The Tennessee Division of Natural Areas announced the opening of a new access trail to the Watauga River at Watauga River Bluffs State Natural Area in Carter County. A parking area is now available, with room for eight vehicles. In addition, two benches were installed at the trailhead, which is one-quarter mile from the river.
Watauga River Bluffs is a 50-acre state natural area that was designated by the Department of Environment and Conservation to protect the state-listed Carolina pink, or Silene caroliniana.
The high bluffs above the river are home to the diminutive flower and border an old shale mine formerly owned by General Shale.
The Nature Conservancy purchased the property from General Shale in 1993 to protect the Carolina pinks and transferred ownership to the state in 1998. The area provides access to the Watauga River on a stretch known to produce great trout fishing.
The public access was built as a joint project of the Division of Natural Areas, TWRA, TVA and the Overmountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited. TWRA will patrol the area and the Overmountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited will maintain the trail and sponsor trail clean-up days.
A Watauga River clean-up day is scheduled for Saturday, March 21 at 9 a.m. Dedication of the new public access will be held at 1 p.m.after the clean-up. To participate, contact Randall Rogers at 423-474-3796 or Gary Barrigar at 543-7576.
Visitors should be advised that this section of the Watauga River is downstream of the TVA Wilbur Dam. River levels can rise rapidly when TVA releases water from the dam for generation. For more information on the water release schedule, contact 865-632-2264.