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Eternal Flame

Plan Your Visit

  Park Brochure
  Park Area Map, Detailed GIS Park Map, Regional Park Map
  Events

  Directions
From Chattanooga, on I-75, take exit 3-A (E. Brainerd Rd.), travel 8 miles East on Brainerd Rd., turn right on London Lane for 2.3 miles. Continue traveling straight on to Keith Road for .5 mile, turn left on Mt. Vernon Rd., travel for 4 miles. Turn left on Old Apison Rd., travel for 7 miles.  Turn left on Red Clay Park Road and travel 1.5 miles to the park.
Detailed directions
To the park | From the park

Park Activities

Picnic Facilities

Points of Interest

  Nancy Ward gravesite
  Chattanooga ChooChoo
  Tennessee Aquarium
  Rock City
  Ruby Falls
  Hiwassee River

75th Anniversary Celebration - June 14

Join us for a speical  Red Clay and Tennessee State Park 75th Anniversary Celebration from 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. ET. This family friendly event features special programs and birthday cake. Everyone is welcome. For more information call 423-478-0339.

Red Clay State Historic Park is located in the extreme southwest corner of Bradley County in Tennessee, just above the Tennessee-Georgia state line.

The park encompasses 263-acres of narrow valleys formerly used as cotton and pasture land.  There are also forested ridges that average 200 feet or more above the valley floor. The site contains a natural landmark, the Blue Hole Spring, which arises from beneath a limestone ledge to form a deep pool that flows into Mill Creek, a tributary of the Conasauga and Coosa River system.  The spring was used by the Cherokee for their water supply during council meetings.

Special Events

June 14 - 75th Anniversary Celebration
Aug. 4-5 - Cherokee Days of Recognition
Oct. 26-28 - Inter Tribal POW WOW
Dec. 15 - 5th annual Trail of Lights

»View 2012 Event Schedule for details.

Picnic Facilities

Red Clay has a 100-person capacity picnic pavilion and 18 individual picnic tables. The picnic shelter may be reserved up to one year in advance and is equipped with a grill, a water fountain and restrooms.

Individual picnic tables each have a grill and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Other Activities

Behind the amphitheatre near the picnic area is an entrance to a 1.7 mile loop trail which goes to the Overlook Tower. The trail is a moderate grade and is well marked. A short nature trail begins at the spring and ends at the farmstead.

Dragonfly and Damselfly Checklist
Butterfly Checklist

Tour Buses

Tour buses are welcome.