Toqua Campground

The Great Outdoors

With over 16,000 acres of surface water, there’s plenty of room for aquatic recreational fun. Though most of the shore is privately owned, the lake itself is open to the public. Use one of the boat ramps to gain access to the lake. Race with another boat toward an invisible finish line. Practice waterskiing prowess. Or retreat into a cove for a day of quiet sunbathing or fishing. Bass and walleye fishing are especially good, thanks to the cooler water from the Tellico River. Anglers can expect to catch striped, spotted, white, hybrid-striped, yellow, smallmouth, and largemouth bass, walleye, rainbow, and brown trout, at least three varieties of catfish, and crappie. There are also a few varieties of sunfish, too.Scuba diving is an activity enjoyed by many. The lake is actually a reservoir created by a dam in the 70s. When the dam was constructed, it flooded a few Native American settlements as well as an abandoned European settlement. The vestiges of these sites can be explored; however, divers are cautioned that if they discover any artifacts, they must be turned over to the proper authorities.Great Smoky Mountains National Park was the most-visited park in 2016 and no wonder. Over 11 million visitors were drawn to the national park to enjoy its endless beauty, embark on recreational adventures, and search for wildlife. There are around 850 miles of hiking trails that pass by various wonders in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park like waterfalls, summits with panoramic, sweeping views, babbling creeks full of trout, and historic sites.Hundreds of wildlife make their home in these woods, and it’s not uncommon to spot a white-tailed deer sprinting the woods or a black bear foraging for sweet, savory berries. All hikers should take caution to enjoy these critters from a safe distance. Bears, for example, may look like cuddly teddy bears. They are anything but.

Exploring the Area

There are many attractions and historical sites scattered around this part of Tennessee. Rent a camper trailer and discover your favorite one. The Craighead Caverns near Sweetwater is the site of the world’s second-largest underground lake and the United States’ largest underground lake. Early explorers found fossilized bones of a jaguar that was found to be from the Pleistocene era. Join the guided tour that leads down a short .75-mile tunnel to the lake and enter a flat-bottomed boat. There are many stalagmites, and a rare crystal called anthodites are especially plentiful. Keep an eye out; there could be more fossils to be found.Teeming with history, many towns operate historical societies and museums that highlight the town’s heritage and prominent residents. Fort Loudoun State Historic Area is the site of one of the earliest British forts. Originally built in 1756, the historic museum gives people a glimpse into the soldiers’ past, the dangers they faced on two fronts, and the hardships they endured in wild, untamed Tennessee.Take a walk on the wild side at the Hollywood Star Cars Museums near Gatlinburg. The museum features genuine cars that were used in several classic Hollywood movies and television, including cars from Fast and Furious 6 and 7, General Lee from the Dukes of Hazzard, and the Beach Boys, and more.At the end of a long day of exploring towns in a motorhome rental and adventuring in Tennessee’s wilderness, retreat to Toqua Campground and enjoy the sound of water lapping at the shore.