BLK147 · East Tennessee
Explore the Blue Ridge Mountains
Adventure starts just beyond the trees. We're in Turtletown, Tennessee — on a private mountain property within the Cherokee National Forest proclamation boundary. The mountains, forest, and outdoor adventures are quite literally all around us.
The Outdoors
Adventure at Every Turn
Hiking the Cherokee National Forest
With over 300,000 acres of protected wilderness on your doorstep, the southern section of the Cherokee National Forest offers trails for every ability — from gentle creek-side walks to strenuous ridge climbs with sweeping views of the Appalachians.
Explore trails →
Fly Fishing the Mountain Streams
The cold, clear streams and rivers around Turtletown are some of the finest trout water in the Southeast. Wade into the Toccoa, Tellico, or Hiwassee and cast for wild rainbow and brown trout in scenery that makes the fishing almost secondary.
Fishing info →Rivers, Lakes & Whitewater
Get Wet. Get Wild. Or Just Float.
Water is a big part of life around here. Whether you want to hang on for dear life through Class IV rapids or spend the afternoon floating and watching the scenery drift by, you have plenty of choices.
Ocoee River
Class III–IV whitewater — the Southeast's premier rafting river
Toccoa River
Tubing, kayaking, paddling and fishing at a much slower pace
Tellico River
Beautiful mountain scenery, trout fishing, tubing and whitewater
Campbell Cove Lake
Boating, fishing, kayaking and paddleboarding — electric motors only
Hiwassee River
Trout fishing, tubing, whitewater rafting and scenic stretches
Mountain streams & creeks
Perfect for fishing, exploring and cooling off on a warm day
Our Two Favorite River Outfitters
We're especially fortunate to have two excellent river outfitters nearby. Both are great choices — but they offer a little different experience. Both have chosen to feature BLK147 on their websites.
Ocoee Whitewater · Toccoa River Tubing & Paddling
Rolling Thunder River Company
Rolling Thunder is the one to look at if you want options. They've been guiding river adventures for more than 40 years and offer trips on both the Ocoee and Toccoa Rivers. But Rolling Thunder also offers tubing and paddling on the Toccoa River, where the pace is much slower and you have time to actually relax and enjoy the scenery. That's what makes them especially nice for a longer stay at BLK147: Ocoee one day. Toccoa the next. Same mountains. Completely different river experiences. Rolling Thunder has been guiding river adventures for more than 40 years and has chosen to feature BLK147 on their website as a place for their guests to stay.
Explore Rolling Thunder River Company →Ocoee River Whitewater
Ocoee Adventure Center
Ocoee Adventure Center is the one to look at if the Ocoee itself is your main event. They specialize in guided Ocoee rafting, offering both Middle Ocoee and Full Ocoee trips. What makes Ocoee Adventure Center stand out is their focus on actually playing on the river—surfing waves, working through the rapids and making the most of the river itself rather than simply getting from one end to the other. If you're coming to the mountains specifically because you want to raft the Ocoee, they're a great place to start. And they have also chosen to feature BLK147 on their website for guests planning an Ocoee adventure.
Explore Ocoee Adventure Center →Note: Both outfitters offer kayak rentals.
Hiking, Waterfalls & Forest
Boots On. Phone Away. Let's Go.
You don’t have to go far from BLK147 to get properly into the mountains. The Cherokee National Forest is your playground — forest trails, rushing creeks, mountain ridges and waterfalls waiting to be explored. Some adventures are planned. Others happen because you saw a road, trail or creek and thought, “I wonder where that goes?”
Local Favorite
Turtletown Creek Falls
One of our local favorites. The trail follows Turtletown Creek through the forest to two waterfalls, with plenty of mountain scenery along the way. It's not a quick stroll to a waterfall from the parking lot—this is a real hike, and that's part of the fun.
Note: the drive to the trailhead is quite the adventure — stay left. Wear good shoes. Expect uneven ground. Don’t be surprised if you come back a little muddy. You’ll have earned it.
Mountain bikes and gravel bikes have plenty of room to roam around here, too. Or trade the bike for hiking boots and see where the trail takes you. And then there are the Forest Service roads — turn onto one, see where it goes. Maybe you’ll find a view. Maybe a creek. Maybe absolutely nothing. That’s kind of the point. There are plenty of places around here where the best plan is no plan at all.
Turtletown Creek Falls
A real hike to two waterfalls — earn the mud
Mountain biking & gravel riding
Miles of trails and Forest Service roads to roam
Cherohala Skyway
High ridges, sweeping views — don't rush it
Forest Service roads
Turn onto one. See where it goes.
Performance driving & Motorcycle touring
Mountain roads built for sports cars and bikes
Overland & 4x4
Enduro, dual-sport, Jeep — miles of off-road choices
Scenic train rides
Blue Ridge Railway & Tennessee Valley Railroad
Turtle Races
Fridays at 6pm — Thirsty Turtle Beer Garden
Mountain Roads & Scenic Drives
Take the Long Way
Around here, getting there can be half the fun. The mountain roads around Turtletown are a favorite for sports cars, motorcycles, and anyone who just enjoys a good drive. The Cherohala Skyway starts in nearby Tellico Plains and climbs through the mountains, winding along high ridges through the Cherokee National Forest. Don't rush it. Stop at the overlooks. See where the road takes you.
Cherohala Skyway
A National Scenic Byway running from Tellico Plains, TN to Robbinsville, NC — high ridges, sweeping views, and some of the best driving in the Southeast. Tellico Plains and the Skyway entrance are about 40 minutes from BLK147.
cherohala.com →Forest Service Roads
Miles of unpaved Forest Service roads for enduro and dual-sport motorcycles, Jeeps, 4x4s, and overland vehicles. Turn onto one. See where it goes. The Cherokee National Forest is right outside the gate.
fs.usda.gov/cherokee →Scenic Motorcycle Routes
East Tennessee is a bucket-list destination for motorcycle touring. Twisty mountain roads, long ridge runs, and very little traffic. BLK147 is a natural base camp for a multi-day riding trip.
motorcycleroads.com →Like Curves? How About Gravel?
The Cherokee National Forest has miles of unpaved Forest Service roads perfect for gravel cycling, adventure motorcycles, and overland vehicles. Gravelmap is a great place to start planning your route.
gravelmap.com/turtletown →Day Trips & Getaways
Go See What's Down the Road
SLOW DOWN. LOOK AROUND. Not every adventure needs a trail map. After a day of rafting, riding or hiking, sometimes it's nice to let someone else do the work. Take a scenic train through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Spend the day wandering through a mountain town. Take a drive with no particular destination. Or just roll the windows down, turn off the GPS and see where you end up. You're in the mountains. You don't really need an itinerary.
Scenic Train Rides
Blue Ridge Scenic Railway
A classic excursion train running along the Toccoa River out of Blue Ridge, GA — about 30 minutes from BLK147. Seasonal rides, fall foliage trips, and special event trains through some of the most scenic mountain country in the South.
brscenic.com →Tennessee Valley Railroad
Historic steam and diesel excursions departing from Chattanooga. Ride through the East Tennessee countryside on vintage equipment — a great half-day trip about 45 minutes from the property.
tvrail.com →Tellico Plains, TN
~40 minOur favorite mountain town and the gateway to the Tennessee end of the Cherohala Skyway. An easy place to start a mountain adventure — or just stop for a bite and wander around.
Visit Tellico Plains →Copperhill & McCaysville
~25 minTwo little towns connected by the river and the Tennessee–Georgia line. Stand in two states, walk along the river, browse the shops, grab something to eat and watch the trains come through.
Visit Copperhill →Blue Ridge, Georgia
~35 minA little more bustling, with restaurants, shops, galleries, breweries and the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. Worth a day if you want to explore beyond the immediate area.
Visit Blue Ridge →Murphy, North Carolina
~45 minHistoric downtown, restaurants, shops and plenty of mountain character. Another easy day trip when you're ready to see where the road goes.
Visit Murphy →Food, Wine & Culture
Eat, Drink & Discover
Dining & Drinks
- Local diners and mountain cafés in Tellico Plains
- Breweries and taprooms in Blue Ridge, GA
- Riverside restaurants in Copperhill & McCaysville
- Farm-to-table spots throughout the region
Arts & Culture
- Galleries and shops in Blue Ridge, GA
- Historic downtown Murphy, NC
- Tennessee Valley Railroad scenic excursions
- Blue Ridge Scenic Railway day trips
Something a Little Different
Turtle Races
Yes. They're really racing turtles. Well — plastic bathtub turtles. If you're here on a Friday night, head over to the Thirsty Turtle Beer Garden at 6 pm and pick your champion. It's quirky. It's local. And it's exactly the kind of thing you probably didn't expect to find in the mountains. We're not promising your turtle will win. But we are promising you'll have a story to tell.
Fridays at 6 pm · Thirsty Turtle Beer Garden
Thirsty Turtle on FacebookStay In
Or Don't Go Anywhere
You don't have to fill every day. A lot of our guests never leave the property. They sleep late. Eat a wonderful breakfast. Read. Sit around the fire. Watch the forest. Listen to the rain. Cook something at the field kitchen. Watch the stars come out. Sometimes they came here looking for an adventure and discover that what they really needed was a couple of days with nowhere to be.
Explore all day. Do absolutely nothing. Or somewhere in between. It's your time in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Spend it however you want.
Ready to Explore?
BLK147 is your base camp for all of it — 147 Blalock Dr, Turtletown, Tennessee.