The Cheoah Dam is a 225-foot concrete arch dam on the Little Tennessee River, built in 1919 by the Alcoa Power Company to serve aluminium smelting operations further downstream. It is a handsome piece of early industrial engineering, its curved face rising from the narrow gorge in a single graceful arc. The dam forms Cheoah Lake above and releases water into the dramatic gorge below.
For kayakers and whitewater enthusiasts, the stretch below Cheoah is legendary — but only when the dam is releasing water, which happens on a limited schedule. Check release dates through the American Whitewater Association before planning a paddle. The overlook above the dam is accessible by car from the road along the lake's eastern shore, and the views down into the gorge are dramatic in any season.