2023 Benton MacKaye Trail Association Annual Meeting & Hike Fest

Welcome to Tellico Plains!

Welcome to the charming town of Tellico Plains, Tennessee – a place where the warmth of community meets the majesty of nature; a quaint haven known for its vast natural wonders and a warm-hearted community that feels like family. It’s with immense joy and anticipation that we extend a heartfelt welcome to the esteemed members of the Benton MacKaye Trail Association for your 2023 Annual Meeting. Hosting this gathering is not just an honor but a testament to the cherished partnership we hold dear as a trail town. With its welcoming spirit and captivating surroundings, Tellico Plains warmly opens its arms to hikers, adventurers, and nature enthusiasts alike, offering a perfect gateway to the great outdoors.

As you explore our trails, each step tells a story, revealing the harmonious relationship we’ve cultivated with nature over the years. But our invitation doesn’t stop at the trailheads; it extends to the heart of our town. Wander through our charming streets, where local shops echo with the laughter of artisans and where the aroma of delectable treats beckons you to explore further. Discover our history as you visit the Charles Hall Museum, where tales of the past come alive, or simply find a peaceful spot by the Tellico River to reflect upon the beauty that surrounds us. May your time here be filled with discovery, camaraderie, and the kind of joy that only nature and community can provide.

Tellico Plains, with its small-town allure and expansive backyard of lush forests and rolling hills, is ready to showcase its hospitality and the deep connection it shares with the trail. Let us extend a heartfelt welcome to the Benton MacKaye Trail Association, as we come together to celebrate our shared love for the outdoors and create cherished memories against the backdrop of our breathtaking home. With open arms and hearts, we welcome you to Tellico Plains, Tennessee, a place where the trail is not just a path, but a connection that binds us all.

We cannot wait to have you all in Tellico Plains!

Thank You,

Blaina Tallent Best
Monroe County Tourism Director

Annual Meeting Tentative Schedule

Tellico Plains, TN
November 2-5, 2023
Please arrive early for all hikes. The times announced are the times hikers will depart from the location into vehicles.
Hikes begin at the Cherohala Skyway Visitors Center parking lot unless otherwise noted.

Thursday – November 2, 2023

Thursday Hike Fest – Get your name tag and the official schedule.
6:00 PM – Please consider joining us for dinner at Iron Works Grille,1641 Cherohala Skyway, Tellico Plains (reservations not required).

Friday – November 3, 2023

Friday Hike Fest – Hike Sign-Ups were taken online at bmta.org.
5:00 – 6:00 PM – BMTA Board Meeting – Alumni Center, Tellico Plains High School, 9180 TN-Highway 68
6:20 PM – Complimentary Build Your Own Taco/Nachos Bar Dinner at the Tellico Plains High School Alumni Center, 9180 TN-Highway 68.

(Note: No alcohol allowed at the Alumni Center)

Welcome by Mayor Marilyn Parker and Monroe County Director of Tourism, Blaina Best
Friday Night Social Follows – Tellico River Retreat Cabin, 173 Rafter Road

BMTA Store Open, Raffle Tickets for sale, Snacks, BYOB

Saturday – November 4, 2023

Saturday Hike Fest – Sign-ups were taken online at bmta.org
9:00 AM – All hikes begin from the Cherohala Skyway Visitors Center Parking Lot.
Bring snacks/lunch with you. Arrive early. Wear your name tag.

Note – Three Bald Hike revised – start time now is 9:00 AM.

9:00 AM – Fly Fishing Class begins from Cherohala Skyway Visitors Center.

5:00 PM – Annual Meeting – All members please sign in! Alumni Center, Tellico Plains High School, 9180 TN-Highway 68
6:20 PM – Awards Banquet

Note: No alcohol allowed at the Alumni Center

7:30 PM – Introduction of Featured Speaker by Rick Harris – Pam Hall Mathews “The Living History of Tellico Plains . . . Untold Stories”

Presentations:

Trail Worker of the Year and Volunteer of the Year

8:00 PM – Festivities move to the Tellico River Retreat Cabin, 173 Rafter Road.

BMT Store Open, Raffle Tickets for Sale, Snacks, BYOB

Maintainer Awards, 100-Hour Club Awards
Raffle Winners Announced

Sunday Hike Fest – November 6, 2022

Note: Conasauga Falls Hike recently added to Sunday schedule

Hope to see you next year at the BMTA Annual Meeting and Hike Fest at
Unicoi State Park near Helen, Georgia!

To minimize parking limited parking issues for events at the Retreat Cabin on Friday and Saturday,
sharing rides to the Alumni Center & returning to the Retreat Cabin is appreciated.

Guests Are Welcome to Attend the festivities!

Accommodations Available in Tellico Plains, TN

November 2-5, 2023

Mountain View Cabins

Tellico Plains, TN

Make Your Reservations Now!

The Retreat Cabin

This truly unique cabin has custom-made chandeliers and furniture. It features a game room on the lower floor, wrap-around decks on main and lower levels, and a huge common room with lots of sofas. With three floors, there’s plenty of open space — you won’t feel crowded at all. Plus, there’s plenty of parking!

For the guests’ breakfast, lunch and snacks, there are three double refrigerators in the community kitchen. Each room has a private bathroom and TV. *3-Nite Stay Required!

SOLD OUT!

Queen $144 per night (includes taxes)

King $170 per night (includes taxes) 0 King Rooms available

To reserve a room, contact Clare Sullivan annualmeeting@bmta.org to confirm what is available. Once Clare verifies the room of your choice room is available, the room will be held for two weeks pending receipt of your check. Mail check to:

Lydia Burns
Benton MacKaye Trail Association
PO Box 6
Cherry Log, GA 30522

Other Cabin Rentals Available

Mountain View Cabin Rentals — To view these cabins, go to tellicologcabins.com. To reserve a room, call (423) 519-2000. Some of these cabins/rooms are within easy walking distance of the Retreat Cabin!

Lodge at Tellico Plains — To view these rooms, visit lodgeattellico.com/. They offer a 10% discount for those who pay with credit card (guests pay the credit card fee) and a 15% discount for those who pay with cash. Hikers will like the “Grab and Go Breakfast”. To reserve a room, book online (use code BMTA) or call (423) 253-2506. Be sure to mention BMTA!

Farmhouse Inn B & B — Three rooms available. The Inn offers a $15/a night discount for staying multiple nights. Enjoy a hot breakfast served earlier than usual 8:30 AM so hikers can be ready to hike by 9:00 AM. Rooms are $150. Visit tellicofarmhouseinn.com/ to view the Inn. To reserve a room, call (423) 253-3123. Be sure to mention BMTA!

Camping

Mecca Camp Resort — View website at meccacampresort.com. Call (423) 253-3513 to reserve a site.

Top of the World RV — View website topoftheworld.com, email topofworldrv@gmail.com, or call (423) 519-2967

Additional Camping

There are lots of campsites along the Tellico River Road, Citico Creek Road, and Bald River Road. Most are free and the ones with bathrooms are maybe $10 a night / $5 with a senior pass. In November, most would be empty. See map for the ones with bathrooms along *Tellico River Road. It’s unknown when they are going to close River Road at Bald River Falls. If closed for bridge replacement, Indian Boundary or any of the numerous campsites along Citico Creek and Doublecamp Creek roads would be an alternative.

The best bet is the overflow campground at Indian Boundary — cheap, with water, pit toilets and access to the shower houses in the main campground if it is still open that weekend. Go to recreation.gov to learn when the main campground will close in November (probably the Monday after our meeting). The overflow is open-year-round and there are probably 20 sites in it. These are not on recreation.gov since they are first come, first served. The campsites without bathrooms are not shown on the maps, but there must be 15 along Citico Creek Road and 8 or so along Doublecamp Creek Road.

*Due to recent flooding, sections of Tellico River Road were closed. Check with the Tennessee DOT for status updates.

Hike Fest Hikes

All hikes and non-hiking day trips will start from behind the Cherohala Skyway
Visitor Center in Tellico Plains at 225 Cherohala Skyway, unless otherwise noted.

Coker Creek Falls
Short 1-mile hike
The falls are more of a series of cascades than a single waterfall, each of the cascades drops 20-30 feet over ledges.

Falls Branch Falls
2.6 miles round-trip
This hike to a 90′ waterfall off the Cherohala Skyway involves going down/up a 500’ steep trail to the base of the falls.

Hiwassee River along the John Muir Trail
About 4 miles
This segment of the BMT and John Muir Trail is the prettiest along the banks of the Hiwassee River — a rather large mountain river coming out of NC on its journey to the Tennessee River.

Lost Creek on the BMT
5 miles along a beautiful tumbling creek in a rocky ravine.

Whigg Meadow from Mud Gap
3.2 miles round-trip
At 5000′ with expansive views in all directions, Whigg Meadow is a large, open bald near the state line between TN and NC.

Unicoi Turnpike/BMT Unicoi Gap to TN68
8-mile hike
This hike includes two major highlights: the Unicoi Turnpike and the old fire tower site on top of Buck Bald.

Bob Bald
7 miles round-trip
Bob Bald is one of the iconic Southern Appalachian balds, a mile-high in the sky with expansive views into NC and the Cherohala Skyway.

For complete details on the hikes go to Hike Fest.

NEW THIS YEAR

Please sign up for the hikes of your choice Today!

Use the button below to sign up.

Guests Are Welcome to Sign Up for the HIkes!

Awards Banquet

Buffet Menu

Buffet
Tomato Pie
Pecan, Apples, Feta Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Grilled Fish
Grilled Chicken
Roasted Potatoes
Dessert
Tennessee Cheesecake
Beverages
Coffee, Iced Tea (Sweet & Unsweet) or Soda

Casual Attire

You can pay online or pay by check. Checks should be made payable to the Benton MacKaye Trail Association and mailed to:

Benton MacKaye Trail Association
PO Box 6
Cherry Log, GA 30522

Deadline to RSVP for dinner is October 20, 2023!

*The Annual Meeting, Election of Officers, Dinner Banquet and Featured Speaker will be held at the Tellico Plains High School Alumni Center.

The festivities then will move to the Retreat Cabin for the Presentation of Awards and Raffle. Complimentary snacks will be available/BYOB.

*Alcohol is not allowed in the Tellico Plains High School Alumni Center.

To minimize limited parking issues for Saturday’s events at the Retreat Cabin,
sharing rides to the Alumni Center & returning to the Retreat Cabin is appreciated.

Be sure to register for the Annual Meeting & Hike Fest. Go to Registration.

Dinner Reservations

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Featured Speaker - Pam Mathews

“The Living History of Tellico Plains … Untold Stories”

Tellico Plains history and heritage will come alive as Pam shares fond memories of stories handed down from her father, Charles Hall, from the time Gr Telliquo, Telliquo River and Telliquo mountains appeared on the Cherokee Country 17 map with details of the Cherokee Forced Removal in 1838. This 20-minute presentation will wet your appetite for who were the first white settlers in the mountains and what names did they leave behind? Where was the pioneer town of Tellico Plains located? How did a small town’s Wagon Train lead to a “Highway to the Sky”? Why was the first Bald River Falls bridge built in 1912? Will the new bridge being built over Bald River Falls be the third or fourth bridge? Historical pictures and maps will be included in the presentation.

Annual Meeting Raffle

All proceeds go to

BMTA’s Land Acquisition Fund

Tickets: $10 each / 3 for $25 / 7 for $50 / 16 for $100
Tickets available at the meeting!

Ninety-five per cent of the Benton MacKaye is on either Forest Service or National Park Service property. BMTA needs to move as quickly as possible to secure permanent routes that eliminate the remaining 15 miles or so of road walk and “non-permanent” trail that crosses private land.

BMTA is getting prepared — the Board has established a Land Acquisition Fund. But we need your help to fund these endeavors. Tax deductible donations can be made online. Or mail a check with that notation in the memo field to BMTA, PO Box 6, Cherry Log, GA 30522.

A way for you to help — and have some fun at the same time — come to BMTA’s Annual Meeting and Hike Fest November 2-5 at the Retreat Cabin in Tellico Plains, TN, and purchase some raffle tickets. We have some great raffle items — including several two-nite stays at Fontana Village, Unicoi, Charit Creet, Unicoi Lodge, gift certificate for the Historic Tapoco Lodge, one-nite stay at the Len Foote Hike Inn, a beautiful BMTA Quilt by Lydia and more — all proceeds go to BMTA’s Land Acquisition Fund!

Raffle items will be on display at the Retreat Cabin during the Friday Nite Social Hour at the cabin as well a before the Awards presentation on Saturday evening.

Thank You to All Who Have Donated Items for the Annual Meeting Raffle!

Backroads Less Traveled Maps

Map of the Benton MacKaye Trail and Map of South East Tennessee

Bead by Bead Adventures

Charit Creek Lodge

2 Nite Stay

Fireside Outpost

Fontana Village

2-Nite Stay

Len Foote Hike Inn

1-Nite Stay

Honey Springs Farm

BMTA T-Shirt Quilt by Lydia

Historic Tapoco Lodge

Gift Certificate Towards Lodging and/or Dining

Starr Mountain Outfitters

Tellico Goods & Gear

Toccoa River Outfitters

2-Nite Stay

Toccoa Riverside Restaurant

Gift Certificate

Unicoi Lodge

2-Nite Stay

The Waterfront Bar

Non Hiking Activities

Benton’s Smoky Mountain Country Hams

2603 Hwy 411
Madisonville, TN 37354
(423) 442-5003

Featured on menus in the finest restaurants in the nation, Benton’s relies on the age-old principles of brown sugar, salt and plenty of time to cure their hams. Enjoy the aroma of hickory smoke while selecting ham, bacon, or sausage.

Black Bear Trading Post

1142 Highway 411
Vonore, TN 378850
(423) 519-5285

The Black Bear Trading Post is a unique chainsaw carving business featuring local art. offering hand turned pens, pottery and custom wood signs. Lots of unique items.

Charles Hall Museum, Tellico Plains, TN

Born in Tellico Plains in 1924, since boyhood, Charles was a local historian. Among the first white settlers in the area, his mother’s family settled in Tellico Plains by 1830. His father’s family settled in the area by 1908 and moved within the city limits in 1929. Charles served Tellico Plains as mayor for 31 years, as alderman-recorder for two years, as Justice of the Peace for six years, and as a county commissioner for six years. Showcased in two Museum buildings are his magnificent collections of historical memorabilia, artifacts, equipment, guns, antique telephones, coins and currency, photos, and so much more. There currently are over 10,000 artifacts and thousands of historical pictures and documents either displayed or archived for future reference. Tellico Plains is a special place with a rich heritage and limitless possibilities.

Fly-Fishing Class with Trout Unlimited

Learn about the proper gear for fly-fishing — fly rod, line, waders, vest, net, glasses, etc. Identify trout bugs — look at comparable flies as well as “reading” water and safety guidelines.

Additional instruction includes: how to cast a fly rod, set a hook and handle your trout.

Fort Loudoun State Historic Area

338 Fort Loudoun Road
Vonore, TN 37885
(423) 884-6217
Hours: Daily, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

This reconstructed fort, located on the banks of Tellico Lake, was originally built by the British in 1756, when this area was known as the Overhill – a designation given to Cherokee communities that rested on the western slopes of the Appalachian Mountains. Explore the barracks, shops and other structures. Step inside the Visitor Center to see artifacts that were recovered from the original fort. A short film details the turbulent history that unfolded in and around the fort in the mid-1700’s. Combining history and nature, much of the park’s 1, 200 acres lie on an island on Tellico Lake.

The Lost Sea Adventure in Sweetwater, TN

Deep inside a mountain is a remarkable body of water known as The Lost Sea. Listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as America’s largest underground lake, the Lost Sea is part of an extensive and historic cave system called Craighead Caverns.

The caverns have been known and used since the days of the Cherokee Indians. From the tiny natural opening on the side of the mountain, the cave expands into a series of huge rooms. Nearly a mile from the entrance, in a room now known as “The Council Room,” a wide range of Indian artifacts including pottery, arrowheads, weapons, and jewelry have been found, testifying to the use of the cave by the Cherokees.

Your Lost Sea adventure begins with a guided tour of the caverns. This involves a ¾ mile round-trip walk on wide, sloping pathways. Learn about the cavern’s colorful history as well as the fascinating geological development of the immense cavern rooms and rare formations. At the bottom of the cave, you will take a boat ride on The Lost Sea, America’s Largest Underground Lake.

The 1/3-mile Lost Sea Nature Trail takes you through a cove-hardwood forest, typical of forest conditions of the Southern Appalachian Mountains around the turn of the century.

Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, Vonore, TN

A property of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, The Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, strives to promote the understanding and appreciation of the history of the Cherokee people. Located on the shores of beautiful Tellico Lake, the museum was built in 1986. It was renovated and a new exhibit installed in 2018.

Throughout much of the 18th century, the Overhill Towns of Tanasi and Chota were important Cherokee centers where Cherokees gathered for important councils and religious ceremonies. The State of Tennessee takes its name from Tanasi. After the waters of Tellico Lake covered the sites of Chota and Tanasi in 1979, memorials were placed at the edge of the lake near the site of each town.

Sweetwater Heritage Museum

Corner of North and High Streets
Sweetwater, TN 37874
(423) 337-6979
Hours: Saturday & Sunday, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Sweetwater began in 1858 when I.T. Lenoir deeded a tract of his farm for the location of a railroad depot as well as private lots. Located in the charming downtown, the museum provides visitors a glimpse into the cultural and transportation heritage of Sweetwater.

Vonor Heritage Museum

619 Church Street,
Vonore, TN 37885
(423) 884-2989
Fri. 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Saturday 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Artifacts used by the people of Vonore from the late 1800’s through the 1950’s are on display here. The museum is filled with local memorabilia from the Civil War, WWi, WW2, farms, schools, and more that defines what life in the town of Vonore was like way back when.

Non Hiking Activity List