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The Tellico Plains / Ocoee Loop
East Tennessee

Take SR 68 south out of Tellico Plains. This route is best described as "East Tennessee country" with a few good twisties here and there. Take a short detour on SR 294 East if you are not in a hurry. You'll cross into North Carolina, pass through Liberty, and come to Field of the Woods after a little more than 4 miles. We cruised by this place and then had to make a U-turn to get a better look. Here are the Ten Commandments written on the side of a rather steep hillside with steps leading all the way to the top. Nancy thought the pool there was for swimming, but we learned it's for baptisms. We are not particularly religious, but recommend this as an interesting place to stretch your legs, see something unusual, and it's free. Don't jump in the pool.

Continue east on 294 another mile and a half and take a left on SR1314 which leads to Hiawassee Dam about 5 miles distant. There are some good places to picnic and get a nap under a tree.

Backtracking on 1314 and 294 you'll take a left on 68 to continue on the loop. Once again you'll encounter some twisties. You'll pass through Turtletown, Harbuck, Dogtown, and Ducktown before reaching US64. I recall traveling through here back in the 1960s and thinking that we were on the moon. A hundred years of metal mining had left the orange, clay hillsides barren of trees and bushes. Rain run-off had scarred the hills and then dried creating giant cracks and craters. It was eerie. Today much of the damage appears to have been cleaned-up. Visit the Ducktown Basin Museum if you are interested in mining history (open year round, admission $3.00)

Take a right and head west on US 64, also known as the Ocoee Scenic Byway. You might want to grab a meal here at Ducktown. It's 20 miles to the next place to eat and there is a lot to see before you get there. US 64 takes you along the Ocoee River where the 1996 Olympic white water competition was held. The National Forest Service Ocoee Whitewater Center is a great place to get a look at this adventurous sport close-up. There are also short and long hiking trails, great picnic areas, and plenty of parking.

Heading west on US64 you'll hit some great curves, but the traffic can be thick here in the summer months. The wood viaduct that you see high above the river carries water to the next dam to produce electricity. Stop and rest at some of the great beaches. After the dam the water opens up into a wider lake with pull-offs to stop at.

If you are hungry at this point you'll need to continue west on US64 a few miles to feast at the Wildwater Deli and Steakhouse or continue into Ocoee a few miles farther. You will then backtract on US64 East to catch SR30 North to Reliance. This is a great road of twisties with no traffic. After nines miles you'll arrive at Reliance. Take a right here and take 315 North which is not as twistie, but has some great scenery. After about 15 miles take a right on SR39 and then a right on SR68 to return to Tellico Plains.

This 75-mile loop (not counting detours) is an all-day trip if you stop to see the sights and encounter average traffic.