This Off-The-Beaten-Path Trail In Tennessee Is The Perfect Place To Escape
By Chris Dodge|Published July 10, 2023
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Chris Dodge
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My name is Chris Dodge and I live right here in the great state of Tennessee. My family and I are full adventurers filled with passion to see the amazing things our state has to offer. We are avid hikers and have explored many different places in Tennessee and beyond but we are always thankful to be living in such a glorious state.
Sometimes when you go for a hike it can be nice to find a place of solitude, somewhere far away from all the noise in life, and just be surrounded by the forest. Getting lost out there in the wilderness and really allowing yourself a chance to breathe again. Raven Rock Trail in Roan Mountain, Tennessee, is just the place for you where you can go for a hike and you might not even see another person the whole time… I know we didn’t!
Admittedly, part of why this trail might be such a great place to find some peace and quiet resides in the elusiveness of the trailhead.
There isn’t a single sign pointing you in the right direction other than a mysterious, well-worn path leading into the woods. Across from the campground in Roan Mountain State Park, you can find the park headquarters. It might seem like one of those “staff only” places when you arrive, but head behind this building (pictured here) and you are right on track. Don’t forget to say "howdy" to the caged owls before you take the trip into the mountainous forest!
Shortly into the hike, you will see an old fenced-in graveyard.
When I originally set out on the trail I didn’t know this historic relic was here... and I was pleasantly surprised to find it! I always love to find points of interest when hiking, and this seemingly out-of-place graveyard fits the bill quite well. The angel statue does give this place a creepy and forgotten feeling to it, but nonetheless is a great stopping point along your journey.
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This particular trail crosses a couple of other trails throughout the park, so it can be easy to get lost if you don’t know where you are going.
For this reason, there are a couple of things I always make sure I have whenever I hit the trails: a map and my hiking shoes. I seriously love these things and you will be thankful to have them while traversing some of the rocks near the steeper sections of the hike.
Having hiked this trail, I would say going counter-clockwise is the best way. The incline is pretty steep either way, but going up counter-clockwise will have you climbing over rocks to ascend to the top where and the steep grade leading down the other side isn’t as technical. The trail is a 1.5-mile round trip with 515 feet of elevation gain: it will get your heart rate up, but I would consider it on the easier side of its "moderate" rating.
About halfway through the hike is when you will reach the grand view.
This is a great spot to take a couple of photos and have a water break. We stayed awhile to soak in the view for a bit before continuing on. The surrounding mountains in Roan Mountain are really beautiful and worth stopping to admire.
Near the overlook, the mountain laurels were in bloom and added a gorgeous foreground for pictures and videos.
Not only that, but sections of the forest opened up to a massive section of ferns and it certainly caught my eye because I love ferns. Be on the lookout as you hike because all these petite plants might easily be missed if you are in a hurry. Take it all in and enjoy the journey, friends!
Raven Rock in Roan Mountain, Tennessee, is a great trail to get out into the woods and enjoy some peace and quiet. With its off-the-beaten-path kind of vibe, this is a great option to just immerse yourself in nature. For more information about the park please visit the Roan Mountain State Park page. We also made a video while we were there so make sure you check it out!
I also highly suggest you drive up to the top of the mountain and hike to Round Bald it is perfect all year long and you can not beat the view.
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