Roan Mountain

Roan Mountain, near Bakersville, North Carolina, is famous for its spectacular annual display of rhododendron blooms.  Traffic often gets heavy along the rural mountain roads that lead into the Roan Mountain park, especially during Bakersville's Rhododendron Festival on the third weekend in June, but it is well worth the effort to view the showy displays, which range from white at lower elevations to deep rosy reds and purples higher on the ridge.

A part of the Pisgah National Forest, Roan Mountain is actually a five-mile long ridge ranging in altitude from 5,000 to 6,000 feet.  In the late 1970s, The Nature Conservancy helped protect portions of this unique area on behalf of the US Forest Service.  In addition to rhododendrons, Roan Mountain supports a rich diversity of plant life, from spruce-fir forests to large grassy balds, which visitors can access from well developed trails and attractive campgrounds.

An easy, paved trail starts at the information cabin and winds through rhododendrons to an overlook of the Roan Mountain.  From there, it is an easy walk along a short 0.3-mile loop or on a longer, figure-eight loop.  The Cloudland Trail is a moderate, 1.2-mile hike from the end of the Cloudland parking area to Roan High Bluff Overlook.  A ten-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail also passes through the Roan Mountain park with a trailhead at Carver's Gap.

It is often rainy and cool on Roan Mountain.  Sweaters and rain gear may be needed even in summer.

Roan Mountain Hours of Operation:
Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Roan Mountain Admission Fees:
$3 per car per day; $15 seasonal pass available
*Prices are subject to change without notice & from what is listed on this website.

Roan Mountain Location:
From the junction of NC 226 and NC 261 in Bakersville, take NC 261 north almost 13 miles to Carver's Gap on the North Carolina-Tennessee line.  Follow SR 1348, a two-mile spur road from Carver's Gap, to the Roan summit parking and trails.  The two-mile road from Carver's Gap to the gardens is open from May until late October.  Even after the road is gated, cross-country skiers and hikers are welcome to explore the winter beauty of Roan Mountain.
US Forest Service

Appalachian/Toecane Ranger District
P.O. Box 128
Burnsville, NC 28714
(828) 682-6146
On US 19-E bypass in Burnsville.
http://www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc