Three Tennessee roadways are now nationally recognized as National Scenic Byways, which brings the state’s total to five. This is the first time in 11 years the state has had this very special distinction. The new scenic byways are the East Tennessee Crossing, the Great River Road in west Tennessee and Woodlands Trace. The other two byways are the Natchez Trace Parkway and the Cherohala Skyway.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood made the announcement at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 16. Benefits of the designation include eligibility to apply for federal competitive grants; America’s Byways branding; national and international marketing through the federal program; and technical assistance from the National Scenic Byways program staff.
Created in 1991, the National Scenic Byways Program is a collaborative effort to help recognize, preserve and enhance selected roads throughout the United States.
The East Tennessee Crossing Byway follows U.S. Highway 25E from the TN/NC state line to the KY/TN state line where it links to the Wilderness Road Heritage Highway. It passes through Newport, White Pine, Morristown, Bean Station, Tazewell and Cumberland Gap. Attractions along the Byway include Crockett’s Tavern Museum, Historic Bean Station, the Clinch Mountain Overlook and the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum of Lincoln Memorial University.
The route follows the original route of the Cherokee Warriors Path, the Wilderness Road across Clinch Mountain and the Cumberland Gap, the Dixie Highway of the Civil War period and Thunder Road, which is well known in moonshining lore.
The Great River Road is 185 miles long and travels through West Tennessee skirting the Mississippi River and is part of the national route that travels along Mississippi from Minnesota to Louisiana. The Tennessee segment follows highway 78 at the TN/KY state line to State Route 181 to State Route 88 where it joins U.S. Highway 51 near Dyersburg and travels on into Memphis. The route passes through Tiptonville, Ripley, Henning and Memphis. Attractions along the route include Reelfoot Lake, Fort Pillow State Historic Park, Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, Mud Island River Park and Museum and the many other sights and sounds of Memphis.
The Woodlands Trace runs along a ridge of land between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. Woodlands Trace is a beautiful, easy drive in rolling terrain with opportunities to pull off and explore on your own or at developed interpretive facilities. Attractions along the route include the Land Between the Lakes, the South Bison Range Overlook, the Homeplace 1850 Living History Farm and the Great Western Furnace Ruins.