Cherokee Trail Of Tears State Park

08/07/2026

Our Visitor Center will be temporarily closed August 8th & 9th, 2026.

Come see us at Red Clay State Historic Park for their annual Cherokee Cultural Celebration!

08/07/2026

Learning solemn history often brings up challenging emotions, but learning from history is inherently valuable. Today and always, we encourage reflecting on the past while looking to the future.

Most of all we hope you will join us in remembering that the communities affected by the Trail of Tears are still here. One might say that their resilience is quite chic.

📸: Hiwassee Island from the Cherokee Trail of Tears Overlook, captured by SIR Aubrey

06/10/2026

We’re excited to share a small way to carry Cherokee Trail of Tears State Park with you. Our official park sticker is now available through the Tennessee State Parks online gift shop. Grab yours today: tnstateparks.info/CTTSP_Sticker

Whether you’ve visited us, plan to visit soon, or want to support Tennessee’s newest state park, this sticker is a meaningful reminder of this special place and the stories it preserves.

06/02/2026

Cherokee Trail of Tears is Tennessee’s newest state park, located at the confluence of the Hiwassee and Tennessee Rivers, less than an hour from Chattanooga in Birchwood, Tennessee.

Part of the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, the park memorializes and educates visitors about the forced removal of Indigenous peoples, including the Cherokee and Muscogee (Creek) people.

The park overlooks a landscape that is part of the traditional Cherokee homeland and preserves the location of Blythe Ferry, a river crossing where thousands of Cherokee and many Muscogee (Creek) people were forced to leave their ancestral lands.

Formerly Cherokee Removal Memorial Park, the site has long served as a place of remembrance, education, and reflection, including as a stop on the annual Remember the Removal Bike Ride, where Cherokee riders honor their Ancestors and reconnect with their history. Its redesignation as a Tennessee State Park continues that mission while expanding opportunities for visitors to engage with this meaningful landscape.

This milestone was made possible through the dedication and partnership of Friends of the Cherokee Memorial, Inc., Meigs County, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Tennessee Valley Authority.

We invite you to learn, reflect, and experience a place where history, remembrance, and the landscape remain deeply connected. Learn more at tnstateparks.info/ExploreCTOTSP.

Visual description: Aerial views of Tennessee’s Cherokee Trail of Tears State Park show a memorial wall, interpretive signs, a large granite map of the Trail of Tears, misty river crossings, and sunlit forest paths.

🎥: Matt Morrison

05/09/2026

Sorry for any inconvenience the visitor center is closed today.

04/08/2026

Join us for a Community Meeting on the future of the Cherokee Trail of Tears State Park!

Come learn about upcoming plans, the development process, and how you can be part of shaping this important project. Your voice matters as we work together to preserve history and create something meaningful for our community.

📅 Monday, April 13, 2026
⏰ 5:30–7:00 PM ET
📍 Cherokee Memorial Park, Birchwood

Scan the QR code on the flyer to register—we hope to see you there!

01/17/2026

01/15/2026

The countdown is on — we’re just days away!

The 2026 Sandhill Crane Festival is happening this weekend, January 17th–18th. Best of all, it’s FREE.

Join us to celebrate one of Tennessee’s most spectacular wildlife events as thousands of sandhill cranes gather at the Hiwassee Refuge. Enjoy bird viewing, educational exhibits, vendors, live music, and family-friendly activities.

Learn more and plan your visit here:
👉 https://www.tn.gov/twra/wildlife/birds/sandhill-crane-festival.html