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Aw, Go Jump in a Lake!  c/o Mountain Times

Watauga Lake offers miles of shoreline minutes from the High Country

With the summer coming to a close, there is still a chance to get out and enjoy the warm sunny days. It’s never too late to get out to Watauga Lake and enjoy the water and the sun.

Watauga Lake is located in northeast corner Tennessee, east of Elizabethton and southwest of Mountain City, about a 45 minute drive from Boone. It’s the perfect place to set out a picnic or a cookout, relax in the sun, and just escape for the day. The lake itself is nestled in between the Cherokee National Forest and the Appalachian Mountains of northeastern Tennessee, making for some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere. Canoeing, swimming, and fishing are all available for a relaxing day. Sail boating, water skiing, jet skiing and wake boarding are available for those looking for something a little more exciting.

The lake was created in 1942 by the Tennessee Valley Authority. The 6,430-acre lake rests 2,000 ft. above sea level. It has been rated the third cleanest lake in the nation, with over 100 miles of shoreline, the majority of it managed by the USDA. The mixture of long, winding mountain roads and lack of shore-side development (due to some steep shorelines) make the lake is less crowded by tourists and more scenic than some places.

There are many facilities on Hwy. 321, two - nine miles from Hampton, which are maintained by the Cherokee Nation Forrest service. These facilities are the Rat Branch Boat Ramp, Carden’s Bluff Campground, Pond Mountain Shooting Range, Y’s Men Picnic Ground, Watauga Point Recreation Area, Little Milligan Boat Ramp, and Shook Branch Recreation Area. Swimming, boat ramps and picnicking are all offered here as well. Many of the sites include bathrooms and water fountains, and cost as little as $2 per vehicle for the entire day.

Carden’s Bluff is the only facility run by the CNF that offers campgrounds. It has 43 single-unit campsites that cost $12 a night, and are given out on a first-come, first serve basis. A few sites have room for small- to medium-sized trailers, but these are limited. Each campsite includes a picnic table, a place for camp fires with fire rings, and a lantern ring. There are three flush toilets but no showers. Water faucets and trash containers are throughout the campsite, but there is no trailer dump station. The front gate is locked from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

For more information about Watauga Lake’s public facilities, contact the Cherokee National Forest at (423) 735-1500, or on the web at www.fs.fed.us/r8/cherokee. A privately run website of Watauga Lake is www.wataugalaketennessee.com.

There are many other options to camping and boating at Watauga Lake. There are many fine resorts, marinas and restaurants on or near Watauga Lake to be found.
They Include:

LAKESHORE RESORT & MARINA
Come to Lakeshore Resort & Marina to get all your wet fun needs. If it floats, it’s at the Marina. They have pontoon boats that rent for only $25/hr or $125 for the entire day; and speed boats that rent for $35/hr or $175 for the entire day. Water skis are included in the rental of a speed boat, and life preservers rent for one dollar a day. “There’s nothing like experiencing the fall colors from the lake” the marina’s website boasts. Due to the popularity of the boat rentals, Lakeshore encourages anyone interested to call ahead to reserve equipment.
After a long day of skiing or sightseeing on the lake, Lakeshore also has a popular restaurant called the Captains Table. The restaurant features a beautiful view of the lake from the dinning room, and specializes in seafood, though they do offer steak and chicken along with daily specials. The restaurant also has a banquet room that seats up to 100 people.
 

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WATAUGA KAYAKS
Watauga Kayaks has rentable canoes and kayaks. They have 14 different locations in Virginia, northeastern Tennessee and southwestern North Carolina. At locations along Watauga Lake and the Watauga River, they offer whitewater rafting tours. They no longer rent out cabins, but they do sell fly fishing equipment and offer fly fishing guide services. They also offer shuttle services along the Watauga River. Call (423) 542-6777 for more information, or visit them on the web at www.trouttown.com/watkay/wkhome.htm or www.wataugakayak.com

Directions to Watauga Lake: Follow King Street (Highway 421) north toward Tennessee for about eight miles. Turn left on to Highway 321 north toward Elizabethton/Hampton, Tenn. Follow that road for about 20 – 25 miles. You start seeing the lake once you cross the Elk River.