Designated a Tennessee State Scenic River, the Hiwassee flows through the Cherokee National Forest and the pastoral community of Reliance. According to the legend, the name Hiwassee is taken from the Cherokee workd ayuwasi and means “savannah or place at the foot of the hills. Native people began clearing the Hiwassee River Valley for agriculture around 3,000 years ago. A major…
Cherokee National Forest is located in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of east Tennessee. The 600-acre forest is the largest tract of public land in Tennessee and is divided into northern and southern sections by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The southern portion of the Cherokee National Forest forms the heart of the Tennessee Overhill. This vast playground is known…
