Rapids to Railroads: Adventure Through the Tanasi Trail

Start your journey through time in historic Chattanooga at Ross's Landing, situated along the Chattanooga Riverwalk. This first stop is in downtown Chattanooga, so you can begin without added drive time if you’re staying in the city center. "The Passage" at Ross's Landing marks the beginning of the Trail of Tears and is ornately designed to pay permanent homage to the Cherokee Nation and their forced removal from Tennessee. For visitors researching Trail of Tears Tennessee sites, The Passage adds solemn context to the route’s larger story. The outdoor exhibit includes a waterfall stairway and "weeping wall" to symbolize the tears shed during the Native American Removal. Water from both installations gathers in a reflecting pool before returning to the Tennessee River via cannon. The Riverwalk itself spans over 16 miles and is completely free to access at any of the 26 access points. 

In addition to waterways and the Riverwalk, Chattanooga is a city marked by a long history with locomotion. Explore the railways onboard vintage trains that serve as rolling time machines with Tennessee Valley Railroad or the famed Chattanooga Choo Choo.

Only steps from "The Passage" lies a hub of Tennessee's natural history, the Tennessee Aquarium. The walk from the Riverwalk and Ross’s Landing area to the aquarium takes only a few minutes. Long before locomotives carved through the southeast regions of Tennessee, resident aquatic critters had their own railways of water. Explore one of the top stops for anyone looking for an aquarium in Tennessee, where playful otters and giant stingrays trace the path of water from mountains to sea. 

From downtown Chattanooga, Red Clay Historic Park in Cleveland, Tennessee, is about 30 miles away, or roughly 35 to 40 minutes by car. With humble beginnings, Cleveland began as a small log cabin in the heart of the Cherokee Nation. Visit Red Clay State Park, which served as the Cherokee's last Eastern Council Grounds. It was here Chief John Ross and the tribe unanimously rejected the proposed removal treaty in 1835. Three years later, the forced removal began. Ranger tours and demonstrations are engaging and rich with history, listen to living history guides and immerse yourself in the testimonies of the past. As one of the most significant Cherokee heritage sites Tennessee travelers can visit, the park helps connect the route’s cultural history with the land itself. Afterwards, don't miss the opportunity to see Blue Hole Spring — a natural landmark that is a sight to behold.

From Red Clay State Historic Park, plan on about 35 miles, or roughly 45 minutes by car, to reach the Ocoee River area. Experience the mighty, Olympic-level rapids of Ocoee River State Park and learn of the river's collaborative history. Long before the Ocoee hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics, the river served as the source of life for the Cherokee people who lived near its banks. For travelers planning Ocoee River Rafting, this stretch brings together whitewater adventure and layered regional history. Now, visitors can float, kayak and canoe its expanses. Nestled within the Cherokee National Forest, adventurers of all ages can enjoy the waterfall hikes, picnic locations, fishing spots, and swimming holes within the trees.

From the Ocoee River area, Tellico Plains is roughly 45 miles away, or about an hour by car. Once the site of the Overhill Cherokee town of Great Tellico, this beautiful community sits in the valley where the Tellico River meets the Little Tennessee River. The creative community features multiple galleries and shops including Scott Street Gallery & Studios with more than 70 local artisans. The Charles Hall Museum showcases a huge collection of local memorabilia, guns, Native American artifacts and historic photos. 

Get your map at the Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center, fill up at the classic Tellico Beach Drive-In, and pick-up a treat at Tellico Grains Bakery before hitting the iconic Cherohala Skyway National Scenic Byway that weaves through the Cherokee National Forest.

From Tellico Plains, plan on about 30 miles, or 40 minutes, to reach Vonore. The Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, operated by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, tells Sequoyah's story and highlights the customs, beliefs and family life of the Overhill Cherokees, along with the despair that accompanied the Trail of Tears. Trace Sequoyah's life and learn the details of the revolutionary Cherokee Syllabary with a reclaimed printing press. On-site at the museum are the Chota/Tanasi Memorials and a burial mound that pays tribute to burials that were discovered before the nearby land of Chota and Tanasi was inundated with water in 1979 by the TVA.

Tsali Notch Vineyard is about 12 miles from the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, or roughly 20 minutes by car. Named after a historic Cherokee Leader, Tsali Notch Vineyard is nestled within the Tennessee Overhill Heritage Area. Taste the unique flavor of "America's Wild Grape," the muscadine, which is native to the southeast region. Check current tasting room hours before visiting, especially if you’re building this stop into a multi-day itinerary. Check current Vineyard Tasting Room hours before visiting, especially if you’re building this stop into a multi-day itinerary. Experience the award-winning wines and honor the land and heritage that inspires their winemaking.

From Tsali Notch Vineyard, Sweetwater is about 15 miles away, or 25 minutes by car. Sweetwater, Tennessee, is home to America's largest underground lake, The Lost Sea. Located within the Craighead Caverns, The Lost Sea Adventure takes you through a rich geological and human history — far beyond what meets the eye. Nearly a mile from the Cavern's opening, sits a room known as "The Council Room," where an array of artifacts testifies to the Cherokee's use of caves. Since the days of early white settlers, the cave has been used for storing potatoes, saltpeter mining during the Civil War, moonshine making, and so much more. Take a glass-bottom boat ride and guided tour of the lake and gain insight to the captivating history.

Travelers searching for The Lost Sea in Tennessee should know this is a guided cave tour and glass-bottom boat experience. For the common question, “Can you swim in The Lost Sea,” plan to see the lake from the boat and follow posted visitor guidance.

From Sweetwater, plan on about 50 miles, or roughly one hour, to reach the Birchwood area. From central Birchwood, the park’s Blythe Ferry trailhead is about 8 miles, or 10 to 15 minutes by car. Known for its Trail of Tears history, Birchwood's Cherokee Removal Memorial Park features outdoor exhibits chronicling the Native American experience during the 1838 forced removal. The Blythe Ferry Site was the final point of departure for an estimated 9,000 Cherokees driven from their ancestral land. In additional to the removal, the park aims to educate visitors about the unique wildlife in the habitat around and in the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge. Because Blythe Ferry access and visitor center hours may vary by season, check current hours before visiting.

From Cherokee Removal Memorial Park, Harrison Bay State Park is about 25 miles away, or roughly 35 minutes by car. The scenic Harrison, Tennessee, named for President William Henry Harrison, is home to the 1,200-acre Harrison Bay State Park with 40 miles of Chickamauga Lake Shoreline. Harrison Bay holds the distinction of becoming the first Tennessee State Park in 1937. Today, the many amenities include marina facilities, a restaurant, pool, hiking and biking trails, and the 18-hole Bear Trace Golf Course designed by Jack Nicklaus.