Why you should visit beautiful Roan Mountain State Park
Roan Mountain State Park is high in the Appalachians of eastern Tennessee. The park is a little-known gem that features incredible scenery.
Roan Mountain is off the beaten path and often overlooked. The park is in Carter County, Tennessee, at the base of the striking 6,285 ft Roan Mountain. Surrounded by the Blue Ridge of the Appalachian Mountains, the park is a paradise for those who want to spend time in nature.
The park protects more than 2,000 acres covered in dense hardwood forest. There are 12 miles of hiking trails and a little over 2 miles of mountain biking trails that weave through the park. There is something for every age and ability, from short and easy loops to longer extended trails with some elevation gain.
When to visit Roan Mountain
There is no bad time to visit Roan Mountain State Park, but there certainly is the best time. Try and plan your visit for June. There is no question this is the best time to visit. During June, pink rhododendron blooms take over the park. The park is home to the largest naturally occurring garden of native Catawaba rhododendrons in North America. During the third week of June, the park holds an annual rhododendron festival that attracts thousands of people. If you plan on trying to stay at the park, plan well in advance, as reservations for camping can be tough to get.
World-class fishing is another reason to visit the park. The Doe River runs through the park, providing anglers ample opportunities to pull out native brook trout or stocked rainbow and brown. Heads up, a Tennessee Fishing License and trout stamp are required to fish.
Visit the Miller Farmstead
Roan Mountain also offers visitors a glimpse of what it was like for earlier Americans living in the Appalachian mountains. The Miller Farmstead is preserved within the boundaries of the park. The site is on the National Register of Historic Places and gives you a perspective of the hardships and challenges of raising a family in the mountains. The farmstead is open for scheduled group tours between April and October but needs to be reserved in advance.
Camping at Roan Mountain State Park
Many people who visit the park stay a while and use the campground as a base camp to explore the surrounding area. Roan Mountain State Park’s campground has more than 100 sites and is fantastic. We camped there for a couple of nights and loved it! We used the park as a great base camp to explore the surrounding area.
Things to do nearby
Carver’s Gap and the Appalachian Trail are an easy drive from the park, about 8 miles up the windy and scenic highway 143 on the North Carolina line. Here, you can hop on the AT and enjoy what is considered one of the most beautiful stretches of the entire trail.
There are many incredible places to visit during your stay at the park. Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park preserves great Revolutionary War history. It was where the Overmountain Men gathered before heading to the Battle of King’s Mountain—the birthplace of Davy Crockett in Limestone, Tennessee. There is an excellent visitor center there packed full of Crockett artifacts. You can also use the park as a place to jump on the Blue Ridge Parkway and go for a drive on the All-American Road. No matter what you decide, a visit to Roan Mountain State Park is worth it and is a guaranteed good time.
