Shelter:Watauga Lake

Shelter	Watauga Lake (DISMANTLED)
Capacity	6 People
Privy	No
Trail Head Distance N	2.4 Miles
Trail Head Distance S	1.8 Miles
Elevation	2,091 Feet
Latitude	{{#lat_deg2dms: 36.31398}}
Longitude	{{#long_deg2dms: -82.1294}}
Nearest Medical	Johnson City, TN
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Special Notice

Watauga Lake Shelter was REMOVED due to continual bear activity. Please continue hiking through this area without stopping. No preparation or consumption of food or overnight stays allowed. This USFS closure is effective until further notice. View here for updates. A campsite (no water) has been set up at coordinates N36.29847, W82.12701 (NB Mile 426.5) just outside the Pond Mountain Wilderness. Also nearby is Boots Off Hostel along Bear Branch Road on the south side of the closed section. Furthermore, the National Forest Service lands are closed to most recreation between US321 (NB Mile 427) and Wilbur Dam Road (NB Mile 431.4). Individuals are only permitted to hike through this area. Please continue hiking through this area without stopping. No preparation or consumption of food or overnight stays allowed. This closure continues effective for an undefined period.

Description

Watagua Lake Shelter was a three-sided with open front and wooden sleeping platform.

Location

On the shore of Watauga Lake between Watauga Dam Road and US321. The shelter was 50 yards uphill off the AT on a blue-blazed side trail.

Maps

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Water

Return on blue-blazed trail to find stream crossing AT.

Maintenance History

• May 2019: Shelter dismantled, metal parts hauled away, and remaining wood burned in place. Do not camp here as long as the USFS order for bear activity is valid.
• March 2018: The bear pole, picnic table, and the steps to the shelter platform have been removed from the shelter to discourage eating or staying at this site with it being under a bear closure.
• Mar 2011: Bear pole installed by Eagle Scout Seth Douthat.
• 2007: Installed gutter on back and stained outside of shelter
• Mar 1997: New steel roofing was placed over the existing shingles. Material floated over lake!
• 1994: Picnic table installed.
• 1980: Built by US Forest Service.

Photo Gallery

• 

  Shelter circa pre-2007

• 

  Shelter 2014

• 

  Bear pole

• 

  Watauga Lake

Shelter name	Section	Trail distance from Damascus
Abingdon Gap Shelter	US421 to Damascus	10.2
McQueens Knob Shelter (emergency shelter)	US421 to Damascus	11.7
Double Springs Shelter	TN91 to US421	18.5
Iron Mountain Shelter	Wilbur Dam Rd to TN91	26.2
Vandeventer Shelter	Wilbur Dam Rd to TN91	33.0
Laurel Fork Shelter	Dennis Cove Rd to Wilbur Dam Rd	49.5
Moreland Gap Shelter	US19E to Dennis Cove Rd	57.0
Mountaineer Falls Shelter	US19E to Dennis Cove Rd	66.6
Stan Murray Shelter	Carver's Gap to US19E	86.5
Roan High Knob Shelter	Iron Mountain Gap to Carver's Gap	91.7
Clyde Smith Shelter	Iron Mountain Gap to Carver's Gap	100.2
Cherry Gap Shelter	Indian Grave Gap to Iron Mountain Gap	109.3
Curley Maple Gap Shelter	Nolichucky River to Indian Grave Gap	122.2
No Business Knob Shelter	Spivey Gap to Nolichucky River	132.7

Per the 2021 AT Data Book.