Cherohala Skyway

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Cherohala Skyway in early autumn

The Cherohala Skyway is a paved 36 mile, two-lane road that connects Tellico Plains, TN to Robbinsville, NC. Its name is a portmanteau of Cherokee and Nantahala, and is also known as the Overhill Skyway. In April 1997, the state of North Carolina declared it a Scenic Byway. The Skyway is now designated as a National Scenic Byway by the Federal Highway Administration.

The Skyway was begun in planning in 1958. Thirty-two years of construction and 100,000,000 dollars later, the Cherohala was opened October 12, 1996. The Cherohala Skyway runs for 21 miles as State Route 165 on the western side of the mountains and for 15 miles as North Carolina Route 143 on the eastern side. The western end of the Skyway begins at Tellico Plains at an elevation below 1,000 feet and follows the Tellico River Gorge for four miles. The Skyway than ascends into the Unaka Mountains to an elevation of 5,390 feet at Santeetlah Gap before descending into Robbinsville. The road through the North Carolina side looks down on Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest and on clear days as far as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. On the Tennessee side are Cherokee National Forest, including Bald River Falls and the Tellico River.

[edit] Skyway Highlights

Mile 0 Santeetlah Gap
11 Santeetlah
16 Begin Tellico Plains Descent

View along the Skyway

View at end of Skyway near Tellico Plains

Highest point along Skyway near TN, NC border. Photo taken on a very sunny day. Road rose into the clouds in this shot.

[edit] External links

Cherohala.org - official website
Drive Among The Clouds - pictures, maps, and information
Byways.org - from U.S. Department of Transportation
Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center: A Dream Come True! - the building and dedication of the TN Visitor Center in Monroe County.
Cherohala.com - commercial site with lots of good information, history, maps, and pictures.