Roan Mountain State Park
Situated beneath the awesome Roan Highlands, Roan Mountain State Park was created in the 1950s and further developed in the 1970s. The park is approximately 2,000 acres consisting of a valley formed by the Doe River and the adjacent ridges.
Once a site of both mining and lumbering, the mixed hardwood forest is for the most part fairly young. The park is home to a rich diversity of wildlife and wildflowers like lady slipper orchids, wood betony, dwarf larkspur, trillium, and showy orchis. Hiking trails lead to the many ecosystems that make up the park including a boardwalk through a wetland.
Roan Mountain State Park possesses similar traits to many of the Colorado state parks I have enjoyed visiting. Like Cheyenne Mountain State Park & Golden Gate State Park, Roan Mountain State Park is home to good hiking trails and great wildflower viewing, esp along the Forest Road Trail, but the park also stands as a gateway, or good centralized location to some of the best hikes in the region, esp. along the AT as it crosses over the bald ridgelines of the Roan Highlands or by Laurel Falls. In the early summer, the park's campgrounds swell from those coming to see the catawba rhododendron's purple blooms at the gardens on Roan Mountain.
Roan Mountain State Park has 30 cabins with all the amenities and 107 camp sites. The 107 camp sites are divided into 87 RV sites with hook-ups and 20 tent sites. The park has a swimming pool, playgrounds, picnic areas, an amphitheater, and the century old, living-history Miller Homestead. There are also 2.25 miles of mountain bike trails. Some like the challenge of biking up to Carver's Gap along the long and winding TN-143. Fishing is popular as the Doe River is stocked with trout along the State Park.
There are about 12 miles of hiking trails, made up of several trails, most of them small, two of them leading to overlooks with beautiful vistas. The hike to Strawberry Mountain Overlook is among the most challenging day hikes in the area. From the Visitor Center, the journey to the overlook on Strawberry Blond begins by taking the Forest Road Trail. Marked by a purple blaze, Forest Road Trail has many steep climbs and descents. Bridges have been built at the many stream-crossings. Woodland Phlox, Showy Orchis, & Large-Flowered Trillium bloom along the trail.
Before the Forest Road Trail crosses TN-143 & the Doe River, the Chestnut Ridge Trail cuts away to the right and heads directly up the hillside. A sign marks the split in the trails. The sign also mentions the way to the overlook is difficult and for experienced hikers. Chestnut Ridge Trail is marked with an orange blaze and the navigation is pretty straightforward. However the initial long steep climb is just the beginning of many steep climbs and equally steep descents. The trail is well-defined but can feel a bit narrow at times. The trek is a rewarding challenge, but probably not enjoyable for anyone who is iffy about hiking as an experience and hill-climbing as a life event.
The rigorous Chestnut Ridge Trail ends at the Overlook. The Overlook offers views of the Roan Highlands from Big Hump Mountain to Carver's Gap, the route of the AT through the region. The Overlook is close to the Miller Homestead and is also accessible by vehicle. The hike to to Strawberry Mountain Overlook from the Visitor Center is a difficult 4.1 miles one-way, or 8.2 miles total.
The hike to Raven Rock Overlook also comes with some nasty steep moments but is shorter and friendlier than the Chestnut Ridge Trail. Situated at the halfway point of the mile long Raven Rock Trail, Raven Rock Overlook offers views of the valley and ridges that make up Roan Mountain State Park. Yellow and Pink Lady Slipper Orchids bloom along the trail.
The hike length to Raven Rock Overlook varies dependent on the route chosen. Raven Rock Trail is a mile in length and connects to the Forest Road Trail at two different points. Forest Road Trail gets steep traveling up onto the park's eastern ridge, after descending to cross TN-143 and the Doe River. In spring, dwarf larkspur bloom in great numbers along this abrupt section of the trail. Further information on hikes and other activities at Roan Mountain State Park is linked below.
Further Online Resources:
Roan Mountain State Park
TNVacation.com: Roan Mountain State Park
Yahoo Voices: Hiking Trails in Roan Mountain State Park by Logan McCall
Once a site of both mining and lumbering, the mixed hardwood forest is for the most part fairly young. The park is home to a rich diversity of wildlife and wildflowers like lady slipper orchids, wood betony, dwarf larkspur, trillium, and showy orchis. Hiking trails lead to the many ecosystems that make up the park including a boardwalk through a wetland.
Roan Mountain State Park possesses similar traits to many of the Colorado state parks I have enjoyed visiting. Like Cheyenne Mountain State Park & Golden Gate State Park, Roan Mountain State Park is home to good hiking trails and great wildflower viewing, esp along the Forest Road Trail, but the park also stands as a gateway, or good centralized location to some of the best hikes in the region, esp. along the AT as it crosses over the bald ridgelines of the Roan Highlands or by Laurel Falls. In the early summer, the park's campgrounds swell from those coming to see the catawba rhododendron's purple blooms at the gardens on Roan Mountain.
Roan Mountain State Park has 30 cabins with all the amenities and 107 camp sites. The 107 camp sites are divided into 87 RV sites with hook-ups and 20 tent sites. The park has a swimming pool, playgrounds, picnic areas, an amphitheater, and the century old, living-history Miller Homestead. There are also 2.25 miles of mountain bike trails. Some like the challenge of biking up to Carver's Gap along the long and winding TN-143. Fishing is popular as the Doe River is stocked with trout along the State Park.
There are about 12 miles of hiking trails, made up of several trails, most of them small, two of them leading to overlooks with beautiful vistas. The hike to Strawberry Mountain Overlook is among the most challenging day hikes in the area. From the Visitor Center, the journey to the overlook on Strawberry Blond begins by taking the Forest Road Trail. Marked by a purple blaze, Forest Road Trail has many steep climbs and descents. Bridges have been built at the many stream-crossings. Woodland Phlox, Showy Orchis, & Large-Flowered Trillium bloom along the trail.
Before the Forest Road Trail crosses TN-143 & the Doe River, the Chestnut Ridge Trail cuts away to the right and heads directly up the hillside. A sign marks the split in the trails. The sign also mentions the way to the overlook is difficult and for experienced hikers. Chestnut Ridge Trail is marked with an orange blaze and the navigation is pretty straightforward. However the initial long steep climb is just the beginning of many steep climbs and equally steep descents. The trail is well-defined but can feel a bit narrow at times. The trek is a rewarding challenge, but probably not enjoyable for anyone who is iffy about hiking as an experience and hill-climbing as a life event.
The rigorous Chestnut Ridge Trail ends at the Overlook. The Overlook offers views of the Roan Highlands from Big Hump Mountain to Carver's Gap, the route of the AT through the region. The Overlook is close to the Miller Homestead and is also accessible by vehicle. The hike to to Strawberry Mountain Overlook from the Visitor Center is a difficult 4.1 miles one-way, or 8.2 miles total.
The hike to Raven Rock Overlook also comes with some nasty steep moments but is shorter and friendlier than the Chestnut Ridge Trail. Situated at the halfway point of the mile long Raven Rock Trail, Raven Rock Overlook offers views of the valley and ridges that make up Roan Mountain State Park. Yellow and Pink Lady Slipper Orchids bloom along the trail.
The hike length to Raven Rock Overlook varies dependent on the route chosen. Raven Rock Trail is a mile in length and connects to the Forest Road Trail at two different points. Forest Road Trail gets steep traveling up onto the park's eastern ridge, after descending to cross TN-143 and the Doe River. In spring, dwarf larkspur bloom in great numbers along this abrupt section of the trail. Further information on hikes and other activities at Roan Mountain State Park is linked below.
Further Online Resources:
Roan Mountain State Park
TNVacation.com: Roan Mountain State Park
Yahoo Voices: Hiking Trails in Roan Mountain State Park by Logan McCall
Driving Directions:
From ETSU, turn right onto University Parkway. From University Parkway turn right onto South Roan Street. From South Roan St, turn left onto TN-359. From TN-359, turn right onto TN-361 for 6.4 miles. You will come to a Stop Sign, turn right staying on TN-361. Then turn right onto US-19E. Stay on US-19E for about 10 miles before making a right onto TN-143 in the community of Roan Mountain. The Visitor Center will be on the left approximately 3.7 miles from making the right onto TN-143.
Driving directions to Roan Mountain State Park using Google Maps is linked here. |