East Tennessee Crossing | American Tour Association

THE JOURNEY IS THE REASON TO GO

Let the road set the pace.

This route follows the original path of the Cherokee Warriors Path, the Wilderness Road across the Clinch Mountain and the Cumberland Gap, the Dixie Highway of the Civil War period and Thunder Road of moonshining lore.

The experienceNational Scenic Byway

Start with this outlineChoose a section of the named byway

From high atop Clinch Mountain and the winding shorelines of Cherokee Lake, travelers can find a long, serene view of the broad valley with extensive lakes stretching in all directions. This was the route and landscape through which passed the East Tennessee Crossing Byway — the Warriors Path, the Wilderness Road and the Dixie Highway. — View from Atop Clinch Mountain
Public Domain. Photo by Ann Cason · Photo credits

From high atop Clinch Mountain, one can see south across the forested, winding shorelines of Cherokee Lake to the misty Great Smoky Mountains in the distance, a long, serene view of a broad valley with extensive lakes stretching in all directions. This was the route and landscape through which passed the East Tennessee Crossing — the Warriors Path, the Wilderness Road, and the Dixie Highway. — The Lakes of the Crossing from Clinch Mountain
Public Domain. Photo by Michael Sledjeski · Photo credits

Before you drive

Choose your stops before departure and check current road access, weather and vehicle suitability. A byway listing does not guarantee that every section or visitor facility is open.

Make it a satisfying day

Choose a realistic section, then allow time for viewpoints, a town stop and breaks. Scenic mileage rarely tells the whole story of how long an outing will take.

Match the road to your vehicle

Check the exact roads for your car, RV or motorcoach. Tunnel dimensions, turning space, grades and road surfaces can matter as much as distance.

Official route information ↗State road-condition links ↗

Route overview and designation: Federal Highway Administration, America’s Byways. Research: October 2026. This is a travel idea, not live navigation or a guarantee that the full route is open. Confirm exact roads, current conditions, parking and any attraction reservations before departure.