Roan Mountain State Park
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Beautiful in any season, Roan Mountain attracts those looking for breath taking views and a quiet solitude above the clouds. Nestled beneath the 6,285-foot peak of its name sake, Roan Mountain State Park provides the perfect base for visitors to explore this beautiful highlands region.

A ten mile drive from the park takes visitors through spectacular heights of the Roan, a naturalist's paradise with a rich array of plant and animal life. During the middle of June, the Catawba rhododendron burst into bloom, forming one of the largest natural rhododendron gardens in the world.

	The Appalachian Trail meanders across the Roan highlands, taking visitors across the largest expanse of grass balds in the southern Appalachians. Impressive views, thick carpets of moss and many wildflowers greet the hiker along these high mountain ridges.

The park is located in Carter County, about twenty miles south of Elizabethton,Tennessee. On Interstate 181 in Johnson City, take the Elizabethton exit (Highway 67). Take Highway 67 into Elizabethton; then take 19E south out of Elizabethton to the village of Roan Mountain. In Roan Mountain, take Highway 143 to Roan Mountain State Park.

	If you're coming from North Carolina, the following is a small map to the Park.

The park is located in Carter County, about twenty miles south of Elizabethton,Tennessee. On Interstate 181 in Johnson City, take the Elizabethton exit (Highway 67). Take Highway 67 into Elizabethton; then take 19E south out of Elizabethton to the village of Roan Mountain. In Roan Mountain, take Highway 143 to Roan Mountain State Park.

CABINS
	The park has 30 AAA Deluxe cabins, each completely furnished with linens and cooking facilities, and accommodating up to six adults in each. Cabins are reserved on a weekly basis from the week of June first through the last Sunday in August.

CAMPING

Roan Mountain has two campgrounds with a total of 111 campsites. The first, located just west of the camper check-in station, has a total of 50 campsites. These sites offer tables, grills, water and electrical hook-ups. Three bathhouses with hot showers and restrooms serve the area. The second campground, set in an area of mountain laurel and rhododendron, has 20 tent sites for organized non-profit groups. Family/individual camping permitted in group area. Three bathhouses serve this area. A laundromat, playground, and dumping station are located at the camper check-in station.

PICNICKING
	The park has 30 picnic tables with grills, as well as three picnic pavilions for large groups from 36 to 75 persons. Water, restrooms and playgrounds are located nearby.

HIKING
Just a few miles drive from the State Park avid hikers can enjoy the scenic beauty of the Appalchian Trail, which follows the peaks through the Roan Mountain Wilderness Area.

	Eight designated trails, ranging up to four miles in length, meander throughout the park. The trails vary in difficulty, some leading to highland peaks while others follow mountain streams and the Doe River.

Hikers will see wildflowers such as showy orchids, trillium and larkspur.

	For the experienced hiker, the most popular stretch of the Appalachian Trail crosses the Roan High Knob. A map of park trails is available at the park office.

SWIMMING
The park has one of the most modern and well kept swimming pools in the area. Free swimming lessons and recreational programs are offered in the summer months. The heated pool is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, depending on the availability of trained lifeguards.

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING
	Roan Mountain is the only cross country skiing state park in the South.

The beauty of Roan in Winter can be an experience that refreshes and renews the soul.

	The top of Roan Mountain offers the novice and experienced skier a selection of trails and areas for a ski experience.

Skis can be rented in the Tri Cities area in Tennessee, or in the Boone area of North Carolina.

	The park itself has three skiing trails and open fields, totaling approximately 8.5 miles.

RECREATION/PROGRAMS

The park offers a wide range of other recreational activities including horseshoes, badminton, volleyball, ping-pong, whitewater rafting, and much more. Equipment and games may be checked out free of charge at the camper check-in station and the park office. A park interpretive specialist is on duty year round, providing many programs and activities by appointment. Two additional park programmers are available during the summer months, providing tours, campfire programs, slide shows, demonstrations, movies and much more.

	The park is the site of many special events each year, including the Carter County Wildflower Tours and Bird Walks in May, the Rhododendron Festival in June when the United States UFO Information and Research Center Conference is held, and the Roan Mountain Naturalist Rally in September. Special event information can be obtained by calling the park office.

DAVID MILLER FARMSTEAD
The Farmstead was built in 1908 on Strawberry Mountain. It is open Wednesday through Sunday of each week from Memorial Day through Labor Day and on weekends in October.

Even more scenic views of Roan and Unaka Mountain Wilderness areas await you by clicking on the appropriate link below. To request copies of the Roan Mountain and Roan Mountain State Park Visitor's Guides call: 1 (800) 250-8620 Click inside the button below for a scenic tour of Roan and Unaka Mountain Wilderness Areas!

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This website is sponsored by Appalachian GhostWalks and Ghost Tours.