This outing began with a trip to an old car camp ground I have not visited in many years. I have in years past visited this drive in camp ground of approximately twenty sites and been the only one there. This was not to be this time however. I grabbed the next to last spot a 2:00 in the afternoon and before I had my tent set up the last spot was taken also.
Abrams Creek is far better known in it's upper portions within Cades Cove but winds its way out of the cove and empties into Chilhowee Lake near the intersection of the Foothills Parkway and Highway 129, which is known to bikers as The Dragons Tail. Chilhowee Lake covers the site of an ancient Overhill Cherokee village and is thought to be the site of the Creek village "Chalahume" visited by Spanish explorer Juan Pardo in 1567.
After the put in and within a quarter of a mile of paddling the creek beds curves and immediately all sound of traffic is forgotten. On this particular trip we encountered several other canoeists/kayakers, but none ventured further than the referenced quarter mile cutoff which is a shame. It was a little past the optimum blooming of the rhododendron, but their spent blossoms floated on the water, reminiscent of cherry blossoms in Japan.
I highly recommend the trip up the creek, where an easy paddle can be turned into a multiple mile excursion. A side trip up Panther Creek for a short distance is also available. Although I was not fishing this time I did see activity and the gravel bed evidence of spawning.
Hey Forest Case, that is some great information overall! Man, do you hike or paddle more? If so please contribute some of your recent excursions, heck, w/ your apparent knowledge of the area contribute some more "historical" views. Such as, what is was like and what it's like now. The camping/hiking/paddling in this area that is. Your longitudinal views would help me better appreciate the challenges facing the preservation and restoration of the wild life in southern appalachia. For example your note on the campsite vacancy, or not, from your experience, demonstrates the increased numbers and thus impact on the environment. And, the need to practice "Leave No Trace" techniques an methods in all areas of public use within and around the parks etc....(call the Sugarlands Visitor Center in the GSMNP for the next Leave No Trace training 865-436-1291)
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