먼로 카운티 최고의 워킹 & 하이킹 경로

The Cheoah River flows through the rugged mountains of western North Carolina, carving a narrow gorge before joining the Little Tennessee River near Tapoco. Known for its steep gradient and powerful rapids, it’s a popular whitewater destination when water is released from Santeetlah Dam. The river is also a scenic backdrop along the Benton MacKaye Trail. If you’re nearby, you can also visit the impressive Santeetlah Dam.

Tapoco Lodge is a historic 1930s lodge set along the Cheoah River near the Tennessee–North Carolina border. Rooms start around $200 per night, with riverfront cabins and lodge rooms available. Even if you don’t stay overnight, the lodge is a nice spot to enjoy a meal or relax before continuing your journey.

This man-made reservoir is home to more than 50 species of fish, and even has a swimming beach on it. But in this case, the star attraction is the wheelchair-accessible fishing pier at Fort Loudoun State Historic Park. (You can fish from the shore here, too.)

This section of trail is filled with various primitive tent camping sites. Most sites are between the trail and the water's edge and are not marked so keep your eyes peeled if looking for an overnight spot. When choosing a site, be mindful of LNT practices and be courteous of other backcountry users.

There are many spectacular spots to stand on the road/bridge here to view the waterfalls. Depending on the time of year, there might even be side streams coming from different areas of the rock face. There are several side trails leading down to the water if you want a closer view, but be careful as this water is fast moving and can be extremely cold in the fall and winter months!

Enjoy a break from your hike by taking a seat on the side of the trail. There is an obvious switchback in this section with man-placed rocks that serve as a great place for a rest or a snack.