Tennessee River Gorge
Site Directions: From I-24 take Highway 27 North, then onto 27/127 (Signal Mountain Road). Turn left where 27 (Suck Creek Road) separates at the foot of the mountain. Proceed four miles and turn left at the end of a new bridge onto a country road that parallels the river and runs for many miles through the river gorge. The Pot House is four miles from this turn and there is a gravel parking lot across the street from the house.
Intersection of Hwy 27 and Suck Creek Rd -
Lat: 35.1035°N Long: -85.33286°W
Hours: daylight hours
Seasonality: year round
Fees: none
Site Description: The river gorge is 25,000 acres of river valley and forests along the Tennessee River. The Tennessee River Gorge Trust was set up to protect the gorge and so far has preserved >16,000 acres.
Wildlife to Watch: The hardwood forests in this area are very important habitat for neotropical songbirds. It is also a migratory pathway for both songbirds and raptors. Some of the best birdwatching in this area is around the "Pot House" (named for a set of "boiling" rapids). A few pairs of Cerulean Warblers and American Redstarts breed every year around the Pot House; both are rare breeders in southeastern Tennessee. Other breeders include Ovenbird, Kentucky Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Scarlet and Summer Tanagers, Acadian Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and Broad-winged Hawk. Bald eagles may be seen in the winter and Ospreys in the summer.
NOTE: Please refer to TWRA Hunting Guide about hunting seasons and public access dates. Access dates vary by site.
For more information:
Chattanooga Chapter of Tennessee Ornithological Society site description
Birds of the Tennessee River Gorge from eBird submissions
Tennessee River Gorge Trust
Submit your data to eBird and help us add to the list of birds seen at this site
Be sure to check out our Safety Tips page for important information regarding viewing wildlife in these areas.
