The dam is worth stopping by to see. You can access it from the Franklin County side or the Henry County side but I only know how to get there from the Henry County side. I think that people planning to fish there use the Franklin County side. It isn't marked on Maps but just before you get to the dam, there is an access to the Smith River for kayaking and hiking. Look for the big blue sign just as you are entering the parking lot for the dam. The kayak access is a little steep and rough. This is the first available put-in after the dam and the water coming in is cold, creating a mist as it begins its route down the river. The hiking trail for the Smith River Trail system intersects the kayak access.