"Cherokee National Forest"
I grew up a few miles away. Great area. The mountain laurel thickets can be impassable.
I've been down to Tellico quite a bit I used to camp a lot on North River. And I've ran around some up in the northern portion in an area called Max Patch just above Del Rio. To see the mountains and not near as many people Cherokee National Forest on the Tennessee side is the ideal place. I live closer to the Cumberlands my self due south of Cumberland Gap with a view of both ranges by walking up behind my house.