Backbone Rock Recreation Area

Backbone Rock Recreation Area is located along Beaverdam Creek in northern Johnson County. Backbone Rock gets its name from a spur ridge on Holston Mountain that abrubtly ends at a bend in Beaverdam Creek.

A tunnel was drilled through the rock in 1901 to allow railroad access between Shady Valley and Damascus, VA. Motorists pass through what is known as "The Shortest Tunnel in the World" as they travel along TN 133. In the 1930s The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) developed the recreation area for day use, constructing two picnic shelters and hiking trails that incorporated native stonework. The campground was added in the 1960s and rehabilitated in the mid 1990s.

Bald Mountain

Most of the zone is remote backcountry, including Bald Mountain Ridge Scenic Area and Sampson Mountain Wilderness.  Roads are limited, but forty plus miles of trail access the forest.

The area is known for its diverse populations of wildflowers and a number of waterfalls, including 60-foot fan-shaped Margarette Falls and Sill Branch Falls.  Try fishing Nolichucky River, Horse Creek, Dry Creek and Clark Creek.  Horse Creek and Old Forge Recreation areas offer picnicking, water play and camping.

Watauga Lake

Water recreation is abundant in this zone that features Watauga Lake; the Doe, Elk and Watauga rivers;  several streams and seven waterfalls.

Highly developed recreation areas along Watauga Lake provide facilities for fishing, picnicking, swimming and boat launching. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail runs through the zone’s backcountry.  Camp on the lakeshore at Cardens Bluff or in the backcountry along Laurel Fork Creek at Dennis Cove.

Starr Mountain Zone

Starr Mountain is a popular area of the national forest for horse riding & camping with nearly 20 miles of trails and a number of roads available for riding.  Lost Corral Campground & Trailhead provides the easiest access to the area.

This zone also features Gee Creek Wilderness and the Gee Creek Trail #191 trail that only gets more challenging the further you hike.  Access is located off US Highway 411 near the Hiwassee River and state managed Gee Creek Campground.

Carmike Cinema

Have fun this weekend by catching a flick at the Carmike Cinema!

The Carmike Cinema, Bradley Sq. 12 features a dozen screens for first-run feature films. There are both regular screenings and 3-D shows for special major movies that are released in the format.

Located at

200 Paul Huff Pkwy Box 72 Cleveland, TN 37312

Outdoor Recreation

Cleveland is a short distance from the Ocoee River, home of the 1996 Olympic canoe and kayak events, with Class III and IV rapids. Those 12 and older can take a guided raft trip on weekends from April through October and weekdays from June through August. Blue Moon Cruises offers a more genteel trip aboard a naturalist-guided boat through the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge, where thousands of sandhill cranes winter from September through February. The 23-mile Hiwassee River is great for canoeing, fishing, hiking, skiing, boating, picnicking and nature photography. For marine wildlife fans, the Aquatic Wildlife Company’s 24,000-gallon mariculture facility is the only wildlife center of its kind in the South. And if speed’s your thing, the Cleveland Speedway’s dirt track has races from June through November.

Wineries and Farms

Cleveland is home to two wineries, the Ocoee Winery and the Morris Vineyard and Winery, both of which offer tours and a variety of fine wines for all tastes. The Apple Valley Orchard houses a farmers market and bakery with fresh apple goods and related merchandise. And just minutes north of Cleveland is Mayfield Dairy, the largest dairy in the Southeast. Take the factory tour and see how ice cream and milk are packaged, then visit the gift shop to taste some of the yummy treats.