trailhead, but unable to park until way way past it. We decided to just go on a scenic trip all the way back out, the opposite way. It was beautiful and peaceful. We met a couple, stopped on the road, checking out the largest rattlesnake I have ever seen. We have found, in the last few years, that you have to arrive at any trailhead super early to be able to get in and out. We'll go back to hike it for sure.

This is my GOTO for any season ... doing this hike in summer is just extraordinary. We did this…read morehike with our dog , it's medium with lil elevations . I love the swimming hole here , not so deep for you n ur fur babies . Mine is a 78 pound lab mix who loves water . Most of the trail is covered with trees so even on a hot summer day you can totally attempt this .

Great place to go for a picnic. Also the kids will enjoy the beach. beautiful lake viewread more

Great place to visit,kids can have fun play grounds for ur lil ones .it's the place where u and the…read morekids enjoy.nothing like wearing the kids out they'll sleep so well plus u have the Georgia mountain fair grounds directly across the street we'd take kids there first then to the beach it's a full day of enjoyment

Stunning. The Great…read moreSmoky Mountains National Park officially ties with Yosemite as my two favorite national parks in the US. I love everything about this beautiful area of our country. We were there in early spring and enjoyed stunning weather, blooming wild flowers, and bear sightings a-plenty. We also were there when the dogwoods were blooming and there are dogwood trees throughout the park--it was stunning. We enjoyed driving around the park, hiking, and stopping at various points of interest. We were also able to take an accessible hike up a paved trail to the highest point in the park, which was amazing. My eyes seriously just could not get enough of all the gorgeous nature to be enjoyed here. Top notch. Get to it!

Great Smoky Mountain National Park has been on my bucket list for many years. I was hoping that…read morespring break would be down season at the Park, but the Park was busy!!! We had a fabulous visit to this vast natural wonder. We learned that Park is the largest natural habitat in the continental U.S. The signature "smoky" appearance of the mountains is caused by an evaporation of organic rich moisture released by the vegetation within the Park. We started our visit by stopping at the visitors center to pick up a parking permit ($5/day) and maps ($1). I was glad we picked up maps because there is very little internet connectivity in the park, so we lost our navigation tools. The leaves were not on the trees yet (April) so we had magnificent uninterrupted views of the mountains and skylines. Spring wild flowers were in bloom. And we actually saw a mother bear with two cubs crossing the road. Each day during our visit we explored a different part of the park. We hiked to waterfalls and enjoyed scenic overlooks. We enjoyed exploring historic cabins and cemeteries. Popular sites were crowded and sometimes we had to wait for parking. Plan to arrive early. The park is filled with parking areas to pull off and enjoy the views or hike. Rest areas are available at many of the major sites. Leased dogs are only allowed in camping and parking areas and on two of the many trails. Bring good walking shoes, a hiking stick is helpful, water and sun glasses. You probably need to bring snacks, but keep those secure from wildlife.