The Unicoi Turnpike Trail follows a short piece of an old road through the Cherokee National Forest in southeast Tennessee. Long before it was a road, it was a Cherokee travel route. In the winter of 1838–39 it became one of the main corridors of Cherokee removal. This guide covers what the road was, how to walk the 2.5-mile trail section, and what you’ll find at the nearby Coker Creek Welcome Center.
This is an independent guide. It is not published by the National Park Service, the USDA Forest Service, the Coker Creek Heritage Group, 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 15, 2026.
Unicoi Turnpike Trail at a glance
Short version: a 2.5-mile historic route with interpretive panels, starting at the North Carolina–Tennessee line near Tellico Plains.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official name (NPS) | Trail of Tears Hiking Trail (Unicoi Turnpike) |
| Trail of Tears route | Roundup Route |
| Length | 2.5 miles |
| Trailhead area | NC/TN border, just off the Joe Brown Highway near Tellico Plains |
| Land | Cherokee National Forest |
| Nearby exhibits | Coker Creek Welcome Center, 12197 TN-68, Coker Creek, TN 37314 |
The trail details come from the NPS “Hike on the Trail of Tears” page. The address comes from the NPS Coker Creek Welcome Center page.
What the Unicoi Turnpike was
The name sounds like a highway, and for a while it was one. But the route is much older than the turnpike, and its most important chapter is a painful one.
An ancient Cherokee travel route
The National Park Service describes the Unicoi Turnpike as an ancient Cherokee travel route. People crossed these mountains on it long before anyone built a wagon road.
A wagon road between Georgia and east Tennessee
In the early 19th century the route became a wagon road. The NPS North Carolina Trail of Tears map and guide says the Unicoi Turnpike, also called the Unaka Road, was established in 1816. It ran through northern Georgia, western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee.
The road of removal, 1838–39
In 1838 the US Army used five forts and two camps to round up 3,000 North Carolina Cherokee. According to the same NPS guide, they were funneled through Fort Butler in present-day Murphy, North Carolina. From there they were marched along the Unicoi Turnpike to Fort Armistead and on to Fort Cass.
Fort Cass held internment camps and an emigration depot at what is now Charleston, Tennessee. NPS says the detachments toiled 80 miles on this road to get there.
The NPS welcome center page calls the turnpike a main corridor for Cherokee removal in the winter of 1838–39. That’s the context to carry with you on the trail.
Hiking the 2.5-mile trail section
NPS notes that today you can walk, drive or bike along the route the detachments followed. The hiking trail is the most direct way to do it on foot.
Where the trailhead is
The NPS hiking page places the trailhead on the North Carolina–Tennessee border, just off the Joe Brown Highway near Tellico Plains. We aren’t giving turn-by-turn directions or forest road numbers, because we couldn’t confirm them on an official page today.
For current access and conditions, check the Cherokee National Forest Coker Creek page before you drive. It’s the Forest Service’s own page and the right place for road and trail status.
What the interpretive panels cover
Along the roadway, modern hiking trails carry interpretive panels. NPS says they tell the story of the Cherokee detachments forced westward on this road.
Stop at each one. On a 2.5-mile trail, reading the panels is what turns a forest walk into an understanding of what happened here.
Pets, fees and accessibility
NPS doesn’t give one answer for the whole Trail of Tears. Its hiking page says pets, fees and accessibility vary by location, and that you should check with individual sites. Service animals are allowed at all locations.
We haven’t listed a fee or a difficulty rating for this section, since neither was confirmed today. Check the Forest Service page linked above.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links marked as sponsored may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you.
On an old mountain road trace, collapsible trekking poles are worth packing. They fold down small enough to stay in the car when you don’t need them.
Coker Creek Welcome Center
The welcome center is the place to get context before or after the hike. It sits next to the Unicoi Turnpike itself.
Location and what you’ll find
The NPS place page lists it at 12197 TN-68, Coker Creek, Tennessee 37314, in the Cherokee National Forest of southeast Tennessee. It interprets the Trail of Tears with educational materials and interpretive displays.
Who runs it
NPS identifies the center as a historic site on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, managed by the Coker Creek Heritage Group. It’s a local effort, so open days can change.
We aren’t printing hours or a phone number, because we couldn’t confirm them on an official page today. Contact the center through its current listing before you make a special trip.
Because the trailhead sits right on a state line, a paper Cherokee National Forest map is a good backup for your phone.
Before you go
The NPS Trail of Tears directions page notes that you can’t travel the full historic trail directly. A car is the best way to visit the sites, and NPS recommends contacting each site for hours and access.
- Check the Forest Service Coker Creek page for current conditions.
- Contact the welcome center before you visit if you want to see the exhibits.
- Carry water; don’t count on services at the trailhead.
- Bring a paper map and don’t rely on cell coverage.
- Pack a layer. Mountain weather can turn quickly, especially in fall and winter.
Walking it respectfully
This is a commemorative route. People were forced along this road away from their homes, and many visitors come here to remember them.
Stay on the trail and leave everything as you found it. Keep your voice down near the panels, and give other walkers room.
We don’t speak for any Cherokee nation, and we aren’t claiming tribal involvement with the trail or the welcome center. For the official history, rely on the NPS pages linked here.
Follow the road: other Trail of Tears stops nearby
The Unicoi Turnpike connects places, so it makes sense to visit it as part of a route. NPS keeps a full list on its certified sites page.
Murphy, North Carolina
For North Carolina Cherokee, the road began at Fort Butler in Murphy. Our guide to Murphy’s Trail of Tears sites covers the Cherokee County Historical Museum and the Fort Butler exhibits.
Hiwassee River Heritage Center, Charleston, Tennessee
Fort Cass, at the other end of the 80-mile march, stood at present-day Charleston. Our Hiwassee River Heritage Center guide picks up the story there.
Junaluska Memorial and Medicine Trail
In Robbinsville, North Carolina, the Junaluska Memorial and Medicine Trail is another quiet stop in the same mountains, and our guide explains how to visit it with care.
Planning more stops? Our Cherokee Heritage Trails itinerary and our Sequoyah Birthplace Museum guide fit well on the Tennessee side.
For reading after the walk, look for a history of Cherokee removal by an established historian or a Cherokee author.
Nearby towns
Coker Creek and Tellico Plains are the closest Tennessee towns, with Madisonville and Vonore a little farther out. Murphy, North Carolina, lies across the state line.
We haven’t listed drive times. Check a current map on the day you go.
FAQ
How long is the Unicoi Turnpike Trail?
NPS lists the Trail of Tears Hiking Trail (Unicoi Turnpike) at 2.5 miles.
Is it really part of the Trail of Tears?
Yes. NPS lists it on the Roundup Route and calls the Unicoi Turnpike a main corridor for Cherokee removal in 1838–39.
Where is the trailhead?
On the North Carolina–Tennessee border, just off the Joe Brown Highway near Tellico Plains, per NPS.
Are dogs allowed?
NPS says pet rules vary by site, and service animals are allowed at all locations. Check the Forest Service page for this trail.
Is there a fee?
We couldn’t confirm one today. NPS says fees vary by location, so check before you go.
Sources
- National Park Service: Coker Creek Welcome Center
- National Park Service: Hike on the Trail of Tears
- National Park Service: Trail of Tears North Carolina Map and Guide (PDF)
- National Park Service: Trail of Tears NHT Certified Sites
- National Park Service: Trail of Tears NHT Directions
- USDA Forest Service: Cherokee National Forest, Coker Creek (current conditions)