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North Fork Citico Creek Trail
(Backpacking campsite)
Trail # 98 in the Tellico Ranger District
Take 11-64 towards Cleveland
Route 40 towards Ocoee
Route 411 towards Etowah
Right on Route 310 (also known as Mecca Pike) in Etowah to Tellico Plains (17
miles)
(310 will intersect with route 39 -- stay on 39 to Tellico Plains) to stop
sign.
Turn right on Route 68.
Turn left (just past Hardees) on Cherohala Skyway (East 165)
Take 1st fork to right (Tellico River Road) till it forks again; take the
left fork away from the river (towards Robbinsville/Indian Boundary)
At the top of the mountain, take the 1st fork towards Indian Boundary (Nat'l
Forest Road 345)
At the next fork take a right -- Nat'l Forest Route 35 -- down the backside
of the
mountain towards Citico Creek.
Almost at the bottom, (before the sharp left), take a right over a concrete
bridge.
There will be a camping area on both sides of the road. Park just
past the camping areas.
Hiking
Follow the road past the
camping area (curving to the left) until it dead ends into the creek. (This
section of the creek is wide and doesn't have a lot of rocks for crossing on.
It's best to plan to take your boots off and wade across.)
The trail begins across the creek to the left.
~ 200 yds. down the trail there is a sign and a wooden foot bridge. This is
the trail head.
The trail will cross the creek an additional 6 times before reaching the
campsite.
(Note the last two crossings are almost two at the same time, they
immediately follow each other)
At 2.9 miles there is a camping spot to the right (it has a fairly large
fire pit). Beyond that, a little
creek comes
in (Indian Valley Branch). If you go that far, you've gone too far! Beyond
that,
the trail changes from easy/moderate to strenuous.
Make sure to check the hunting season schedule.
