Shoreline Miles: 357 miles
Surface Acres: 15,860 acres
The tranquil waters of Tellico Lake are ideal for boating, swimming, paddling, and fishing. It is also an area rich in the history of the Cherokee Nation and early settlements along the Tennessee River. On Tellico’s banks is a reconstruction of the original Fort Loudoun, which was built by the British during the French and Indian War. It was named for John Campbell, the fourth Earl of Loudoun, commander-in-chief of the British forces in North America at the time. Park rangers wear period clothing and lead tours of the reconstructed fort. Another nearby historic attraction is the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, honoring the Cherokee genius who invented the Cherokee alphabet. The reservoir inundated the locations of the Overhill Cherokee towns of Chota, Tanasi, Toqua, Tomotley , Citico, Mialoquo, and Tuskegee. The water also flooded pre-historic sites dating back to the Archaic Period.
Visitors to the communities of Sweetwater, Vonore, Greenback, and Madisonville will enjoy Main Street shopping, dining and street events, excellent antiquing, and multiple biking trails. Of particular note are the Cherohala Skyway and the well-respected “Tail of the Dragon.” The area is also rich in farming and wine production, so be sure to sample the local fare when you visit.
Tellico Lake Reservoir and Dam create a navigational waterway up the Little Tennessee River, which offers access for barges heading up the river. The canal between Tellico and Fort Loudoun lakes provides barges access to Tellico without the need of a lock. It is part of the Great Loop waterway on the Tennessee River.