Camping in the Cherokee National Forest
Over fall break, Andrew and I went camping in Cherokee National Forest. Andrew is a seasoned camper, but this was my first time camping independently. With my mandolin in the passenger seat and sleeping bags in the trunk, I headed east and met up with Andrew in Chattanooga. From there, we drove together to the Cherokee National Forest, which is located in Tennessee’s Southern Appalachian Mountains. Over the course of the two-day trip, we hiked, camped, swam, birded, played mandolin by the river, sang campfire songs with strangers, took pictures, had long conversations, painted, and meandered along winding backroads with the windows down. It was a great weekend spent with Andrew in the beauty and peace of creation.
Impossible for us to take a “normal” picture together, ha!
Something Borrowed, Something Blue
When we arrived at the first campsite, it’s safe to say that we were the only ones in a four-door sedan. My mom was kind enough to let us borrow her trusty Honda Accord for the trip, which helped a lot! We didn’t want to have any breakdowns while out of cell service.
Campsite at Gee Creek Campground
The first night we camped at Gee Creek Campground, which is located on the eastern side of the national forest near the Hiwassee Loop, a 50-mile passenger train route along the Hiwassee River Gorge. We were up in time the next morning to watch the train leave for the day. An operator from the Tennessee Valley Railway Museum told us all about the rail. Definitely adding this to my bucket list!
Passenger train leaving on the Hiwassee Loop, a 50-mile round trip through the Hiwassee River Gorge
Morning light filtered through the trees as we danced along the river, singing and whistling back to the birdsongs around us.
Andrew, jack of all trades
Morning light
Give this guy a camera and there’s no telling what will happen! (He did not fall in, thank goodness!)
I played my mandolin, and we sang gospel songs beside the river. Around noon, we meandered down TN-30 to our next campsite at Thunder Creek.
David, the man who ran the campsite, sold us some firewood and recommended Rhododendron Trail.
Rhododendron Trail
The 1.5 mile trail was shaded and mostly flat the whole way.
The Ocoee River along Rhododendron Trail
So many buckeyes!
yellow buckeye (Aesculus flava)
The river was quiet and still—nothing at all like the raging whitewater torrent I had imagined!
We turned around at the Olympic Bridge over the Ocoee.
Olympic Bridge near Ocoee Whitewater Center
Asters and goldenrods were everywhere, their colors complimenting each other like perfect fifths.
New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
I drew the asters that night for my drawing of the day. Have to keep that 100-day streak going! 😅
My drawing of the day
David, the campsite owner, told us that we could swim in the blue hole. The water was gorgeous, so of course I got in! Andrew was a bit more hesitant, but eventually he came around.
Swimming in a blue hole
The Andrew man
We were soaking wet and completely exhilarated after the swim, but the warm autumn air dried our sloshy clothes in no time—as did the fire.
Andrew building a fire
The wood was so wet that it wouldn’t start, but our kind neighbors donated some of their firewood to our cause. Soon it was blazing, and we had a feast of sweet potatoes, dried mango, and boiled eggs that evening.
After dinner, we hiked along the Benton MacKaye Trail, a less-traveled alternative to the southern section of the Appalachian Trail. It is named after Benton MacKaye, the creator of the AT. It was a bit colder that night, so we slept in one tent and gazed up at the stars as we fell asleep. What a weekend!
