Pelham is situated at the base of Tennessee’s South Cumberland Plateau near the headwaters of the Elk River, one of the five major rivers in Tennessee. The community is believed to have been named for a family of early settlers.
Today, Pelham is home to The Caverns, a world-renowned destination for underground live music and home of the Emmy-winning PBS television series The Caverns Sessions (formerly "Bluegrass Underground"). The venue also offers tours – for a variety of skill levels – of its magical Big Room cave system.
For nature lovers who prefer to stay aboveground, spring wildflower season draws visitors from around the world. Each April, Bluebell Island, on the banks of the Elk River just west of Interstate 24, puts on a massive and vibrant display of some of nature’s most amazing flowers.
Near the center of Pelham, local businesses along U.S. Route 41, the historic “Dixie Highway,” provide visitors with opportunities to purchase crafts and gifts as well as freshly- cooked meals at family-owned restaurants.
Things to do in Pelham
Lodging in Pelham
Tracy City
Black Canyon Cascade
One of the most picturesque sites in the Fiery Gizzard, Black Canyon is technically a cascade, not a waterfall, but still an amazing sight, as two creeks come together and are squeezed through a narrow rock opening. Access this adventure from the Fiery Gizzard North trailhead.
Tracy City
E.L. Hampton House
From Railroad Ticket Agent to Coal Company President
Tracy City
Fiery Gizzard Trail, a 2-day Adventure
Ranked as one of the top 25 backpacking trails in the United States by Backpacker magazine, "The Gizz" features cascading streams, numerous waterfalls, panoramic overlooks, extremely rocky gorges, gentle slopes and lush woodlands. Use either the Fiery Gizzard North or Fiery Gizzard South trailheads to begin this adventure!
Tracy City
Foster Falls
At the southern end of the Fiery GizzardTrail is Foster Falls, a 60-foot waterfall, the tallest in the parks, with a swimming hole at its base. There is an easy quarter-mile hike to observe the falls from above; and a much more strenuous two-mile hike (round trip) to clamber to the bottom of the falls on a rocky trail. Access this adventure from the Fiery Gizzard South Trailhead.
Altamont
Greeter Falls
A moderate-to-challenging one-mile out-and-back trail with a spiral staircase, taking you to Greeter Falls. Also check out the (easier) spur trail to the Blue Hole swimming area, as well as some smaller waterfalls and historic sites. Access this adventure from the Savage Gulf West Trailhead.