Grassy Ridge
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Trail Overview
Spur trail off AT above Carver's Gap. Hike across balds by Catawba rhododendron (late June to September), pick huckleberries (August to mid-September), see the goats (July thru September), and reach the natural 360˚ view on the summit.
How to get there
From Kingsport, TN
- Take I-26 south to Exit 24 for US-321/TN-67 toward Elizabethton.
- Continue through Elizabethton and right at traffic light to stay on US-321 South.
- At Hampton, stay on US19E as it veers right.
- At Roan Mountain, turn right (south) onto TN143.
- Travel 13 miles to the TN/NC border and park at Carver's Gap.
(Alternatively at Steps 2-3, once just inside Elizabethton city limits, turn right on TN-362, then right again and follow Gap Creek Rd for 8 miles to US19E, thus bypassing around Elizabethton and Hampton.)
Route Description
From Carver's Gap, take AT northbound up and over the balds. (Stay on the trail path!) A junction sign will show the spur trail up to Grassy Ridge, which climbs up an established rut (which can become a creek in the rain). Reach the rock outcropping at the summit. Read the dedication plaque to Cornelious Rex Peake. Have lunch. And then return by reverse route.
Typical Conditions
From path from the trailhead over a couple of the balds has been specifically routed and hardened using gravel on geotextile. Stay on this path to avoid damage to the fragile landscape. Accessible year-around, thus can be snow covered trail in winter to summer rainshowers. High enough elevation to sometimes be "up in the clouds" as mist passed up and over the gap.
Fees, Permits, etc.
No permits or fees.
After the Hike
Ice cream at Bob's Dairyland back down in Roan Mountain, TN - yum.
Misc. Information
Maps
Photos
View back the way you came
Plaque dedicated to Cornelious Rex Peake
