Cherokee Trail of Tears State Park sits at Blythe Ferry in Meigs County, Tennessee, where the Hiwassee River meets the Tennessee River. Cherokee families crossed the river here in 1838 during the forced removal, and the park exists to remember them. This guide covers what you will find on site, current hours, how to get there, and how to pair the visit with nearby Cherokee history stops.
Disclosure: a few lodging links on this page go to Booking.com. If you book through them, this site may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
This page is an independent visitor guide. It is not published by Tennessee State Parks, the National Park Service, or any Cherokee tribal government.
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 6800 Blythe Ferry Lane, Birchwood, TN 37308 |
| Phone | 423-339-2769 |
| Managed by | Tennessee State Parks (listed by the NPS as a historic site on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail) |
| Former name | Cherokee Removal Memorial Park |
| Park type | Day-use park |
| Grounds hours | March–October 6 a.m.–8 p.m.; November–February 6 a.m.–5 p.m. |
| Visitor center and museum | Hours are posted on the official park page; they have changed during 2026, so check before you drive |
| Accessibility | Wheelchair-accessible museum and visitor center, paved trails, and an accessible ramp at the Hiwassee Overlook |
Sources: Tennessee State Parks and the National Park Service site listing.
Why Blythe Ferry matters
In 1838 the U.S. Army and state militias rounded up Cherokee people across Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Alabama and held them in camps before sending them west to Indian Territory, in present-day Oklahoma. Several detachments crossed the Tennessee River at Blythe Ferry. The National Park Service describes the ferry landing as the place where Cherokee citizens “took their last step off of their homelands.”
The removal was carried out under the 1835 Treaty of New Echota. A small group signed that treaty without the approval of the Cherokee National Council, and most Cherokee people, led by Principal Chief John Ross, protested it for years. If you want the background before you come, our guides to New Echota and Red Clay State Historic Park cover the capital and the council grounds where those debates took place.
The site has been a place of remembrance for years. Meigs County and several partners opened it as Cherokee Removal Memorial Park, and it is now part of the Tennessee State Parks system. It is also a stop on the annual Remember the Removal Bike Ride, in which Cherokee cyclists retrace the removal routes to honor their ancestors. If you arrive on a day when riders are present, give them space; it is their ceremony, not a photo opportunity.
What you will see
The memorial wall
The memorial wall lists heads of household from the 1835 census of the Cherokee Nation, often called the Henderson Roll, which was used to identify people for removal. Meigs County materials put the total at 2,535 heads of household, with the number of people in each household. Many visitors spend most of their time here, reading names. It is a memorial, so keep voices low and don’t climb on or lean against the wall.
The history wall
A second wall traces Cherokee history from early times through the development of a written language, a constitutional government, the pressure to give up land, the stockades, and the removal itself. Read it before the memorial wall if you are visiting with children; it gives the names context.
Museum and visitor center
The visitor center holds the museum exhibits and a gift shop. Staff can answer questions and point you to trails and the overlook. Group visits and school trips should call ahead at 423-339-2769 to arrange a guided program.
Hiwassee Overlook
The overlook looks out over Hiwassee Island and the confluence of the Hiwassee and Tennessee Rivers. Tennessee State Parks notes accessible parking and a ramp to the main viewing area. This river junction was a crossroads for Native people for centuries before removal, which is part of why the site feels the way it does.
Trails and water access
The park lists walking trails, a boat ramp, canoe access, fishing, and paddle rentals among its amenities. Check the park page for current rental availability and ranger programs; recent listings have included history hikes and nature walks.
Visiting respectfully
- Treat it as a memorial. This is closer to a cemetery than a park playground. Save picnics and loud recreation for the trails and water areas.
- Photograph with care. Photos of the landscape and signage are fine. Ask before photographing people, especially Cherokee visitors, riders, or anyone at the wall.
- Use accurate language. “Forced removal” is more accurate than “relocation” or “migration.” There are three federally recognized Cherokee tribes today: the Cherokee Nation, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians.
- Leave what you find. Artifacts and natural objects stay where they are.
- Buy from Native makers when you can. If you want a keepsake, look for work made and sold by Cherokee artists rather than generic “Indian-style” items.
Sandhill cranes: the winter visit
The park borders the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge, managed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). TWRA says the refuge has the largest winter flock of sandhill cranes in the southeastern U.S. outside Florida. Cranes are usually present from November through February, with peak numbers in January, and an occasional endangered whooping crane shows up.
Every January, TWRA and partners hold the Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival in Birchwood. The 35th festival took place January 17–18, 2026, with spotting scopes at the refuge and at the memorial overlook, Native American interpreters at the memorial, and free shuttles from designated parking lots. Dates for the next festival are announced on the TWRA page, so check there rather than assuming the same weekend.
One practical note: TWRA lists the refuge as closed to public entry from November 15 through the end of February, except for the wildlife viewing area, which stays open year-round. Stay on the viewing platform and marked areas during that window.
Getting there
Birchwood is a rural community northeast of Chattanooga. TWRA’s directions to the refuge start from I-75 Exit 25 in Cleveland, Tennessee, and head north on TN-60 through Birchwood; the state park is on Blythe Ferry Lane near the refuge. Use the park address in your GPS and confirm the last few turns on the park page, since rural map apps sometimes route oddly near the river.
| Starting point | Route idea | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | I-75 north to Cleveland, then TN-60 north | Easy half-day trip; combine with Red Clay |
| Cleveland, TN | TN-60 north through Birchwood | Closest town with a wide range of food and fuel |
| Knoxville | I-75 south, then local roads west to Meigs County | Pair with Sequoyah Birthplace Museum on a longer loop |
Services in Birchwood are limited. Fill the tank and bring water and snacks, especially on a winter crane-watching day when the lots fill up.
Building a Cherokee history day around the park
Blythe Ferry works well as the final stop of a day that follows the removal story in order: council, round-up, crossing.
- Morning: Red Clay State Historic Park near Cleveland, the site of Cherokee national councils from 1832 to 1837, after Georgia outlawed Cherokee government meetings. Red Clay’s official page lists current hours.
- Midday: lunch in Cleveland.
- Afternoon: Cherokee Trail of Tears State Park, ending at the Hiwassee Overlook.
For a longer trip, add the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum in Vonore, Tennessee, or cross into Georgia for Chief Vann House and New Echota. Our multi-state itinerary puts these stops in a sensible driving order. The National Park Service’s Trail of Tears National Historic Trail site maps the certified sites and routes across all nine states.
Where to stay
There is no lodging in the park. Most visitors base themselves in Cleveland or Chattanooga:
- Cleveland, Tennessee: the closest base, and convenient for Red Clay. Search Cleveland, TN stays on Booking.com.
- Chattanooga, Tennessee: more choice of hotels and restaurants, roughly an hour’s drive away. Search Chattanooga stays on Booking.com.
For crane festival weekends in January, book early and pick a free-cancellation rate in case of ice or rain.
Before you go: checklist
- Check visitor center hours on the official park page the week of your trip.
- Call 423-339-2769 if you are bringing a group or want a guided program.
- In winter, bring binoculars, layers, and waterproof shoes for the overlook and refuge platform.
- Plan a quiet moment at the memorial wall; many visitors say it is the part of the trip they remember most.
FAQ
Is there an entrance fee?
The official park page does not list an entrance fee for the grounds. Fees for rentals or special programs can change, so check the park page or call ahead.
How long should I plan?
Plan on an hour or two for the museum, memorial, and overlook. Add time if you want to walk the trails or watch cranes in winter.
Is this the same place as the Cherokee Removal Memorial Park?
Yes. The National Park Service notes that Cherokee Trail of Tears State Park was previously known as Cherokee Removal Memorial Park.
Can I bring my dog?
Check the park’s rules on the official page before bringing pets, and keep them away from the memorial areas.