Rhododendron Gardens: Difference between revisions

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(→‎Fees, Permits, etc.: Updated with link to USFS and more accurate seasonal access.)
 
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<!-- The following few lines create the "Infobox" table template.  Please scroll down to edit the main content of the article. -->
<!-- The following few lines create the "Infobox" table template.  Please scroll down to edit the main content of the article.  
{{Infobox Trail
                    | Image Name = Lakeside_Trail_-_Bays_Mountain_Dam.jpg
                    | Trail No. = *
                    | City = Kingsport
                    | State = Tennessee
                    | Trail Use = {{Hike}}{{Dogs}}
                    | Season = *
                    | Difficulty Rating = *
                    | Hike Time = *
                    | Distance = *
                    | Elevation Gain = *
                    | High Point = *
                    | Latitude = 36.50803
                    | Longitude = -82.61255
                    | Medical = *, TN
<!-- DON'T EDIT THE GOOGLEMAP TAG -->
                    | googlemap =
<googlemap lat="36.50803" lon="-82.61255"  zoom="12" width="270" type="terrain" height="180" selector="no" controls="small">
36.50803,-82.61255,Lakeside Trail
</googlemap>
}}
<!-- End Infobox template table-->


<!-- Start of Main Page -->
-->{{Infobox Trail
| Image Name = Rhododendron Gardens - rhodo field view.JPG
| City = Roan Mountain
| State = Tennessee
| Marking = *
| Trail Use = {{Hike}}{{Dogs}}
| Season = *
| Difficulty Rating = Easy
| Hike Time = 2 Hours
| Distance = 3 Mi
| Elevation Gain = 500 Feet
| Elevation Loss =
| High Point =
| Latitude = 36.096966
| Longitude = -82.138939
| Medical = Elizabethton
}}<!--  


End Infobox template table
-->{{Trail page needs
| Hide needs =
| KML = Yes
| Updated KML =
| Detail route description = Yes
| Photos = Yes
| Winter photos =
| Remove prefix =
| Update infobox = Yes
| Infobox data update = Yes
| Trail pins = Yes
| Other =
| Comment =
| Date reviewed = 11/21/2015
}}<!--
Start of Main Page -->
== Trail Overview ==
== Trail Overview ==
<!-- Enter a overview of the trail. What attracts you to this trail, points of interest, types of flowers, lakes, and peaks that you see along the way. -->
<!-- Enter a overview of the trail. What attracts you to this trail, points of interest, types of flowers, lakes, and peaks that you see along the way. -->
Very popular hiking loop trail around the reservoir.  It connects with many other park trails, thus a common starting point. Officially takes 90 minutes on maintained path with moderate climbs and drops. A few benches are scattered along the trail. Points of interest include floating bridge, beaver activity (dams, lodges, and down/gnawed trees), lillypad pond, and the wolves and other animal habitats. Note red dirt from maroon shale in places.
Views and extensive natural Rhododendron Gardens (late for blossoms), views, spruce fir forest


== How to get there ==
== How to get there ==
<!-- Please enter detailed instruction on how to find the trail head. -->
<!-- Please enter detailed instruction on how to find the trail head. -->
 
From Elizabethton, TN
#Turn on to US 19E and US 321 for about 6 miles through spectacular gorge of Doe River to Hampton, TN to intersection where US 19E and US 321 diverge.
#Continue straight on US 19E about 13 miles to Roan Mountain, TN at TN 143.
#Turn right in Roan Mountain, Tenn. on TN 143 and drive 14 miles to Carvers Gap at the North Carolina State Line.
#Turn right onto USFS road and drive 2 miles to parking lot at Rhododendron Gardens (fee) and Trailhead.
#Park in paved parking lot or further along gravel road at gardens.


== Route Description==
== Route Description==
<!-- Detailed description of the route. Is there any side trails that are worth traveling? -->
<!-- Detailed description of the route. Is there any side trails that are worth traveling? -->
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
Hikers continue along crest of mountain on trail and/or down through gardens on paved walkways. Trails are handicapped accessible. There are several trails through the rhododendron gardens. A linear trail extends from the paved parking lot south along the crest of the mountain through other parking lots and beyond to Roan High Bluff, where there is an overlook. Also, a series of short loop hikes extends down on the North Carolina side from a USFS booth at the first unpaved parking area. Information is available at the booth. The booth is visible from the linear trail. Some of these trails are paved and handicapped accessible and there is a wooden boardwalk overlook as well. Picnic tables are available near the parking area.
|-
!Miles
!Lakeside Trail
!Miles
|-
|0.0
|Dam, end nearest Nature Center
|2.4
|-
|0.1
|Dam, far end
|2.3
|-
|0.2
|Pine Trail junction
|2.2
|-
|0.4
|Floating Bridge
|2.0
|-
|0.5
|Cherry Knobs Trail junction
|1.9
|-
|1.1
|Beaver Pond Bridge/ Sweet Gum Trail junction
|1.3
|-
|1.6
|Hemlock Tr./ (Firetower Trail) junction
|0.8
|-
|1.7
|Holly Trail/ Towhee Trail junction
|0.7
|-
|1.8
|Holly Trail junction
|0.6
|-
|2.1
|Fern Trail junction
|0.3
|-
|2.3
|Water Fowl Aviary/ Laurel Trail junction
|0.1
|-
|2.4
|Nature Center
|0.0
|}


== Typical Conditions ==
== Typical Conditions ==
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==Fees, Permits, etc. ==
==Fees, Permits, etc. ==
<!-- Please list any Fees, Permits, Regulations, etc. that may be required on this trail.-->
<!-- Please list any Fees, Permits, Regulations, etc. that may be required on this trail.-->
 
USFS Website:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/null/recarea/?recid=48626&actid=64
The season of operation is from Memorial Day Weekend through the end of September; otherwise entrance gate is locked closed.
$3 day use fee per car.


== After the Hike ==
== After the Hike ==
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== Maps ==
== Maps ==
<!-- You can place pictures, PDF's, links, or even create a Google map with your waypoints and place it here. -->
<!-- You can place pictures, PDF's, links, or even create a Google map with your waypoints and place it here. -->
<googlemap lat="36.50803" lon="-82.61255" zoom="12" width="270" type="terrain" height="180" selector="no" controls="small">
<display_map type="terrain" width="auto" height="600" gkml="https://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/Rhododendron_Gardens_Trail_Loop_1.kml,
36.50803,-82.61255,Lakeside Trailhead at Dam
https://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/Rhododendron_Gardens_Trail_Loop_2.kml">
</googlemap>
 
36.1020200000, -82.1347730000~Rhododendron Gardens Visitor Center~ ~MarkerG.png
36.1017901296, -82.1353044306~Parking~ ~MarkerA.png
36.1001972746, -82.1344684326~Rhododendron Gardens Overlook~ ~MarkerG.png
</display_map>


== Photos ==
== Photos ==
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<!-- Place any pictures from this trail below. Ideally we would have a picture of the trailhead to help people know when they found it -->
<!-- Place any pictures from this trail below. Ideally we would have a picture of the trailhead to help people know when they found it -->
<!-- Add a picture by typing Image:imagename.extension  -->
<!-- Add a picture by typing Image:imagename.extension  -->
Image:Lakeside_Trailhead_from_Dam.jpg‎
Image:Lakeside_trail_-_evergreen_grove.jpg‎
Image:Lakeside_Trail_-_former_avery_area.jpg‎
Image:Lakeside_Trail_-_Bays_Mountain_Dam.jpg‎


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<!-- Finally add the trail to any Categories it should belong to. Please keep the State category. To make a new category just type [[Category:mycategory]].  Keep in mind categories are case sensitive. -->
<!-- Finally add the trail to any Categories it should belong to. Please keep the State category. To make a new category just type [[Category:mycategory]].  Keep in mind categories are case sensitive. -->
[[Category:Bays Mountain Park]]
[[Category:Tennessee]][[Category:Easy]][[Category:No Trail KML]]

Latest revision as of 17:37, 19 March 2023

Rhododendron Gardens - rhodo field view.JPG
Trail Name Rhododendron Gardens
Nearest City Roan Mountain
State Tennessee
Trail Marking
Trail Use/Features Dnr hiking.pngDnr dog.png
Difficulty Rating Easy
Hiking Time 2 Hours0.125 Days <br />120 Min <br />
Distance, round-trip 3 Mi4.828 km <br />
Climb/Descent Elevation 500 Feet152.4 Meters <br /> /
High Point
Nearest Medical Elizabethton
Trip Reports Click Here
Loading map...
Show Large Map

Trail Overview[edit]

Views and extensive natural Rhododendron Gardens (late for blossoms), views, spruce fir forest

How to get there[edit]

From Elizabethton, TN

  1. Turn on to US 19E and US 321 for about 6 miles through spectacular gorge of Doe River to Hampton, TN to intersection where US 19E and US 321 diverge.
  2. Continue straight on US 19E about 13 miles to Roan Mountain, TN at TN 143.
  3. Turn right in Roan Mountain, Tenn. on TN 143 and drive 14 miles to Carvers Gap at the North Carolina State Line.
  4. Turn right onto USFS road and drive 2 miles to parking lot at Rhododendron Gardens (fee) and Trailhead.
  5. Park in paved parking lot or further along gravel road at gardens.

Route Description[edit]

Hikers continue along crest of mountain on trail and/or down through gardens on paved walkways. Trails are handicapped accessible. There are several trails through the rhododendron gardens. A linear trail extends from the paved parking lot south along the crest of the mountain through other parking lots and beyond to Roan High Bluff, where there is an overlook. Also, a series of short loop hikes extends down on the North Carolina side from a USFS booth at the first unpaved parking area. Information is available at the booth. The booth is visible from the linear trail. Some of these trails are paved and handicapped accessible and there is a wooden boardwalk overlook as well. Picnic tables are available near the parking area.

Typical Conditions[edit]

Fees, Permits, etc.[edit]

USFS Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/null/recarea/?recid=48626&actid=64 The season of operation is from Memorial Day Weekend through the end of September; otherwise entrance gate is locked closed. $3 day use fee per car.

After the Hike[edit]

Misc. Information[edit]

Maps[edit]

Loading map...

Photos[edit]