Established in 1920, the Cherokee Forest covers more than 650,000 acres along the eastern border of Tennessee, and it offers endless opportunities for nature watching and other types of outdoor recreation. Its rivers boast some of the best whitewater rafting in the entire Southeast, and there are more than 600 miles of hiking trails to choose from, including the popular Margarette Falls Trail and a section of the Appalachian Trail. If you prefer biking over hiking, you can also spend some time at the Chilhowee Recreation Area, which is full of single-track mountain bike trails.

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