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.