Roan Mountain State Park

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Roan Mountain State Park
Roan Miller Homestead.jpg
Park Type State Park
Located Roan Mountain, Tennessee
External Links Official Website

Official Trail Map

Entrance Fee None
ActivitiesThings to do at the park HikingBikingGeocachingFishing
Park AmenitiesThings built to enjoy or use at the park PoolsFast Food GrillPicnickingPlaygrounds
FeaturesNatural things to see at the park VistasRivers
Park Trails

11 Trails / Total of 12.67 miles20.39 km <br />

Lodging Types CabinsCampgroundGroup Campground
Camping Amenities

Site waterDump station20 amp electrical30 amp electricalTent onlyShowersClothes WashingPlaygroundsWi-FiCamp Store

Park Area 2,006 acres8.118 km² <br />
Operated By Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
Main Location 36° 10' 35.54" N, 82° 4' 45.84" W Map
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Park Overview[edit]

Roan Mountain State Park offers 11 trails with a total of 12.67 miles of hiking trails running through forest and some up to overlooks. This park doesn't have the greatest trails, probably nothing I would recommend traveling to simply for the hiking. Where this park shines is its campground and serving as a great jumping off point to the hiking in the Roan Highlands. Also of great attraction are the rallies held here throughout the year offering both youth and adult focus.

How to get there[edit]

From Johnson City (I-26 Exit 24):

  1. Take TN67/US321 over to Elizabethton (about eight miles).
  2. Turn right/south at traffic light for TN37/US19E/US321 and travel for 17 miles.
  3. Turn right/south for TN143 for five miles to park visitors center.
  4. Trailheads are in several places around the park.

GPS address is 1015 Hwy 143 Roan Mountain, TN 37687.

Park Trails[edit]

There are several discrepancies between the park trail map, posted trail lengths, and GPS measured hikes. This wiki lists the GPS tracked hike.

Roan Mountain State Park has the following 11 trails totaling 12.67 miles.

Park Trails Distance Difficulty Marking Usage Highlight
Blue 2 1.51 mi Medium Blue

HikingBiking

One of the two trail mountain bike system at the park
Chestnut Ridge 2.19 mi Medium Orange

Hiking

Cloudland 0.62 mi Easy Light Blue

Hiking

Self guided visitor's trail from the visitor's center/grist mill
Forest Road 3.22 mi Medium Purple

HikingFishing

Fred Behrend 2.20 mi Medium Green

HikingFishing

Loop hike from the campground
Peg Leg Mine 0.28 mi Easy White

Hiking

View the entrance to an abandoned mine
Raven Rock 0.97 mi Medium Red

HikingGeocaching

Easy(ish) hike from the campground to a view of the hollow
Ridge Top 0.23 mi Easy Yellow

HikingBiking

One of the two trail mountain bike system at the park
Riverside 0.57 mi Easy White

Hiking

Easy, handicap accessible, trail along Doe River
Tom Gray 0.47 mi Easy White

Hiking

Easy hike from the campground
Turkey Trot 0.41 mi Medium Red

Hiking

Connects the cabins to the trail artery Forest Road

Official Park Map

Park Lodging[edit]

Park offers RV sites, tent only sites as well as cabins. Sites fill up quickly on most summer weekends. It is ill advised to arrive without a reservation in the summer.

Campground[edit]

Camp store sells wood, ice, and some very basic other sundries. The main RV area is blanketed with Wi-Fi but when visiting in Summer of 2015, couldn't be accessed. Several bathhouses are spread around the site and include flushing toilets and hot showers. A dump station for RV's is also available near the camp check-in station.

Typical tent only site

Tent only sites are built on a course gravel bed so bring your tarps to protect your tent floor and sleeping pads or mattresses for comfort. Each site includes a lantern post, a concrete picnic table, rock lined fire ring, standing grill, water hydrant, and trash can. Note that the tent only sites do not have electrical hookups.

Camp sites of special note:

  • 22 & 38 have no tree block separating them (good for groups, bad for others)
  • 26 is next to a bathroom with a light and fan on all night
  • 33, 35, 36, 37, 39, and 40 are prime sites along the Doe River

Note! As a state park, alcoholic beverages are prohibited.

Other Park Amenities[edit]

  • Pool
  • Playgrounds
  • Amphitheater
  • Conference center
  • Picnic areas
  • Pavilions
  • Tennis courts
  • Shuffle board - in state of disrepair
  • Volleyball court

Fees, Permits, etc.[edit]

The park has no day use, trail head, or entrance fees.

Camping fees range from $11-$27.50 per night depending on time of year and site amenities plus a $3 per reservation fee and taxes. Reservations can be made at their website.

Cabins range from $85 — $140 per night depending on size and time of year plus a $3 per reservation fee and taxes. Reservations can be made at their website.

Misc. Information[edit]

The house at the Miller Homestead was built in 1908 by Nathanial Miller and eventually became the home of his family of wife Sallie and their six children (Eula, Frank, David, Steward, Lloyd, and Carrie). Frank Miller was a State Park on-site interpreter for a time before his death.

After the Hike[edit]

After a hike, check out Bob's Dairyland back down in Roan Mountain.

Gallery[edit]