Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Cherokee National Forest crews continue work to remove downed and hazardous trees while they assess damaged Forest Service roads in the wake of recent severe weather. The Forest Service asks the public to avoid storm damaged areas while crews prioritize access for emergency vehicles.
Tree snags remain a safety risk specifically in the northern part of the forest while many roads experienced extensive erosion in the Tellico River area east of Tellico Plains.
The Watauga Ranger District continues to address downed and snagged trees. The Forest Service asks the public to avoid the Frog Level, Dennis Cove, and Pond Mountain Wilderness area while crews continue to improve access for emergency vehicles. Some area trails were impacted by downed trees and overhead broken tree branches. Hikers should exercise extreme caution when encountering downed, snagged trees, and overhead broken tree branches since they tend to fall unexpectedly.
The Tellico Ranger District has enacted an emergency closure to Tellico River Road (NFSR 210) from the Cherohala Skyway to North River Road. North River Road is now restricted to high clearance 4WD vehicles. North of the Tellico River, Citico Road (NFSR 35-1) is closed from Jake Best Campground to Buck Hwy. The Cherohala Skyway is now closed. Visit TDOT for updates to the Cherohala Skyway.