Watauga Lake Overlook

Happy New Year! Early this afternoon, the 8th annual Frostbite Sailboat Race on Watauga Lake will take place. And from the weather forecast, it sounds like it's aptly named this year. I'm going to be taking down Christmas decorations, so I don't think I'll be able to venture out to the Hampton, TN side of the lake for photos. As it so happened, I was at Watauga Lake a day too early, visiting the overlook near the dam. Click here to visit the website of the group organizing the event -- and here for photos from last year's race. Below are directions to the Watauga Overlook and Dam (which is on the other side of the lake from the marina where the sailboats will be today). This overlook area, on a nice warm day, is a great place for a picnic.

Directions to Watauga Overlook: There are different ways to get to Watauga Dam from Elizabethton, TN. I think the easiest way is to take Highway 19E toward Blountville and take the Stoney Creek Road exit (Hwy 91) and travel approximately three miles. You'll come to a red light with a BP on the corner, turn right onto Blue Spring Road -- After one mile, you'll want to bear right onto Steel Bridge Road. Take this for 3/4 mile, and you'll cross a very unique one lane bridge. After crossing the bridge, the road is called Wilbur Dam Road (aka Horseshoe Dam Road, Lookout Road). Follow this road for two miles, you will come to Wilbur Dam and Wilbur Lake. Continue on for three miles further and you'll arrive at Watauga Dam Overlook. From there, it's a short walk to an overlook of the actual dam.


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