Reliance, TN:
It’s about 6 miles from Hwy 411 to Reliance. At Webb’s Texaco there is a plaque with information about the area. The shoals immediately above the bridge are usually wadable even on 2 turbines, with care. I believe the rocks are the remains of an old mill dam. A lot of very good fish have been caught, and lost, in this area. On into the summer, the water warms up down here and fishing is better upriver.
Just below the railroad bridge is a state boat ramp with parking, restrooms, and picnic tables and grills. No parking fee is required. There are several historic buildings in the area.
Apalachia Powerhouse:
The powerhouse is automated now, and generally nobody is there unless they’re doing maintenance. It is accessible by Forest Service Road 108 on the north bank. It’s about 12 miles from Hwy 411 to the powerhouse, about 6 miles from Reliance, and about 3 miles from Big Bend. The road is narrow and winding with a 20 mph speed limit, but it is paved. FS108 ends at a cul de sac a little below the powerhouse. From there a private TVA road (only TVA vehicles allowed) goes up the hill to a big way cool swinging foot bridge that crosses the river to the powerhouse. The only other road access is a dirt Forest Service road on the south bank, which might be more convenient if you were coming from Copperhill, but may be closed part of the year. In this case, the spelling of Apalachia with one “p” is correct, the dam and powerhouse are named after a logging hamlet that was near the dam site, Apalachia, spelled with one “p”.