Friday Feature
Friday Feature: Green Cove Angler Store & Lodge
Green Cove Angler Store & Lodge is located less than two hours from the Great Smoky Mountains.
Enjoy the beauty of the mountains as you begin your journey in Robbinsville, North Carolina on the Cherohala Skyway and end in the small town of Tellico Plains, TN.
Known for its trout fishing, Green Cove is a tiny lodge and store with the Cherokee National Forest as its backyard. The owners strive to continue Green Cove’s legacy as ‘off the grid’ and to make it a place that people keep coming back to year after year.
Green Cove is located 7-miles past Bald River Falls on the outskirts of Tellico Plains, TN.
Drive
The Cherohala Skyway is the world-famous 43-mile National Scenic Byway that climbs over 4,500 feet and connects Tennessee with North Carolina. Green Cove is less than 15 miles from the Cherohala and is the perfect stop off after seeing Bald River Falls. For more information see www.cherohala.org.
Hike
The Cherokee National Forest offers many trails for the outdoor enthusiast. Green Cove is in close proximity to many, including two of the most famous trails that this area of the National Forest has to offer.
The Benton MacKaye Trail (BMT), named in honor of the originator of the Appalachian Trail, covers nearly 300 miles through the Appalachian mountains. Green Cove Store & Lodge is less than 1.5 miles from the BMT. The Bald River Falls Gorge hike, spanning 5.6 miles one-way, begins at one of the most photographed waterfalls east of the Mississippi. This stunning natural beauty cascades over 90-feet. Parking is limited. Green Cove Store & Lodge is less than 8 miles from the trail & waterfall.
Kayak
The Tellico River has been called a Southeastern whitewater essential. In the winter and spring, kayakers can be seen paddling the class II to class IV waters.
Fish
Wild trout and stocked trout streams can be found throughout the Cherokee National Forest. Green Cove is in the heart of the fishing area; angling opportunities abound. Right behind the Lodge, you’ll find the crystal clear waters of the stocked portion of the Tellico River. The Tellico Fish Hatchery, which is less than 1.5 miles from Green Cove, has a long history dating back to 1930. It began as a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) project. Now, the U.S. Forest Service, TWRA, and Trout Unlimited work together as they help restore trout into our Southern Appalachian waters. A special permit is required to fish the Tellico Citico stretch of the river. Fishing rules and regulations on the Tellico River are managed through the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. For a full list of these rules and regulations, please visit TWRA’s website HERE. You will be able to purchase fishing and hunting licenses at the Green Cove Angler store.
The Lodge
The 26 room Lodge at Green Cove is all riverfront. You can literally step outside your room into the Tellico River. Rooms start at $79 per night.
River Lodge features a full, covered back deck overlooking the Tellico River. It is just downstream from the Green Cove Angler Store. Picnic tables are on the deck and sit outside each room. Park grills are on this property. The fire pit is just a short walk upstream. This is the perfect unit for a couple or person traveling alone. These rooms feature a bedroom with 1 full bed and window air-conditioner, heater, bathroom with shower, small kitchenette (featuring a small fridge and stove-top), coffee maker, seating area with a loveseat, and small dining area. These rooms sleep 2.
Bear Lodge is the original Green Cove lodging structure. These simple block rooms walk out onto the bank of the Tellico River. Picnic tables and fire pits are also riverside on this property. The Bear Lodge is a short walk downstream from the Green Cove Angler Store.
Trail Lodge features an uncovered back deck overlooking the Tellico River. It is just upstream from the Green Cove Angler Store. Your back door walks out directly onto the deck overlooking the river. Picnic tables sit outside each of the 8 rooms. Fire pits and park grills are on both sides of this property. People love to rent these simple rooms because of the beautiful open-air back deck overlooking the river. Each room includes a bathroom, 2 full beds, a fan, and a heater.
For pricing and more information on lodging, click here.
The Store
The Green Cove Angler store can help stock you with groceries, ice, fishing supplies, hunting supplies, camping supplies, and a little more.
Reservations and Information
Please call 423.253.2069 OR 423.252.4014 for booking inquiries for the 2020 season. No Pets Allowed & No Smoking.
Green Cove is located at 2870 River Road, Tellico Plains, TN 37385. For reservations, call 1-423-252-4014. To reach the store, call 1-423-253-2069.
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STORE HOURS
March 1st to December
Weekends – Sunrise to 7:00 pm
Weekdays – M-F 9:00 -5:00 pm
December to February
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm