Spanning 655,598 acres Cherokee National Forest straddles both the states of Tennessee and North Carolina. It lies about 27 miles away from Elizabethton, TN, and 36 miles from Johnson City. Nestled deep in Southern Appalachian Mountain Range, this is the only forest in the state of Tennessee. It was designated in 1920. The forest is named for the Cherokee Indians, who lived here in the past. Six hundred thirty-one thousand seven hundred fifteen acres lie in Eastern Tennessee while 377 acres lie in Western North Carolina. Great Smoky Mountains National Park bisects the forest into southern and northern regions. It touches ten counties, including Polk and Sullivan. Cherokee National Forest offers a mix of mountainous and plain terrain.