In late 1838, more than 10,000 Cherokees spent their last night in Tennessee at Port Royal, on the Red River near Adams. Today the site is a small state historic park where you can walk a preserved piece of the old road and join a free ranger tour on weekends. This guide covers the history, the walk and what to check before you drive out.
This is an independent guide. It is not published by Tennessee State Parks, the National Park Service, or any Cherokee tribal nation (the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Cherokee Nation, or the United Keetoowah Band). Facts below were checked on the official pages listed under Sources on October 19, 2026.
Port Royal State Historic Park at a glance
Short version: a 30-acre, day-use park built around a vanished river town and a surviving stretch of the Trail of Tears.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 3300 Old Clarksville Hwy, Adams, TN 37010 |
| GPS | 36.5539, -87.1423 |
| Managed by | Tennessee State Parks |
| Park office | 8:00 AM–4:00 PM; 931-645-0622 |
| Trail of Tears tour | Free, ranger-led, about 1 hour, Saturdays and Sundays at 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM |
| NPS status | Certified site, Trail of Tears National Historic Trail |
The address, size, office hours and phone come from the Tennessee State Parks Port Royal page. Tour details come from the park’s tours page, and the certification from the NPS place page.
Why Port Royal matters on the Trail of Tears
Port Royal was the last Tennessee stop for the Cherokee detachments on the Northern Route. The town was already old by then.
A river town on the Great Western Road
Tennessee State Parks describes the park as centered on the site of the former town of Port Royal.
According to the NPS, the Great Western Road ran west from Nashville and straight through Port Royal. That road became part of the Northern Removal Route.
1837: a voluntary removal party on the Red River
A year before the forced removal, B.B. Cannon led a voluntary removal party of about 300 Cherokee. NPS says they camped near Port Royal on the Red River.
The party bought 131 pounds of flour and 11 bushels of corn meal from the Port Royal Mills. Small details like that make the record feel close.
1838: the last night in Tennessee
In the fall and winter of 1838, more than 10,000 Cherokees passed through Port Royal on the northern route, according to Tennessee State Parks. NPS describes it as the last place they slept in Tennessee before crossing into Kentucky.
NPS adds that the detachments arrived in late October and were less than halfway to Indian Territory. Leaders had expected to arrive by December, but cold and illness stretched the journey by a month.
Elijah Hicks’s letter to John Ross
Detachment leader Elijah Hicks wrote to Chief John Ross from Port Royal. The NPS quotes him: “the people are very loathe to go on and unusually slow in preparing for starting each morning…”
He gave the reason plainly: “they are moving not from choice to an unknown region not desired by them.” Hicks also noted that Chief White Path was in poor health. NPS says White Path died days later in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
Walking the preserved Trail of Tears roadbed
The roadbed is the reason most people come. It’s short, but it’s the actual road.
Where it is
NPS says a section of the road is preserved across the river from the townsite. Tennessee State Parks describes it as a preserved section of the Trail of Tears that visitors can walk.
How long it is
The two NPS pages give different lengths. The NPS place page says you can walk 0.18 of a mile of historic roadbed, while the NPS Hike on the Trail of Tears list puts it at about 0.1 mile.
Either way, it’s a brief walk. The hiking list notes “large swales,” which are the shallow, worn-down troughs left by heavy traffic, and says the route is marked with National Historic Trail signs.
Flood closures
Because the park sits on the Red River, the townsite and the roadbed may close during flood events. Tennessee State Parks also says swimming in the river is not permitted.
After heavy rain, check the park page or call the office before you go.
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The ranger tour keeps you outside for a while, so an insulated stainless steel water bottle is worth packing.
The free ranger tour: “Follow Their Footsteps”
The full name is “Follow Their Footsteps: The Trail of Tears at Port Royal.” It’s the best way to understand what you’re looking at.
Days, times and group size
According to the tours page, it’s ranger-led, lasts about an hour and is free. It runs Saturdays and Sundays at 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM, with room for 20 guests.
The tours page shows the morning time with a typo, while the main park page lists 9:00 AM. Confirm the time when you reserve.
What to expect physically
The tour crosses a gravel lot and a paved path, then about 500 yards of unpaved, flat ground. The park warns of one to two hours of exposure to the weather.
Accessibility features aren’t listed on the park page. If you have questions, the park asks you to call 931-645-0622.
Subject matter
The park says the tour includes discussion of human rights violations, such as genocide. That’s honest framing, and it helps parents decide how to prepare younger kids.
Reserving a spot
NPS says tour spots can be reserved on the Tennessee State Parks website. With only 20 places, reserving ahead is the safer plan.
Rain doesn’t always cancel outdoor programs, so a packable reusable rain poncho earns its spot in the car.
Other things to see at Port Royal
The park also preserves pieces of the town itself. Tennessee State Parks lists the restored 1859 General Store and a Masonic Lodge on site.
A separate townsite tour, “From Commerce to Collapse,” covers the town’s story. The tours page lists it at about an hour, Fridays through Sundays at 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM, $10 for ages 13 and up and free for 12 and under. Its topics include the Black Patch Tobacco War.
Before you go
A quick checklist built from the official pages:
- It’s a day-use park, so follow posted closing times.
- The park office is open 8:00 AM–4:00 PM (931-645-0622). For reservations and general information, Tennessee State Parks lists 1-888-867-2757.
- Check for flood closures after heavy rain.
- Reserve the ranger tour ahead, and confirm the start time.
- Dress for one to two hours outside.
The NPS Tennessee page gives the same advice for every site on the trail: contact the site before you go for current closures, hours and fees. We haven’t listed an entrance fee because none was confirmed on the official pages.
Visiting respectfully
Port Royal is a removal campsite, not a scenic overlook. Thousands of families stopped here on a journey they did not choose.
Stay on the path, leave everything where you find it, and follow Leave No Trace habits. A quiet visit is the right one.
Follow the Northern Route: related stops
Port Royal sits in the middle of a long route. These stops help you follow it in order.
Blythe Ferry and the Cherokee Removal Memorial
NPS lists Blythe Ferry on the Northern Route. That’s where the detachments crossed the Tennessee River, and our Blythe Ferry visit guide covers the memorial.
Moccasin Bend, Chattanooga
NPS also lists Moccasin Bend, with its Brown’s Ferry crossing trail. See our Moccasin Bend guide.
Trail of Tears State Park, Missouri
Farther west, most detachments crossed the Mississippi at what is now Trail of Tears State Park in Jackson, Missouri.
For earlier context, our Red Clay State Historic Park guide and the full Cherokee Heritage Trails itinerary fill in the story.
If the Hicks letter leaves you wanting more, a well-reviewed history of Cherokee removal by an established historian or Cherokee author is a good next read.
Nearby towns
Adams, Clarksville and Springfield in Tennessee are the closest bases. Hopkinsville, Kentucky, named in the NPS account of White Path, lies to the northwest.
We haven’t listed drive times. Check a current map on the day.
FAQ
Is Port Royal State Park part of the Trail of Tears?
Yes. NPS lists it as a certified site on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, on the Northern Route.
How long is the Trail of Tears walk at Port Royal?
Short. The NPS place page says 0.18 of a mile, while the NPS hiking list says about 0.1 mile.
Is the ranger tour free?
Yes. Tennessee State Parks lists “Follow Their Footsteps” as free, about one hour, on Saturdays and Sundays.
Do I need a reservation?
Spots can be reserved on the Tennessee State Parks website, and the tour holds 20 guests, so booking ahead is wise.
Can I swim in the Red River there?
No. Tennessee State Parks says swimming in the river is not permitted.