Chota and Tanasi Memorials

Pictures

While Bailey was off tumbling away at gymnastics camp today, Jodie, Myers, and I drove to the Chota and Tanasi memorials in Monroe County on the Toqua Wildlife Management Area. From the parking area, it is 1/4 mile to the Chota memorial on a well-worn gravel pathway that runs close to blackberry bushes, cattails, pine and sycamore trees, and within a stone's throw of Tellico Lake. We also saw lots of butterflies and dragonflies. The Chota memorial is a dedication to the Cherokee Clans of the Little Tennessee River Valley, the area that was flooded to give us Tellico Lake, Ft Loudon Lake, Chilhowee Lake, Calderwood Lake, etc. The Tanasi memorial can be seen from the road that leads to the Chota Memorial parking spot. Thanks to Jeff Wadley for the info on this hike and to Jodie for being our photographer :)

Directions: head down 411 south until you get to the Sloan Center... the big BP with a Bass Pro Bait Shop inside... At the BP, turn left onto TN 360. You'll pass the turn off to Ft Loudon on the left and then the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum on the right. After passing the Sequoyah Museum, travel 5.7 miles to the interestion of TN 360 and County RD 455. Go straight at the intersection onto 455. Travel 5 miles, and then turn left onto Bacon Ferry Rd. Bacon Ferry Rd does NOT have a road sign, but there is a sign for the Wildlife Management Area and a sign for the Chota and Tanasi Memorials. Drive to the end of Bacon Ferry Rd (.8 miles) where it ends in a cul-de-sac. Park here and the trail to the memorial should be visible.