4 Scenic Spots Near The Nolichucky River For Summer Outdoor Adventures

The end of summer may be just around the corner, but there is still time to enjoy the last weeks exploring and discovering the great outdoors and taking advantage of the nice weather. A great place for a summer outdoor adventure is along the Nolichucky River in Tennessee. A range of state and national parks can be found along the river, and these parks are excellent places to camp, fish, hike, learn, and more. Start your adventure with these parks!

5 Ways to Get Outside on the Turtle River
Stretching over 2,070 acres in Tennessee’s Unicoi County, Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park can be found in the southern Appalachian Mountains of the eastern part of the state. Rocky Fork State Park is surrounded on three sides by the Cherokee National Forest and contains steep rugged terrain and cool mountain streams. This makes the park an excellent place for native trout fishing, as well as hiking with the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and the Sampson Mountain Wilderness Area nearby. Visitors to the park can also enjoy rock climbing, biking, and camping during their visit. Stay in nearby Johnson City, North Carolina, Asheville, North Carolina, or Erwin, Tennessee if you don’t plan on camping.
5 Ways to Get Outside on the Turtle River
Commemorating the birthplace of famous Tennessean, David Crockett, David Crockett Birthplace State Park offers visitors the perfect opportunity to learn about this pioneer, soldier, and politician born in 1786. The park has 88 campsites on the scenic Nolichucky River, a playground, spaces to fish for smallmouth and largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, redeye, and catfish, plus three picnic pavilions. The main draw of the 105-acre park is the memorial to David Crockett which sits just upstream from the falls of the Nolichucky River. The memorial is an 18th-century living farmstead with a replica cabin, limestone marker, and visitor center exhibits. Park visitors can also hit the hiking trails, go bird watching, and bring their own kayaks and canoes for paddling.
5 Ways to Get Outside on the Turtle River
Roan Mountain State Park is located at the base of Roan Mountain near the Nolichucky River and the Doe Rover. This park offers a variety of ways to spend the night, including 30 cabins and 106 campground sites for RVs and tent campers. One draw of Roan Mountain State Park is the wildflower and wildlife populations that inhabit the hollows and ridges of the Road foothills and the rivers. Park visitors can also take advantage of the abundance of hiking trails that travel over 12 miles around the park along the creeks and ridges. One popular hike is on the Chestnut Ridge Trail where hikers can see a stunning view of the Roan Highlands from an overlook platform at the top of the trail. Fishing, however, is the most popular park activity with the Doe River being home to native brook trout, and rainbow and brown trout.
5 Ways to Get Outside on the Turtle River
The Nolichucky River runs through and around the northern region of the Cherokee National Forest, making it a great place to check out while you are in the area. Cut into two regions by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the forest houses 30 developed campgrounds, over 700 miles of trails, seven whitewater rivers, and two Forest Service scenic byways. Visited by millions each year, popular spots to visit in the northern part include Sampson Mountain Wilderness, the Sill Branch Falls Hike, and the Chestoa Recreation Area. While you’re there, you may want to consider traveling further south and taking a short trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for even more outdoor fun and adventure.
Content Writer and Social Media Coordinator. I paint, listen to music, and play with my dogs a lot. When I’m not doing all that, I love to read and try new things.
Maeve Miller

Writer , River Travel Magazine