Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge

The Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge is located on 6,000 acres of land encircling the confluence of the Tennessee and Hiwassee Rivers about one hour north of Chattanooga near the town of Birchwood.

In the summer months, the public can access all lands and waters within the refuge to observe resident and migrating birds and seasonal wildflower blooms, including great swaths of water hyacinths in Hiwassee Island’s inlets. During the winter, migrating waterfowl, including 50,000 Sandhill Cranes and some endangered Whooping Cranes, stop over at the refuge on their way south.

The Hiwassee Refuge is also steeped in Native American history, lying near the center of Cherokee Nation’s ancestral lands, which once stretched into Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. Blythe Ferry, one of the debarkation points for the Cherokee Forced Removal (Trail of Tears), is now home to the Cherokee Removal Memorial Park.

Hunting

The Tennessee and Hiwassee River watersheds provide hunting opportunities for a variety of big and small game, including waterfowl and Sandhill Cranes. Drawings are held each October for seasonal blind/spots, located to the north and east of Chattanooga. Waterfowl hunting is permitted Thursday – Sunday, and the first and last day of duck season.

Waterfowl hunting permits and WMA seasons are managed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

Directions

Google Maps

Difficulty

Hiking

Paddling

Guides

Trail Map

Hours and Cost

Open Daily: Sunrise to Sunset

Cost: Free

Pet Friendly

Yes, on a leash

Contact

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Region III

464 Industrial Blvd.

Crossville, TN 38555

931-484-9571

1-800-262-6704

--

By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. more information

We use cookies to personalize content, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use this website.

Close