Hiwassee River Wildlife Refuge

In late fall and winter you can hear the harsh calls of sandhill cranes, gathered here on their way from nesting grounds near the Great Lakes to warmer Southern locations. Over 50,000 birds make a pit stop here each year. View thousands of congregating cranes from an observation deck overlooking the Hiwassee River where it joins the Tennessee River. Sandhill Crane Viewing Days begin in mid-January, with programs on the cranes and the area's Cherokee heritage.