SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN PUBLIC LANDS
Camping Camping THIS INFOMAP IS Group Camping Group Camping N I N N Trailer Sites I N I N I N I N Trailer Sites A COOPERATIVE Trailer Dump station Trailer Dump Station C1 Backbone Rock Recreation Area Picnic Area B1 Yahoo Falls Picnic Area EFFORT AMONG: • • • • Picnic Pavilion • • • • • • • • Restrooms • • • • OUTDOOR Swim Area Showers OUTDOOR C2 Chilhowee Recreation Area B2 Alum Ford • • • • • • • Restrooms • • • • • • • • • • • Drinking • Water • • U.S. Forest Service C3 Hiwassee River Corridor Showers B3 Yamacraw Bridge Fishing • • • Drinking • • Water • • • • • • • Hiking Trails • • • National Park Service C4 Indian Boundary Recreation Area Fishing B4 Stearns Visitor Center Interpretive Trail Blue Ridge Parkway • • • • • • • • • • • Hiking • Trails • • • • • • Horse Trail • C5 Little Oak Recreation Area Bike Trails B5 Blue Heron Bike Trail Blue Ridge National • • • • • • • • Horse • Trails • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Boat • Launch • • • C6 Ocoee River Corridor - Parksville Lake Boat Launch B6 Bear Creek Camp Canoeing RECREATIONRECREATION Motorized Boating Wildlife Viewing Heritage Area • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • C7 Ocoee Whitewater Center Non-motorized Boating B7 Station Camp Historic Site/District North Carolina State • • • • • • • • Whitewater • • • • • • • • • Visitor Information Parks C8 Paint Creek Corridor Accessible Site(s) B8 Charit Creek Wheelchair Accessible • • • • • • • • • Fee Site(s) • • • • • • • • Fee Required Tennessee State Parks C9 Rock Creek Recreation Area • • • • • • • • • • • • B9 Bandy Creek • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • MAPMAP C10 Tellico River Corridor • • • • • • • • • • • • • B10 Leatherwood Ford • • • • • • • • • NON-PROFIT C11 Watauga Lake Corridor • • • • • • • • • • • • • • B11 Burnt Mill Bridge • • • • PARTNERS C12 Pigeon River Corridor B12 Brewster Bridge Partners of Cherokee • • • • • • • • N N I N I I National Forest N N N I N N G1 Park Headquarters Cradle of Forestry in • • • • • • • America Interpretive N1 Balsam Lake – Lodge • • • • • • G2 Iron Furnace • • • • Association N2 Cheoah River Corridor • • • • • • G3 Pinnacle Overlook • • • • • Great Smoky N3 Cherokee Lake • • • • • • G4 Wilderness Road Campground • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Mountains Association N4 Cullasaja Gorge - Dry Falls & Cliffside Lake • • • • • • • • G5 Gibson Gap • • • Blue Ridge Parkway N5 Hiwassee Lake • • • • • • • • • • • • G6 Hensley Settlement • • • • • Foundation N6 Joyce Kilmer • • • • G7 Chadwell Gap • • • • N7 Lake Chatuge - Jackrabbit Mountain • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • G8 White Rocks • • • • OTHERS N8 Nantahala River Corridor • • • • • • • • • N IN N I N TN Dept of Tourist N9 Standing Indian Recreation Area • • • • • • • • • S1 Greenbrier • • • • • • Development N10 Tsali on Fontana Lake • • • • • • • • • • • • • S2 Cosby Campground • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ABOVE: Capture the splendor and excitement of canoeing, kayaking or rafting whitewater rivers in a national forest, national park, or Visit North Carolina N11 Whiteside Mountain • • • S3 Big Creek Campground • • • • • • • • • • • • state park. Each river has its own personality. Challenges can be found for everyone from first-timers to Olympic-level athletes. N12 Whitewater Falls • • • • • • S4 Cataloochee • • • • • • • • • • • • N13 Santeetlah Lake - Cheoah Point • • • • • • • • • • • • • S5 Balsam Mountain Campground • • • • • • • • • • SAFETY BLACK BEARS S6 Collins Creek • • • • • • • At one time, the black bear’s range included most of North I N I N N S7 Smokemont Campground • • • • • • • • • • • • • • America. Some of the largest protected areas in the eastern P1 Curtis Creek Corridor WATER SAFETY • • • • • • • S8 Oconaluftee Visitor Center • • • • • • • • • • United States where black bears can live in wild, natural P2 Cradle of Forestry in America • • • • • S9 Deep Creek Campground • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Surprisingly, drowning is one of the leading causes of surroundings are found on this map. Bears inhabit all P3 Davidson River Corridor - Sliding Rock S10 Chimneys Picnic Area • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • death on public lands. These accidents and injuries can elevations in the Appalachian Mountains. P4 Lake Powhatan • • • • • • • • • • • • • S11 Sugarlands Visitor Center • • • • • • • • • • • easily be avoided. Closely supervise children at all times. P5 Linville Gorge Corridor - Wisemans View Black bears may exceed six feet in length and three feet • • • S12 Elkmont Campground • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Remember, medical assistance for injured persons may be P6 North Mills River Corridor S13 Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area high at the shoulder. During the summer months, a typical • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • many hours away. P7 South Toe River Corridor • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • S14 Cades Cove Campground • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • adult male bear may weigh 250 pounds or more while adult P8 Wilson Creek Corridor • • • • • • • • S15 Cades Cove Visitor Center • • • • • • • • Do not wade in or attempt to cross a rain- females are generally smaller and weigh less. Bears can run P9 Catawba Falls • • S16 Abrams Creek Campground • • • • • • • • swollen stream! up to 30 miles per hour—which is faster than humans. S17 Twentymile • • • River levels can rise rapidly after a heavy rainfall. A Bears are most active during early morning and late I N N I localized thunderstorm dumping rain far upstream on evening hours in spring and summer. T1 Balds of Roan Mountain • • • • R1 Moses Cone Memorial Park • • • • • • • • the higher peaks can create sudden and unexpected flood T2 Cherohala Skyway R2 Julian Price Park Bear Behavior • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • conditions at lower elevations without you seeing a single T3 Nolichucky River Gorge R3 Linville Falls • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • raindrop! Bears in the national park and national forest are wild and T4 French Broad River Corridor • • • • • • • • R4 Craggy Garden • • • • • • their behavior can be unpredictable. Although extremely R5 Mt. Pisgah • • • • • • • • • Do not climb on rocks near water. rare, attacks on humans have occurred, inflicting serious N I N I N R6 Graveyard Fields • • • • • Rocks near water are extremely slippery. These rocks are ALL IMAGES BY BILL LEA M1 Virginia Creeper Trail injuries and death. Treat bear encounters with extreme • • • • • • • • slippery due to mist and algae. National istoric ites ther (For info about visitor centers and restroom facilities - visit NPS.GOV) p ri caution! Before hiking in bear country, learn in advance The U.S. Forest Service partners with other agencies and commercial outfitters & guides to offer a E3 how to handle bear encounters. variety of water-based adventures on rivers that wind through the mountains from North Carolina ANDREW JOHNSON N.H. SITE Interprets the life and legacy of the 17th President, Andrew Johnson (term 1865-1869). Use extreme caution when walking along www.RecreationLinks.org into Tennessee. Search for these exceptional river corridors and their tributaries - French Broad River CARL SANDBURG HOME N.H. SITE A popular voice for the American people still speaks through his writings and songs. F5 streambanks. (Classes I-III), Hiwassee River (Classes I-III), Nantahala River (Classes I-III), Nolichucky River (Classes MANHATTAN PROJECT N.H. PARK Tells the story that led to the creation of the atomic bomb, which helped end World War II. B3 Over the years, there have been fatal accidents and many A3 II-V), Ocoee River (Classes III-IV & 1996 Olympic Whitewater Venue) and Pigeon River (Classes I-IV). OBED WILD & SCENIC RIVER Stretches along the Cumberland Plateau and offers a variety of recreational opportunities. serious injuries resulting from people climbing on rocks near waterfalls or along streambanks.
ABOUT THIS MAP ENJOY YOUR PUBLIC LANDS Do not dive or jump into water. Submerged rocks, trees or debris could be immediately below the surface of the water. National Park Service National parks and national forests have been established If you find yourself accidentally swimming in in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee United States Department of the Interior Units throughout East Tennessee and Western North fast moving water, do not try to stand up. and North Carolina to preserve and conserve natural and Most drownings result from getting a leg or ankle cultural resources. They occupy more than 2.2 million acres Carolina provide incredible opportunities to experience the diversity of place, history, and nature of our region. caught in an underwater rock ledge or between of land connected by rivers, trails, parkways and history. boulders. The force of the water will push you over and Several supporting nonprofit organizations have worked Visit our website to learn more about the sites where you can take a scenic drive, explore the backcountry by trail, take the family hold you under. together in cooperation with the National Park Service, The standard defensive swimming position in fast water U.S. Forest Service and several state agencies to provide camping, walk through history, rock climb, or kayak. Explore, experience, and enjoy your National Parks! is lying on your back with your feet pointing downstream this map and encourage you to appreciate and experience and toes up towards the surface. Always look downstream WHAT DO I DO IF I SEE A BLACK BEAR? your public lands. Visitor Info: www.nps.gov and be prepared to fend off rocks with your feet. If you see a black bear: large as possible (for • Remain watchful. example, move to higher Is There a Difference Between a U.S. Forest Service • Do not approach it. ground). “Park” and a “Forest”? United States Department of Agriculture, HYPOTHERMIA • Do not allow the bear to • Throw non-food objects Forest Service The water in mountain streams may be much colder The answer is yes. Although they may look similar, national such as rocks at the bear. The Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee, than you think. Exposure to cold water can quickly approach you. parks and national forests have very different purposes. • Use a deterrent such as a the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests in ABOVE: There is nothing quite like a public recreation area to lead to hypothermia, an extremely dangerous condition • If your presence causes the Together they offer the public a wide spectrum of uses. PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS stout stick. North Carolina, and other Forests in the Southern provide the solitude of a backcountry campsite, tent camping in a involving the lowering of the body’s “core” temperature. bear to change its behavior • Don’t run and don’t turn National parks emphasize preservation of resources Appalacians offer opportunities to experience the thrill of family campground, or a quiet spot in a convenient RV area. Hypothermia can kill you! Symptoms include loss of (stops feeding, changes its travel direction, watches away from the bear. and recreational experiences. They focus on protecting whitewater, the pursuit of wildlife, epic mountain bike trails, iconic Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation strength and muscular coordination followed by mental • Don’t leave food for the natural and cultural resources “unimpaired for the enjoyment waterfalls & mountain balds, scenic byways and backcountry trails, The Foundation is the primary nonprofit fundraising Partners of Cherokee confusion and irrational behavior. you, etc.) you are too close. bear; this encourages further of future generations.” Park rangers work for the National Park plus a wide range of overnight accommodations. partner of the Blue Ridge Parkway, helping ensure National Forest Being too close may promote problems. Service (NPS) under the Department of Interior. Note: Campground and cabin reservation services are available at cultural and historical preservation, natural resource The Partners provide the public with PROTECT STREAMS! aggressive behavior from the protection, educational outreach, and visitor National forests emphasize conservation of our www.recreation.gov. current information about issues Didymo is a destructive and invasive algae species that bear such as running toward If the bear’s behavior enjoyment. Since 1997, the Foundation has provided and resources related to the Cherokee National Forest. The natural resources. National forests are managed under the Visitor Info: http://www.fs.fed.us/visit can smother park streams. You can accidentally spread you, making loud noises, or indicates that it is after over $10 million to protect and enhance Partners promote enjoyment and responsible use of the Forest principles of “multiple use and sustained yield” to provide didymo on your fishing and water recreation equipment. swatting the ground. The bear your food: the Parkway. The Foundation also created the Kids by sponsoring custom maps, trails for kids, student field trips, Americans with wood, water, forage, wildlife and recreation North Carolina State Parks To prevent its spread, please visit https://www.nps.gov/ is demanding more space. • Separate yourself from in Parks program which provides a network of kid-friendly trails public outreach, and more. The organization is directly involved for generations to come. They are managed by the U.S. Forest Department of Cultural and Natural grsm/learn/nature/didymo.htm Don’t run, but slowly back the food. in the Blue Ridge Mountains and beyond. www.kidsinparks.com in continuing projects in multiple locations within the Forest Service (USFS) under the Department of Agriculture. Resources away, watching the bear. • Slowly back away. The NC state park system encompasses iconic Visitor Info: (866) 308-2773 www.brpfoundation.org and new members are always welcome. Increase the distance between Because they have different purposes, adjoining national If the bear shows no landscapes within state parks, state recreation Note: Nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization chartered in 2002 you and the bear. The bear parks and national forests have different rules. For example: Cradle of Forestry in America interest in your food and state natural areas. In operation for 100 Visitor Info: (866) 308-2773 www.partnersofthecherokee.org will probably do the same. • National parks usually forbid hunting, while forests Interpretive Association and you are physically usually allow it. years, its 74 units attract 17 million visitors annually. Its 228,000 The Cradle of Forestry in America IN CASE OF attacked, the bear may • Dogs can be taken on national forest trails, but are acres include mountains, beaches, swamps, lakes, rivers, grasslands, If a bear persistently meadows, forests and waterfalls. Interpretive Association promotes EMERGENCY follows or approaches consider you as prey: generally not allowed on trails in national parks. LOCAL HOSPITALITY INFORMATION Note: There are fees for camping, swimming and certain activities. educational, recreational, and interpretive DIAL 911 you, without vocalizing, • Fight back aggressively • National forests may provide trails for off-highway opportunities about forest and water with any available object! Visitor Info: (919) 707-9300 www.ncparks.gov If you require emergency services or paw swatting: vehicles; national parks usually do not. Tennessee Department of resources, natural history, and the Cradle of Forestry in America. such as police, fire, or ambulance, dial • Change your direction. • Do not play dead! The CFAIA co-manages the 6,500 acre Cradle of Forestry historic Tourist Development 911 immediately. Do not call the park or United States Congress has also designated several special Tennessee State Parks • If the bear continues to Remember to keep your site, celebrating the birth of scientific forestry in America. Come face to face with awe- forest ranger offices. areas and trails to be managed by the National Park Service Tennessee Department of Environment & follow you, stand your distance from bears and Note: Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization chartered in 1972. inspiring nature and breathtaking and U.S. Forest Service for their unique characteristics Conservation Note: In the Appalachian Mountains, heavy ground. store trash and food properly. Visitor Info: (828) 884-5713 www.cfaia.org wilderness. Climb cliffs, raft rapids, discover the beauty. and opportunities. These include, but are not limited to, Discover Tennessee’s natural, cultural, and foliage or surrounding terrain may prevent • If the bear gets closer, talk To learn more, visit online: Explore more: At tnvacation.com and follow “tnvacation” on your cellular phone or satellite GPS Wilderness, Wild & Scenic Rivers, National Recreation Areas, historic heritage. State parks offer diverse loudly, shout at it, wave https://www.nps.gov/grte/ Great Smoky Mountains Association Facebook, Twitter (#madeintn), Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube. device from receiving a signal. National Parkways, National Historic Sites, National Historic and varied natural landscapes, family-friendly your arms, make yourself planyourvisit/bearsafety. Trails, and the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. recreation, affordable lodgings, and hundreds of interpretive The mission of our Association is to support the Bear this in mind when making look big. your plans. htm programs and events. Parks are open to the public seven days a perpetual preservation of Great Smoky Mountains Visit North Carolina • Act aggressively to Please note: Visitors need to pay attention to whether they are in a week, year-round. There is no access fee charged, although there National Park and the national park system by You’re invited to experience and explore intimidate the bear. Note: Use binoculars, national park or a national forest. A perfectly legal activity in one may be fees associated with certain activities. promoting greater public interest and appreciation our many unique forests, spectacular parks • Act together as a group if telephoto lens, or a area may not be permitted in another. Note: Fishing and hunting require licenses (tn.gov/twra/). through education, interpretation, and research and outdoor activities. you have companions. spotting scope to view This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Visitor Info: (615) 532-0001 www.tnstateparks.com Visitor Info: (888) 898- 9102 www.smokiesinformation.org Visitor Info: 800-VISITNC www.visitnc.com Make yourselves look as the animals.