Johnson City Roundtrip The Southern Dozen Ride 12 Two Rivers One Mountain and Ten Million Trout Eggs

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RouteXpert René Plücken (MRA Master)

Last edit: 14-06-2025

Route Summary

The Southern Dozen are twelve scenic routes that start in Johnson City Virginia and take you throughout the region. Each is an adventure in itself that takes you through winding turns, breathtaking natural landscapes, historical landmarks, local attractions, and fun rides.

Route 12 of the Southern Dozen takes you through the Tennessee Mountains, to Rocky Fork State Park and the famous Cherokee National Forest. On the way back you will drive through an infamous area that was once known for its whiskey distilleries and smugglers. You will visit a trout hatchery and other fun things

I rate this ride 5 stars because of the beautiful winding roads, sights, and gorgeous Tennessee scenery.

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Verdict

Duration

7h 14m

Mode of travel

Car or motorcycle

Distance

184.05 km

Countries

RouteXpert Review

The Southern Dozen are twelve routes that start in Johnson City and travel throughout the region. Each ride is an adventure in itself, taking you through winding roads, breathtaking scenery, historic landmarks, local attractions, and fun rides. Whether you want to explore caves, see wolves, wander historic sites, linger in the arches of the heartland, or just enjoy the view, you’ll find a ride that’s just right for you.

This route is based on the 12th ride, “Two Rivers, One Mountain and Ten Million Trout Eggs” and goes up and back through the Tennessee Mountains, riding along the mountain rivers, visiting a trout hatchery and other cool stuff. Enjoy some of the largest trout hatcheries in the country and explore the charming downtown town of Erin. Then drive deep into the Tennessee mountains and arrive at Rocky Fork State Park, surrounded by the famous Cherokee National Forest.

On the way back to Johnson City, you'll pass through an infamous area once known for its whiskey distilleries and bootleggers. Drive along the Nolichucky River and take a moment to admire the power of this remarkable waterway.

The tour begins in Johnson City and the first stop is the Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site. This site features 110 acres, eleven historic buildings, the Tipton/Gifford/Simerly Cemetery, a limestone cave, a natural spring, a buffalo trail, a hiking trail, and a visitor center. The visitor center includes a permanent exhibit, museum store, educational spaces, a library, and archives.

The next stop is in Erwin, where we can visit three interesting sites within walking distance of each other; The National Fish Hatchery, the Clinchfield Railroad Museum, and the Unicoi County Heritage Museum.
The National Fish Hatchery is a trout hatchery that offers a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into raising fish. Visitors can view the spawning process, wildlife, beehives and gardens at the hatchery. You can also enjoy a relaxing picnic, a stroll on the property or a visit to the Clinchfield Railroad Museum and the Unicoi County Heritage Museum, which are within walking distance.

The Clinchfield Railroad Museum tells the story of Erwin's rich railroad legacy. There are many unique artifacts and rare memorabilia from the days when Clinchfield was known as the "Gateway to the South." A link to the Appalachian Basins and a vital connection to cities throughout the South, the Clinchfield was the most expensive railroad to build at the time.

Housed in an early 1900s home originally built for the superintendent of the National Fish Hatchery in Erwin, the Unicoi County Heritage Museum showcases the history of the county in unique themed rooms: Parlor, Blue Ridge Pottery Room, Butler's Pantry, Community Room, Wildlife Room, Kitchen, Main Street, Clinchfield Railroad Room, Daughters of the American Revolution Room, History and War Rooms, Attic, Country Store, Greasy Cove Schoolhouse, and Amphitheater.

Enjoy the scenic drive along winding river roads through the Unuka area with its green mountains. Drive up to Unaka Mountain Beauty Spot and enjoy the breathtaking scenery from one of the highest peaks in the Southern Appalachians. The peaks at Beauty Spot are covered in beautiful green grasses, surrounded by rhododendrons and other native mountain plants. Hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail from the scenic lookout at Beauty Spot.

Enjoy the drive through Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park, a 5,500-acre state park in Unicoi County in eastern Tennessee. Located in the Blue Ridge region of the Appalachian Mountains, near the Tennessee-North Carolina state line, stop to enjoy the beautiful scenery. You can also take a hike here.

Visit the Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute (NOLI), located on the banks of the beautiful Nolichucky River in the mountains of Northeast Tennessee. NOLI is the region’s leading outdoor school, offering courses and instruction for all levels in a variety of disciplines including kayaking, canoeing, water safety and rescue, wilderness medicine, survival, navigation, camping, backpacking, conservation, and more. They also offer special events such as team building, adventure camps, and customized group programs.
If you're not into water sports, you can hike the Appalachian Trail. There's something for everyone at the Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute!

Plan your lunch stop in Erwin The last part you drive over the Dry Creek road back to Johnson City, another beautiful drive through the mountains.

Links

Source of Two Rivers, One Mountain, and Ten Million Trout Eggs
Promotional Video of Two Rivers, One Mountain, and Ten Million Trout Eggs
Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site
Erwin National Fish Hatchery
Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute (NOLI)

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Tennessee

About this region

Tennessee, officially the State of Tennessee, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th largest by area and the 16th most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina to the east, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi to the south, Arkansas to the southwest, and Missouri to the northwest. Tennessee is geographically, culturally, and legally divided into three Grand Divisions of East, Middle, and West Tennessee. Nashville is the state's capital and largest city, and anchors its largest metropolitan area. Tennessee's population as of the 2020 United States census is approximately 6.9 million.Tennessee is rooted in the Watauga Association, a 1772 frontier pact generally regarded as the first constitutional government west of the Appalachian Mountains. Its name is derived from "Tanasi", a Cherokee town in the eastern part of the state that existed before the first European American settlement. Tennessee was initially part of North Carolina, and later the Southwest Territory, before its admission to the Union as the 16th state on June 1, 1796. It earned the nickname "The Volunteer State" early in its history due to a strong tradition of military service. A slave state until the American Civil War, Tennessee was politically divided, with its western and middle parts supporting the Confederacy and the eastern region harboring pro-Union sentiment. As a result, Tennessee was the last state to secede and the first readmitted to the Union after the war.During the 20th century, Tennessee transitioned from a predominantly agrarian society to a more diversified economy. This was aided in part by massive federal investment in the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and the city of Oak Ridge, which was established during World War II to house the Manhattan Project's uranium enrichment facilities for the construction of the world's first atomic bombs. These were dropped on Imperial Japan at the end of the war. After the war, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory became a key center of scientific research. In 2016, the element tennessine was named for the state, largely in recognition of the roles played by Oak Ridge, Vanderbilt University, and the University of Tennessee in its discovery. Tennessee has also played a major role in the development of many forms of popular music, including country, blues, rock and roll, soul, and gospel.
Tennessee has diverse terrain and landforms, and from east to west, contains a mix of cultural features characteristic of Appalachia, the Upland South, and the Deep South. The Blue Ridge Mountains along the eastern border reach some of the highest elevations in eastern North America, and the Cumberland Plateau contains many scenic valleys and waterfalls. The central part of the state is marked by cavernous bedrock and irregular rolling hills, and level, fertile plains define West Tennessee. The state is twice bisected by the Tennessee River, and the Mississippi River forms its western border. Its economy is dominated by the health care, music, finance, automotive, chemical, electronics, and tourism sectors, and cattle, soybeans, corn, poultry, and cotton are its primary agricultural products. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the nation's most visited national park, is in eastern Tennessee.