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Roan Mountain

Photo: Daniel Martin / CC BY 3.0

Mountains

Roan Mountain

Bakersville, NC · High Country$Gardens lot $3 per vehicle, Memorial Day to Sept 30

About

TN 143 climbs 12.6 miles from the town of Roan Mountain, Tennessee, to Carvers Gap, where the Appalachian Trail heads up onto the grassy balds. Parking is limited, and in summer the crowds bunch up at the gap and on the short stretches to Round Bald and Jane Bald. Go early and stay on the trail, which protects the bald. The Rhododendron Gardens, a short way farther up the mountain on the North Carolina side, are in bloom around mid-June, and in July white moths rise out of the mountain oat grass. The gap has no water and no trash cans, so whatever you carry up comes back down with you.

Highlights

Grassy balds on the Appalachian TrailRound and Jane Balds from Carvers GapRhododendron Gardens bloom around mid-JuneSpruce-fir forest on the Roan Massif

Getting there

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