The route continues north and enters the Cherokee National Forest and goes through a mostly rural area, then in Turtletown it turns east and junctions with SR 123.

SR 68 then turns back north and continues through a sparsely populated area and crosses over the Hiwassee River.

[citation needed] It then enters Monroe County and goes through Coker Creek and then Tellico Plains and junctions with SR 165 (Cherohala Skyway).

Just north of this intersection, USBR 21 follows SR 68 on the shoulder for just over 1.51 miles.

In just over 2.23 miles, it passes The Lost Sea and the northern terminus of SR 307, the route then turns more northwesterly as it enters Sweetwater.