A wide, graveled path leads you around the mountain to fabulous views of the Cherokee National Forest and Watauga Dam with its unique spillway. A side trail (0.4 miles) connects hikers to the Appalachian Trail which crosses over Watauga Dam (0.5 miles). The trailhead is on the Watauga Dam Reservation at the overlook. Watauga Dam is about 30 miles east of Johnson City, Tenn., off Hwy. 321.
'%3E%3Cmask id='b' fill='%23fff'%3E%3Cuse xlink:href='%23a'/%3E%3C/mask%3E%3Cuse fill='%23414141' xlink:href='%23a'/%3E%3Cg mask='url(%23b)' fill='%23414141'%3E%3Cpath d='M-160-170h300v300h-300z'/%3E%3C/g%3E%3C/g%3E%3C/g%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Overlook Trail
Location:
Elizabethton, Tenn.
Reservoir:
Watauga
Difficulty:
Easy
Distance:
0.5 miles
Coordinates:
36.320029 -82.118723
Amenities:
- Bathroom
- Hiking
- Parking
TVA Trails
With our guide to TVA's 170+ miles of trails, finding the right destination has never been easier. Consult our map or list, which is sorted by state and reservoir. You'll find detailed trail descriptions, the inside line on difficulty levels, information about amenities, maps, distance, uses and any relevant notes that might affect or enhance your experience. Find your TVA Trails.
History on Wheels
Two new multi-use, bike-optimized trails near South Holston dam offer fun the whole family can enjoy. Check them out.
Trail Safety
Minimize risks and maximize fun. Get tips for keeping yourself—and the environment around you—safe while you're out on a hike. Read more about trail safety.
Topographical Maps
Most of the trails are overlaid on topographic (or topo) maps. Topo maps are an attempt to show real variations in elevation on a flat map. If you know how to read a topo map, the map itself can tell you a lot. Here are a few tips to help you out.
Adopt a TVA Trail
TVA manages more than 30 public trails (150 miles) along the Tennessee River and its tributaries and on reservoir lands. You can help us by protecting and monitoring the trails to instill a legacy of conservation. Learn how to volunteer.