Tellico Plains

Places to Stay in Tellico Plains, TN

Camping

Cherohala Mountain Trails Campground

Camping

Hidden Lake Campground & Resort

Camping

Mecca Camp Resort

Airbnb

Silver Top Cabins

Cabins

Tellico Plains Log Cabin Rentals

Cabins

Tellico Vacation Rentals

Airbnb

Trout Mountain Inn

Hotel

Green Cove Store & Lodge

Cabins

Hunt's Lodge

Cabins

Mountain View Cabin Rentals

Hotel

Tellico Farmhouse Inn

Airbnb

Tellico Plains Short Term Rentals

Cabins

The Lodge at Tellico

Camping

Hammer's Hideaway Campground

Camping

Indian Boundary Recreation Area

Camping

North River Campground

Hotel

Tellico Plains Inn

Camping

Tellico River Area Camping

Camping

Top of the World RV

Best for a Family Dinner

Best for a Date Night

Best for a Quick Pick-Up

Best for a Sweet Treat

Tellico Plains Bakery

Tellico Plains

Iron Works Grille & Pub

Local favorite: The Iron Works burger

La Loteria Mexican Restaurant

Local favorite: Huevos El Jefe

Papa's Pizza

Local favorite: Piggystix

Peach Street Grill

Local favorite: Trout dip

Señor Lopez Mexican Grill

Local favorite: Camarones hawaianos

Tellicafe

Local favorite: Cornmeal crusted fried catfish

Tellico Beach Drive-In

Local favorite: Footlong hotdog all the way

Tellico Grains Bakery

Local favorite: Benton’s bacon wood-fired pizza

Photo of fired chicken, beans, and a biscuit covered in gravy.

Photo of a sandwich on toasted bread. The sandwich includes meat, lettuce, mustard, and cheese.

Photo of a footlong hot dog topped with chili and melted cheese.

What To Do Outdoors in Tellico Plains, TN

Tellico Plains is Monroe County's go-to place to enjoy nature. You can go for a hike, do some fishing, stargaze, or even pan for gold.

Cherokee National Forest

For all our visitors looking for outdoor adventures, the Cherokee National Forest is the place to go. It is the only National Forest in Tennessee and provides spaces for just about every outdoor activity you can imagine including fishing, hiking, biking, stargazing, birdwatching, and even gold panning! Popular spots in the forest include Bald River Falls and Indian Boundary Lake.

Photo of a peaceful lake surrounded by trees and mountains.

Photo of a vista of green trees and rolling mountains.

Photo of a waterfall on black stone surrounded by autumnal trees.

The Cherokee National Forest is home to a wide variety of species including black bears, coyotes, foxes, river otters, raccoons, skunks, and white-tailed deer. You can also find several species of birds and reptiles. Please be mindful when around the animals as the forest is their home and their space must be respected.

Photo of a black bear relaxing in some grass near some flowers.

Photo of a large hellbender salamander sitting on some rocks.

Photo of a large snapping turtle sitting on some grass.

The local Forest Service office is at 250 Ranger Station Road, Tellico Plains and is open Monday to Friday from 08:00 AM to 04:30 PM. For any information about the forest, you can visit the office in person or call at 423-253-8400.

Cherohala Skyway

The Cherohala Skyway National Scenic Byway is about 50 miles long with views of ancient forests where Cherokee tribes and early pioneers traveled and settled in the Appalachian Mountains. The name “Cherohala” comes from the names of the two National Forests: “Chero” from the Cherokee and “hala” from the Nantahala. The Skyway connects Tellico Plains, Tennessee with Robbinsville, North Carolina.

Photo of a curvy two-lane road on a mountain side. Foggy weather and lush plantlife.

Photo of a mountain covered in trees with red, orange, yellow, and greene leaves during Autumn. A road can be seen peeking through a gap in the trees.

Hiking

Hiking in Tennessee is a popular outdoor activity. Monroe County has plenty of hiking trails you can choose from including hiking in the Cherokee National Forest. Our trails range in difficulty and length. See below for a complete list of hiking trails in and around Monroe County, TN. People come from all over to enjoy the beautiful scenery of East TN while being active and disconnecting from the distractions of modern life.

Trail Name	Trail Number	Length	Difficulty
Bald River Trail	FS Trail 88	5.6 miles	Easy
Big Indian Branch Trail	FS Trail 94	12.5 miles	Moderate
Big Stack Gap Branch Trail	FS Trail 139	1.7 miles	Difficult
Bob Bald Connector	FS Trail 54A	2.1 miles	Difficult
Brookshire Creek Trail	FS Trail 180	5.7 miles	Moderate
Brush Mountain Trail	FS Trail 97	4.1 miles	Difficult
Cold Springs Gap Trail	FS Trail 149	1.1 miles	Easy
Conasauga Falls Trail	FS Trail 170	1.2 miles	Moderate
Cow Camp Trail	FS Trail 173	0.8 mile	Moderate
Crowder Branch Trail	FS Trail 84	2.6 miles	Moderate

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Kayaking

If you are looking for a water adventure, you can enjoy the waterways of Monroe County on a canoe or kayak. To add to the fun, you can also go rafting! Looking for something in Tellico Plains, stop by Big Bear Tubing for information about using their ramp.

Photo of a person in a raft going down a white water rapid.

Photo of two people in rafts on a white water rapid.

Click this map to see all sites to go boating.

Buck Bald

Buck Bald is about to become one of your new favorite places! This bald mountain peak, located in the Coker Creek community of Tellico Plains offers panoramic views of the majestic peaks of Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. This peaceful mountain peak is one of the top places to visit in East TN. It's also the perfect destination for sightseeing and hiking in Tennessee and spending time with your family away from cell phones and other distractions!

Photo of a family walking together on grass with mountains in the background.

Photo of the sun setting over mountains with clouds against the blue and gold screen.

Photo of a couple sitting together, watching the sunset over the mountains.

Snorkeling

You might not expect a mountainous region like ours to be a place to go snorkeling but you can in Monroe County! Tellico River and Citico Creek are the best places to see all the different aquatic animals shown on the right. Here are some tips for how to safely enjoy your time snorkeling in the rivers.

Materials Needed:

Swim Mask
Snorkel
Swim Attire
Swim Towel
Optional: Wetsuit
Also Optional: Gills

An Ideal Snorkeling Site Includes:

Clean, clear water
No whirlpools or strong currents
A diversity of aquatic organisms
Different types of aquatic microhabitats such as slow, deep pools, and flat, shallow riffles
Sections with large woody debris

Safety:

Set snorkeling boundaries
Be aware of wildlife
Watch for sharp objects in water
Be cautious of slips, trips, or falls
Have a first aid kit available
Do not panic if water leaks into your mask

River Snorkeling Tips:

Avoid excessive splashing
Avoid movement that disturbs sediments, rocks, or habitats
Kneel in water, place hands at the bottom of the stream, place face in water, push feet back to float, and begin snorkeling

For more information, we suggest contacting the Forest Service at (423) 253-2520 or visiting their office at 250 Ranger Station Road.

Citico Creek Road follows the creek and has areas to pull over. Young Branch Wrangler Camp on Citico Road is a good meeting area for groups. Any slow moving water should be safe but don't forget our safety tips.

Explore Tellico Plains, TN

Tellico Plains has plenty of tourist destinations with something for everyone including a historic downtown, farmers market, parks, and a few venues fit for any party!

Agritourism

Tellico Community Farm Market is owned by our local Mennonite community and is open Monday to Saturday from 09 AM to 05 PM during most of the year from early Spring to late Fall. They sell a variety of homegrown fruits and vegetables depending on the season. Check the calendar of when the produce is in season before you make your trip so you can find what you want. They also sell jams, jellies, apple butter, honey, molasses, baked goods, canned goods, and homemade soap. It is located at 1472 Fairview Rd, Tellico Plains. There are large signs directing you to their market. Be aware that they only accept cash and the nearest bank is 5 miles away. Also please respect their modest dress code.

Black and white chart showing when various vegetables are in season.

Photo of various fresh vegetables on long table. Interior of a farmers market.

Art

For all things art in Monroe County, we have to mention our friends over at MACA. Their website lists all the events and programs that both locals and tourists would be interested in!

Scott Street Gallery in downtown Tellico features art by local artists, all for sale. The art includes paintings, prints, and carvings with beautiful imagery of nature.

Photo of a sculpture of a crescent moon.

Photo of a building with topiaries made to look like scissors.

Photo of a topiary designed to look like a cartoonish worm reading a book.

Photo of a sculpture of a large red metal rocking chair.

These topiaries and sculpture can be found at 607 Veterans Memorial Dr, Tellico Plains, TN

And these two can be found on either side of 209 Cherohala Skyway, Tellico Plains, TN

Photo of a mural of flowers growing out of a coffee mug saying "We Life Off Coffee & Flowers"

Mural at Trout Mountain Inn
100 Scott St, Tellico Plains, TN

Photo of a plaque made to look like a quilt square.

You'll also find these quilt squares on various buildings, part of a series celebrating Appalachia's quilt culture.

Historic Landmarks

Don't forget to check what days and times a museum is open before planning your trip. If you are dead-set on visiting a place, call ahead of time to make sure they will be open when you plan on visiting so you don't miss a chance to support our local businesses!