After visiting Buck Bald Mountain, Linda and I stopped at Apalachia Dam and then headed to the powerhouse located 15 miles down the road. The first 4 miles are nice paved country roads. The final 11 miles is across Forest Service Road 23 and Powerhouse road. Both are single track roads with pullouts. It takes about 1 hour to travel the Forest Service Road entrance. I would not try these roads in a low clearance car/van. We took my 2 wheel drive truck and had no problems. I would not try these roads in a 2 wheel drive vehicle if it is wet. You can go closer to Tellico Plains and get to the powerhouse on paved roads. Our trip is very scenic but can be slick after a rain and the road does hang on the edges of some very high cliffs. The road crosses Smith Mountain at a elevation of 2200 feet before dropping back down to the Hiwassee River and the powerhouse.