Challenging - - that's the best word to
describe the 37 miles of Tsali Trails, rated as
"more difficult." Suited for hikers,
mountain bikers, and horseback riders, the 4-loop
system offers a variety of landscapes. You can climb
1-foot wide rugged paths or travel flat, well-beaten
roads. The four trails -- Right Loop Trail, Left Loop
Trail, Mouse Branch Loop Trail, and Thompson Loop
Trail -- meander through mixed pine and hardwoods on
a peninsula stretching into Fontana Lake.
Hikers may travel the trails on any day, but
mountain bikers and equestrians, the primary users,
are kept separated by alternating use of the trails.
A schedule is posted at all trailhead and displayed
on this page.
- Right Loop Trail
Length: 11.0 miles
Highlights: Single track, views of Lake
Fontana, creek crossings, shorter 4 and 8
mile loops possible.
- Left Loop Trail
Length: 11.9 miles
Highlights: Longest Tsali trail, single
track, creek crossings, views of the Smokes
and Fontana Lake at the overlook.
- Mouse Branch Loop
Trail
Length: 6.5 miles
Highlights: Single track and old logging
roads, potential views of wild turkey, deer,
and grouse in forest wildlife openings, old
home sites.
- Thompson Loop
Trail
Length: 7.7 miles
Highlights: Single track, potential views of
wildlife, overlooks, stream crossings, old
logging roads, old home sites.
A look back in time
The Tsali Recreation Area is named for a Cherokee man who hid in
this area in 1838. The U.S. Government has ordered the Cherokees to
move to Oklahoma -- a tragic removal that's known as "The Trail
of Tears". Exasperated by the brutality to his family, Tsali
and others escaped to these mountains.
Tsali was coaxed to surrender by a promise to allow the others to
remain in the area. Tsali voluntarily came forward as a sacrifice
for his people. As a result, he, his brother, and two older sons
were shot and killed.
Today the Eastern Band of the Cherokee live on ancestral Cherokee
land about 12 air miles east of the Tsali Recreation Area.
Forest management in the works
National forests are managed for many uses, including outstanding
recreation, wildlife habitat, wood products, and clean water. Watch
for signs of forest management.
The pine forest here is threatened by southern pine beetles. To
control the beetles, infested trees are cut and removed. A ring of
healthy pines around the infestation are also removed to create a
buffer.
You will discover many grassy openings created for wildlife on
the Tsali peninsula. These small plots were cleared and seeded with
orchard grass and clover. Some animals benefiting from these
openings are wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse,
rabbits, songbirds, and butterflies.
Directions: The Tsali Recreation Area is about 17½ miles from Robbinsville in the northeast corner of Graham County. From Robbinsville, travel east on State Highway 143 until you reach the junction with Highway 28. Turn right at the stop sign and proceed south on Highway 28 for approximately 8.4 miles. The entrance to the Tsali Recreation Area will be on the north side of the road and is well marked with signs. About 1½ miles from the entrance there is a parking area and it is a short walk to the various trailheads. The parking area has restrooms and an information bulletin board. There is boat ramp access to Fontana Lake, shore fishing, water skiing, camping, horse trails, mountain bike trails, picnic tables and hiking trails. Schedules for the use of the trails by equestrians and mountain bikers is as follows:
the Travel and Tourism Authority
or
