Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 48

are three overlooks to your left as you
climb - stop at ALL of them! The mountains,
forests and waterways spread out for
miles and miles. Excellent opportunity for
photos. At the terminus is the recreation
area and campground and small mountaintop
lake. Access the 3-mile roundtrip
trail (easy and dog-friendly) to 65-foot
Benton Falls. (fs.usda.gov/recarea/cherokee/
recarea/?recid=35078)
* For more info on points of
DAWNFIRE PHOTOGRAPHY
interest: fs.usda.gov/recarea/cherokee/
recarea/?recid=35094.
of modern-day U.S. 64/74 began as wagon
trails; became a transportation route
for copper mines; and, are now all designated
as the first National Scenic Byway
in the country's national forests. A
journey here will be filled with nature,
wildlife and engineering marvels that
changed the future of this area. The entire
route is within the Cherokee National
Forest in Polk County.
Ocoee Whitewater Center. Find your
inner wagon train speed for the 10-mile
drive to or from the OWC. The river gorge
is spectacular with mountains and cliffs on
one side and a roaring river on the other.
At the Center, walk where Olympians
won medals in 1996 and wander along
the river on quiet pathways. The popular
Tanasi Bike Trail System is here. Stroll the
downriver footbridge, and turn right on
48 BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
the other side for a less crowded hiking opportunity.
(fs.usda.gov/generalinfo/cherokee/
recreation/generalinfo/?groupid=71012&recid
=35096)
Hydroelectric Power. While winding
through the gorge you'll see four examples
of visionary engineering begun at the
turn of the 20th century: three massive
TVA dams and a flume that snakes along
the bluffs above. The first two dams
stretch hundreds of feet across the Ocoee
River, and still generate power for the
area residents. A stop at dam number one
will offer a good view. The third dam, at
110 feet tall, was constructed for WWII
energy needs. (tva.com/energy/our-powersystem/hydroelectric)
Forest
Service Road 77 - Chilhowee.
Point north (and upward) to drive this
7-mile winding, switchbacked road. There
NORTH CAROLINA
Waterfall Byway
Plan a trip on U.S. Route 64 from Murphy
to Rosman to see " the land of waterfalls. "
Some 200 of these cascading water features
dot the landscape along this byway.
See the fullness after spring rains. Feel the
cool spray on a summer day. Snap photos
of the falls in autumn. Be amazed at
the icicles and sparkling frozen beauty
during wintertime. Plan to use some old
school paper maps for the journey, because
(happily) many remote stops have
no cell signal.
Cullasaja Falls (10 miles east of Franklin).
At this roadside waterfall visible from
U.S. 64 there's only a small parking area,
but the view of this 250-foot falls is stunning.
A small trail leads to a viewing area;

http://fs.usda.gov/recarea/cherokee/recarea/?recid=35078 http://fs.usda.gov/recarea/cherokee/recarea/?recid=35094 http://fs.usda.gov/generalinfo/cherokee/recreation/generalinfo/?groupid=71012&recid=35096 http://www.tva.com/energy/our-power-system/hydroelectric http://www.BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM

Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022