Carver's Gap to US19E
(Trail South > North)
Carvers Gap
Carvers Gap (5512') is the primary road access for the Roan Highlands. TN143 comes from Roan Mountain, TN and NC261 comes from Bakersville, NC. Large parking area with restrooms. The road to the top of Roan Mountain is open from appoximately May-October.
Round Bald
Round Bald (5826') is one of the many famous balds of the Roan Highlands. Round Bald has 360 degree views from its summit. Round Bald is also home to one of the TEHCC's greatest train maintenance projects - hardended gravel and geotextile over 1 mile of the Trail. This project was completed in 2001.
Jane Bald
Jane Bald (5807') is another Roan Highlands bald. It's name is derived from Jane Cook whose sister Harriet died of milk sickness on the bald in November of 1870.
Grassy Ridge Side Trail
The Grassy Ridge side trail leads .5 miles to the summit. A plaque, located at the summit, is dedicated to Cornelius Rex Peake who owned and donated much of the mountain. The Grassy Ridge summit is a part of the South Beyond 6000 challenge.
Stan Murray Shelter
Located in Low Gap, 3.3 miles from Carvers Gap, Stan Murray Shelter is a wood planck structure built in 1977 by the United States Forest Service. Sleeps 6. Water is found 100 yards from the shelter on a blue blaze trail. Previously known as the Roan Highlands Shelter, it was renamed to honor Stan Murray - long time TEHCC leader, ATC board member and founder of the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy.
Overmountain Shelter / Yellow Mountain Barn
Overmountain Shelter (4550') is located just east of Yellow Mountain Gap at the junction of the Overmountain Victory Trail and the AT. Built in the 1970s to meet the needs of a local farm, it was later converted to a shelter and renovated in the 1990s. The barn comfortably accomodates up to 30 people and is the only TEHCC shelter with a privy. Main water source is located along the side of the Forest Service road that ends at the barn. The view of Roaring Creek Valley has been lauded by some as the best valley view in the country.
Overmountain Victory Trail
The Overmountain Victory Trail crosses the AT at Yellow Mountain Gap and offers an alternate from Roaring Creek Valley. This is a part of the original 330 mile route used bythe Revolutionary War frontiersmen that travelled from Abingdon, VA to Kings Mountain, NC/SC where they defeated the Loyalists. The route officially starts as a walking trail at Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area outside of Roan Mountain, TN and connects to Roaring Creek, NC. OVTA members can be seen walking this route in the Fall in remembrance of the 1780 march.
Little Hump Mountain and Hump Mountain
"The Humps" are quite possibly the greatest balds in the sourthern Appalachians. At 5587', Hump Mountain stands high above the surrounding hills. It's open meadows can be seen from miles away. One shoulder of Hump Mountain is Houston Ridge where a plaque can be found honoring Stan Murray.
Doll Flats
Primitive camp site on the descent of Hump Mountain before reaching US19E. This is the last point where the Trail touches North Carolina.
Apple House Shelter
Apple House Shelter (3000') was originally constructed to hold explosives for a nearby quarry. It is located less than .5 miles from US19E and sleeps 5 people. Water source is behind the shelter.
US19E - Roan Mountain, TN and Elk Park, NC
After descending from the Roan Highlands, the Trail reaches US19E (2880'). A few miles west is the town of Roan Mountain, TN where lodging, food and shuttling can be found. To the east is Elk Park, NC where lodging and food can be found. Parking is NOT recommended here.