Cherokee Trail of Tears Highlights

The memorial wall interpretive panels at Cherokee Trail of Tears State Park

Preserving the Landscape

The name “Cherokee Trail of Tears State Park” reflects the park’s direct connection to the forced removal of the Cherokee people from their ancestral homelands in the southeastern United States during the 1830s. While the event is often referred to historically as “removal,” many Cherokee people use the term “Trail of Tears” because it more accurately reflects the lived experience of the journey, marked by grief, suffering, and the loss of thousands of lives.

Discover Cherokee Trail of Tears State Park

Cherokee Trail of Tears State Park was established to preserve and interpret a landscape directly connected to the forced removal of the Cherokee people from their homelands in the southeastern United States during the 1830s. This removal, remembered as the Trail of Tears, resulted in immense hardship, loss, and displacement for Cherokee communities.

Located at Blythe Ferry, the park sits at one of the most significant crossing points along the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. The park was created to honor that history and to provide a place where visitors can learn about Cherokee removal, reflect on its lasting impact, and better understand the resilience of Cherokee people and culture.

By designating the site as a Tennessee State Park, the state builds on earlier efforts at Cherokee Removal Memorial Park and commits to long-term preservation, responsible interpretation, and sharing this history with future generations in a respectful and meaningful way.

The History of Blythe Ferry and the Trail of Tears

Long before the establishment of Cherokee Trail of Tears State Park, the land at Blythe Ferry was part of the traditional homelands of Indigenous peoples, including the Cherokee and Muscogee (Creek). Located near the confluence of the Tennessee and Hiwassee Rivers, this landscape supported travel, trade, and community life for generations. These waterways were not simply routes of movement, but part of living cultural landscapes with deep ancestral meaning. In 1809, Cherokee William Blythe established a ferry at this crossing. In 1819, Blythe renounced his affiliation with the Cherokee Nation so that he and his son could receive a 640-acre reservation that included the ferry and surrounding land. Because of its location, Blythe Ferry became one of the most important river crossings in the region.

During the forced removals of the 1830s, the site took on a different role. Following the passage of the Indian Removal Act in 1830, federal policy led to the displacement of multiple Indigenous nations from the southeastern United States. The Muscogee (Creek) people were removed earlier in the decade, and some were moved through this region and across the Tennessee River system. In 1838, thousands of Cherokee people were forced through this area as part of the removal remembered as the Trail of Tears. At Blythe Ferry, nine Cherokee detachments, totaling an estimated 9,000 to 10,000 people, crossed the Tennessee River. Many were held in nearby encampments before being forced across. For many individuals and families, this crossing marked the final departure from their homelands.

After the removal period, Blythe Ferry continued to serve as an active transportation route for the surrounding community. By the time the site was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, it was one of only five ferries still operating in Tennessee. The ferry remained in operation until 1994, when it was replaced by the Highway 60 bridge. In the late twentieth century, local community members began efforts to preserve the site’s historical significance. Friends of the Cherokee Memorial, Inc. formed in 1991 and worked with partners to establish a memorial at the site. Planning efforts began in 1993, followed by agreements in 1996 involving Meigs County, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. In 1998, TVA and Meigs County entered into a grant lease to develop the memorial park.

These efforts led to the creation of Cherokee Removal Memorial Park, which was formally dedicated in 2005 on a 29-acre site within the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge. The park was developed as a place of remembrance and education, with features including interpretive exhibits, a memorial wall, walking trails, and a visitor center that opened in 2009. Additional features, including the memorial wall, were dedicated in 2013. In 2021, a trail connection was completed linking the memorial park more directly to the historic ferry landing.

Establishing the Park

The site continues to serve as a place of cultural remembrance. Since 1984, the Remember the Removal Bike Ride, organized by the Cherokee Nation, has retraced the northern route of the Trail of Tears. Blythe Ferry is one of the key locations along this journey, where Cherokee youth and leaders return to honor their ancestors and engage this history. This continued use reflects that the site remains a living cultural landscape. Today, the redesignation of the site as Cherokee Trail of Tears State Park represents a continued commitment to preserving this landscape while expanding opportunities for education, reflection, and respectful interpretation. The park ensures that the history of forced removal, its human cost, its lasting impacts, and the resilience of Indigenous peoples is remembered and shared with future generations.

From the Rangers

The Perfect Day

Visitors can reflect and observe the park best by spending time in the memorial space, and walking the trails on both sides of the park to learn the history and view the historic Hiwassee Island
Along the way, visitors can see the historic ferry crossing area along the Tennessee River.
Visitors should stay on designated trails and respect historical, protected, or sensitive areas.
Insider Information

In addition to the historical interpretation, visitors can experience the park as part of the broader Hiwassee River landscape. Wildlife viewing, birding, and seasonal changes in the river corridor offer a different perspective on the site beyond its historical significance.
Visitors are encouraged to be respectful while exploring the park. Wildlife is present in the area, and visitors should remain aware of their surroundings.
Know Before You Go

Visitors should be prepared for outdoor conditions, including heat, uneven terrain, and limited shade in some areas.
Water access areas should be approached with caution, and visitors should not enter the river unless designated and safe to do so.
Some areas may have limited parking, especially during peak visitation or events.

Discover Cherokee Trail of Tears

Trails

There are two trails at Cherokee Trail of Tears State Park on either side of the park property. One trail follows the Trail of Tears, leading down to the river. The other leads up to the Hiwassee Overlook, where visitors can see the historic Hiwassee Island and the convergence of the Tennessee and Hiwassee Rivers.
Water Features

There is a boat ramp on the park in the Historic Blythe Ferry that allows for personal watercraft to enter the river. From the river, boaters and paddlers are able to access the Chickamauga Reservoir, but that area is not managed by Cherokee Trail of Tears State Park.
Along the shoreline and on the Hiwassee Side Inlet, visitors can fish with a TN fishing license.

Plants

The park is located within the Hiwassee River corridor and adjacent to the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge, which supports a wide range of native plant and wildlife species. While the park itself is not currently divided into designated habitat zones, the surrounding landscape functions as an important natural area for wildlife, particularly migratory birds and river-dependent species.

Animals

Visitors may encounter a variety of wildlife associated with river and forest ecosystems in southeastern Tennessee. Common species include white-tailed deer, wild turkey, raccoons, squirrels, and a wide range of bird species. The park is particularly known for birding opportunities due to its proximity to the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge.

Seasonally, the park becomes home to migratory birds, including waterfowl and Sandhill cranes.