The Appalachian Trail Runs Through This Tennessee Town And It's The Ultimate Outdoor Playground
By Chris Dodge|Published July 11, 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.
The Appalachian Trail is one of those iconic and epic hikes that most nature lovers dream about. There is just something romantic about a seemingly endless trail. Something deep inside of us sees the challenge and wants to rise to conquer it; and for others, the chance to get away from it all seems incredibly appealing. We are blessed to have the Appalachian Trail run through our beautiful mountains in East Tennessee. The Appalachian Trail through Roan Mountain, Tennessee, is a beautiful section of the trail and will give you a good taste of what to expect on your way up to Maine.
The Appalachian Trail starts in Georgia and follows mountains and peaks all the way up to Maine.
This epic hike is not for the faint of heart and people will train years before taking it on. Then again, others have taken it in sections, or state by state. I am still not even close to being in good enough shape to handle such an adventure, but I highly respect anyone who does. However, I have seen several sections of the trail in my own travels up and down the eastern side of the United States, and I have to say: out of everything I have seen, the section of the trail going through the town of Roan Mountain is my favorite.
I have hiked to Roan Bald from Carvers Gap many times now but that is only a fraction of the trail we are featuring today.
Starting from the Roan High Knob Trail Parking Lot, you can take to the woods and make your way towards Carvers Gap. Along the way, you will see some stunning rhododendrons and if you catch them at just the right time of year you can see them bloom. Roan Mountain also houses the biggest natural rhododendron garden in the world, so make sure you check that out too.
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Once you get to Carver's Gap you can extend the hike further and make it as long or as short as you would like.
Just know if you plan on having someone pick you up, the next place where the trail crosses a road will be over 20 miles away. Meanwhile, you will be hiking peak after peak at what most people consider to be the prettiest section of the Appalachian Trail. Me and my family hiked from Carvers Gap to the Grassy Ridge Bald and we were blown away by the views. You will be following the state line and both the North Carolina and Tennessee sides of the mountains offer mountain layers as far as the eye can see.
Catch the sunset and watch the sky transform into beautiful hues of orange and pink while bathing the mountains in a golden glow. Some of the prettiest snow I have ever seen was on top of this mountain too. So no matter what time of the year it is, the scenery is breathtaking.
Continuing along the ridge line of these mountains can be a lot of fun.
The path is well-worn and easy to follow all while offering a variety of elevation gains. Most of the hike is exposed and well over 5,000 feet up so expect some cooler temperatures and wind, but there isn’t another section of the Appalachian trail that's quite like this one.
If you want to extend your trip you can always camp along the trail in a couple of designated camping areas.
This off-the-grid kind of camping allows you to watch the sunset ease over the mountains, lay under a stunning blanket of stars at night, then wake up early to see the sunrise on the other side. This is a like a dream come true so don’t delay, grab your backpack, fill it up with supplies, and let's head out to the mountain peaks on the Appalachian Trail.
The Appalachian Trail through Roan Mountain, Tennessee, is one of the best hikes on the east side of our state. Not only do you have the best views, but the hike itself can be a blast.
We would love to hear from you: have you ever hiked the Appalachian Trail? What is your favorite section? Tell us your amazing stories in the comments below!
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