Red Clay State Historic Area

I went to Red Clay on Saturday to run in the Trail of Tears 7-miler and ended up extending my stay to include a hike rich with Cherokee history. Red Clay is east of Chattanooga, just north of the Georgia line. And though I didn't actually hear any music, I know there has to be some dueling banjos going on in these neck of the woods. Here, No Trespassing signs are replaced with KEEP OUT! signs. Let's just say I wouldn't want to be lost in these parts at night.

The race itself took place primarily on public roads surrounding the park, and, no, the roads were not closed to traffic. The first mile of the race wasn't bad at all, as we experienced a net drop in elevation. Mile two began with a right turn at State Line Road. We were in Georgia now, and I wasn't happy because we were heading higher. 260 feet higher, to be exact. Not far into the ascension I made the snap decision to conserve my energy for the remaining six miles and walk. I noticed that nearly everyone around me (I was not in the leaders' group) had reached the same conclusion. Nearing the hill's peak, I could hear someone from behind start running again. Nobody had passed me so far on my uphill walk (in fact, I actually passed someone who was running), and I wasn't going to allow for it now. I took off again, staving off my fellow runner, and didn't quit running until the finish line.

The first hill was the worst by far, but there were still plenty of ups and downs to come. Every hill was a struggle for me, and the urge to walk was constant. Oh, how I envied those driving by in their cars! I made it through by telling myself this was my last race. I'm not sure if lying to myself is an effective long-term fitness strategy, but it certainly seems to help when I'm running.

As for my performance, I finished with a time of 1:05:24, 7th out of 8 runners in the men's 40-44 bracket. As my boss would say, I beat the only one-legged man in the race!

After enjoying a snack provided by the race organizers, I moseyed over to the Council of Trees Trail. This wooded loop trail connects to the Blue Hole Trail, which, in turn, connects to a paved interpretive trail.

Trailhead

 

I followed the trail counterclockwise up to what appeared to be perhaps the highest point in the park. There is a stone observation deck here that offered little in the way of a view because of all the trees which have grown up around it.

 

 

Observation Deck

 

Now coming off the hill, I navigated a boardwalk, which presumably delivers hikers over what must be a muddy section of the trail when wet. On the other side of the boardwalk there is a creek and a short section of trail which continues before the woods give way to an expansive clearing.

 

Along the Blue Hole Trail

 

It's here in the clearing where I discovered the significance of Red Clay State Historic Area. This was the seat of Cherokee government from 1832 until 1838. In 1838, Martin Van Buren directed General Winfield Scott to enforce the Treaty of New Enchota by forcibly removing the entire Cherokee Nation in the Southeast, setting in motion events which would become known as the Trail of Tears. At Red Clay, a park publication notes, "the Trail of Tears really began, for here the Cherokee learned that they had lost their mountains, streams, and valleys forever."

 

Replica Cherokee structures stand as a lasting reminder

 

Eternal Flame of the Cherokee Nation