Dam Site Shelter
Dam Site Park Shelter is located directly below W. Kerr Scott Dam's visitor center, and features a beautiful view of the dam & reservoir.
The shelter offers eight, 8-foot picnic tables and two, 10-foot ADA-accessible picnic tables. Electric hook-ups are available. Along with scenic views, you can enjoy other park amenities which include a boat ramp, horseshoe pit, grill, vault toilets, a museum and Environmental Education Center located at our Visitor Assistance Center, and access to the Overmountain Victory Trail and Native Tree Trail.
Notifications and Alerts
Reservation Updates: Beginning January 01, 2025, the price of the Dam Site Shelter will increase to $50.
A significant weather event has impacted this location; please do not visit this location until it is deemed safe. Please continue to monitor this location’s facility page on Recreation.gov for status updates or visit the agency’s website for details. Keep in mind, local personnel may be attending to this urgent situation and not available to provide updates immediately. Please be patient as conditions are assessed and closures are implemented.
Need to Know
- A reservation notice will be posted by a ranger prior to your arrival.
Alcoholic beverages are prohibited
Parking availability is not guaranteed for Reservations.
Natural Features
The gentle Yadkin River flows through its scenic namesake valley in the foothills of the eastern Blue Ridge Mountains. Forests of mixed hardwoods, including sycamore, poplar, oak and hickory, cover the region. Wildlife is abundant in the valley. White-tailed deer, black bear, eastern cottontails and more can be found among the hills. Birds in the area include wild turkey, woodpeckers, Carolina chickadees, red-eyed vireo, ovenbirds, mallards and wood ducks.
Recreation
The 1,475-acre reservoir offers excellent boating, canoeing, kayaking and swimming opportunities. Anglers will find channel catfish, large and smallmouth bass, bluegill, threadfin shad, spotted bass, striped bass, and hybrid striped bass. Miles of multi-use trails surround the lake, including the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, which has a trailhead a short walk from the shelter. An additional 25 miles of multi-use trails can be found at the Warrior Creek and Dark Mountain areas.
Contact Information
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499 Reservoir Road Wilkesboro NC 28697
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 336-921-3390
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From Charlotte, North Carolina, take I-77 North (approximately 60 miles) before merging onto Highway 421 North towards Wilkesboro/Boone. Continue to Exit 286B (approximately 20 miles), turn left onto Highway 268, continue for approximately 4 miles and turn right on Reservoir Road. Turn left into the Visitor Assistance Center parking lot after .25 miles and the shelter will be directly behind the VAC.
From Winston-Salem, North Carolina, take Highway 421 North (approximately 55 miles) to Exit 286B, turn left onto Highway 268, continue for approximately 4 miles and turn right on Reservoir Road. Turn left into the Visitor Assistance Center parking lot after .25 miles and the shelter will be directly behind the VAC.
From Wilkesboro, North Carolina, head west on Main Street/Hwy 268/Hwy 18 (approximately 4 miles) and turn right on Reservoir Road. Turn left into the Visitor Assistance Center parking lot after .25 miles and the shelter will be directly behind the VAC.
