The Appalachian Trail passes right over the top of Watauga Dam and looks over Watauga Lake. With the Pond Mountain Wilderness to the south and the Big Laurel Branch Wilderness …
Watauga Lake sits at an elevation of 1,959 feet, making it the highest-elevated reservoir in Tennessee. Water recreation is abundant in this area with activities such as fishing, picnicking, swimming, and boating, as well as camping on the lakeshore.
This dam sits right next to the road. It is between 70 and 80 feet tall and an interesting place to stop for a photo. It was completed in 1912 making it one of the oldest dams in the area.
Getting up to the ridge up above Watauga Lake requires a good bit of uphill, but you're pretty much guaranteed some solitude, and you get some panoramic views of the …