John Muir National Recreation Trail   I have not hiked this trail since at least 2005.  However, what I remember is that it is a beautiful trail from Reliance (HWY 315) to Appalachia Powerhouse along the broad, rapid, and glorious Hiwassee River.  However, upstream from the powerhouse, there is almost no river and my last time on that part of the trail (October, 2002) I remember lots of mosquitos and a poorly maintained trail.  I only followed it a mile or two upstream from the powerhouse because     there was no river and my goal had been to hike along the beautiful Hiwassee River.  I mistakenly thought the river came out of Appalachia Dam and the trail would follow it the entire way.  However, because the river is not released until Appalachia Powerhouse, hikers need to know that the only section of this that actually follows a big broad river are the five or six miles between Appalachia Powerhouse and Highway 315.  However, those few miles are just beautiful for anyone who likes flat hiking along a giant mountain river! Says George Pilzer You'll have to go far from Athens to get to John Muir National Recreation Trail but it is a fun place to hike for the whole family. We all   need to get out in nature once in a while and John Muir National Recreation Trail in Polk County, Tennessee is the outdoors at it's best. Hiking trails like this one are plentyful in the Great Smoky Mountains where wonderful nature is waiting for you. SUBMIT INPUT     Map Map Campgrounds Nearby List of Nearby Campgrounds Weather Local weather forecast These outdoors activities are available near John Muir National Recreation Trail.   Trails Near John Muir National Recreation Trail: Ivy Trail, Monroe County , 4 miles away Rock Creek Trail, Polk County , 6 miles away Oswald Dome Trail, Polk County , 8 miles away Lowry Falls Trail, Polk County , 8 miles away Gee Creek Trail, Polk County , 9 miles away   Campgrounds Near John Muir National Recreation Trail: Lost Creek, Reliance , 4 miles away Thunder Rock, Reliance , 8 miles away Quinn Springs, Reliance , 9 miles away Hiawassee/Ocoee SRSP - Gee Creek, Reliance , 10 miles away Gee Creek Campground, Polk County , 10 miles away   Whitewater Near John Muir National Recreation Trail: Wolf Creek, Polk County , 3 miles away, Class IV+ - 2.3 miles long (FR to Hiawassee River) Little Loss Creek, Polk County , 5 miles away, Class -blank- - 2 miles long (into Big Loss Creek) Whitewater Outfitter - Hiwassee Outfitters, Polk County , 5 miles away, Whitewater outfitter Coker Creek, Polk County , 6 miles away, Class III-IV(V) - 6 miles long (Highway 68 to Hiwassee River) Goforth Creek, Polk County , 6 miles away, Class IV-V - 5 miles long (to Ocoee)   Public Lands Near John Muir National Recreation Trail: Obed Wild & Scenic River, Wartburg - TN , 51 miles away Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Atlanta - GA , 68 miles away Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park, Tennessee , 6 miles away Fort Loudoun State Park, Tennessee , 27 miles away Fort Mountain State Park, Georgia , 31 miles away   Hotels Near John Muir National Recreation Trail: Red Roof Inn Etowah, Etowah , 11 miles away Motor Inns Of America, Madisonville , 19 miles away Comfort Inn & Suites Blue Ridge, Blue Ridge , 19 miles away Reid Ridge Lodge, Blue Ridge , 19 miles away Americas Best Value Inn Blue Ridge, Blue Ridge , 19 miles away   Lakes Near John Muir National Recreation Trail Campbell Cove Lake, Polk County , 6 miles away Yeller Nugget Lake, Monroe County , 7 miles away Apalachia Lake, Cherokee County , 8 miles away Hiwassee Lake, Cherokee County , 17 miles away Parksville Lake, Polk County , 17 miles away