On August 21, 2017, a total solar eclipse will obscure the sunalong a path that crosses the U.S. from Oregon to South Carolina. Depending on location, the sun will becompletely blocked out for a maximum of 2 minutes 40 seconds.
In east Tennessee, the 70 mile wide path of totality passes over the southern portion of the CherokeeNational Forest (Tellico and Ocoee Ranger Districts) at approximately 2:30 PM. The path of totality — orwhere viewers can see the sun completely eclipsed is expected to be of great interest to a significantnumber of people from near and far.
Much of the Cherokee National Forest is remote and rugged, and the environment is much differentthan in urban areas. High clearance vehicles are recommended for many roads in the national forest.
Several locations outside of developed recreation areas that may seem suitable for viewing the eclipsein the Cherokee National Forest may have environmental or road access concerns associated with them.
Many of these locations have rough dirt/gravel roads leading to them with limited access, parking,crowd capacity, restricted traffic flow and no sanitation facilities or water. National forest visitors shouldexpect many locations to be heavily visited and congested. Planning your visit ahead of time may helpmake it safer and more enjoyable.
Forest Service officials remind visitors to use extreme caution when driving and parking, and pay closeattention to other vehicles, pedestrians, and bikers that will be sharing the roads.
The goal is for national forest visitors to have a safe and enjoyable experience. To ensure safety,roadways must be kept clear for emergency vehicle use. As you travel on national forest roads, keep inmind that there has to be enough space for fire trucks and ambulances to get up and down roads in caseof an emergency.
Parking is not allowed in or on roads. Be very careful not to impede the flow of traffic. Parking alongnational forest roads is very limited. When parking on a roadside, be aware of unseen obstacles such asrocks, limbs and ditches. Be mindful of the natural resources along narrow road shoulders.
Popular areas will likely meet capacity early in the day, and visitors may be directed elsewhere. ForestService management is focused on public safety and protecting natural and cultural resources. It will benecessary to control traffic and parking, as well as restrict vehicle access to some areas. The CherokeeNational Forest web site provides an array of eclipse information including areas where vehicle accesswill be restricted - https://www.fs.usda.gov/cherokee/
Plan your visit in advance and know what to expect before you arrive. Remote locations outside ofdeveloped recreation areas have limited access and parking, restricted traffic flow, and no facilities orpotable water. Cell phone service can be limited or unavailable and GPS units are often unreliable in thenational forest.
Developed campgrounds in the Ocoee and Tellico Ranger Districts on the reservation system are bookedfor the weekend of the eclipse. There are some first come first served campsites and they are expectedto fill up several days before the eclipse. Dispersed camping outside of developed campgrounds isallowed throughout the Cherokee National Forest unless posted otherwise. Camping is not allowedwithin 100 feet of water, trails, trailhead parking lots and developed recreation areas, or within 300’ ofthe Cherohala Skyway and the Ocoee Scenic Byway (National Forest System Road 77). Dispersedcamping is free and no permits are required.
Remember to be prepared for the unexpected. The eclipse is expected to have impacts on highways,gasoline supplies and other basic needs. Bring plenty of water, food, sunscreen, insect repellant, extraclothing, first aid kit, a map and anything else you might need to help make your visit safer and moreenjoyable. Check local weather forecasts periodically and don’t forget your solar eclipse viewing glasses.
