National Conservation Area Tellico Lake - Chota Unit
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
National Conservation Area Tellico Lake - Chota Unit is a scenic area located in the state of Tennessee, not North Carolina.
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Summary
It is managed by the Bureau of Land Management and offers visitors opportunities for recreational activities, including hiking, wildlife watching, fishing, and boating.
Some good reasons to visit the Chota Unit include its beautiful natural scenery, peaceful atmosphere, and diverse wildlife. Visitors can take a stroll along the trails and enjoy views of Tellico Lake and the surrounding mountains.
Some specific points of interest to see in the Chota Unit include the Chota Memorial, which commemorates the location of an important Cherokee town, and the Tanasi Trailhead, which offers access to the nearby Cherokee National Forest.
Interesting facts about the Chota Unit include its history as an important site for the Cherokee people, who used the area for fishing and agriculture. The area was also important for European settlers, who used the rivers and lakes for transportation and commerce.
The best time of year to visit the Chota Unit is during the spring and fall months, when the weather is mild and the foliage is at its most colorful. However, visitors can enjoy the area year-round, as there are plenty of activities to do in any season.
To ensure accuracy, it is important to note that the Chota Unit is located in Tennessee, not North Carolina.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Area Campgrounds
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Punkin Center Motorcycle Resort
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Toqua Beach - Tellico Lake
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Jake Best
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Jake Best Campground
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Notchy Creek - Tellico Lake
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Double Camp/Citgo Creek
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