Roan Mountain State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Roan Mountain State Park is located in the state of Tennessee and offers numerous reasons why visitors should come and explore its beauty.
°F
°F
mph
Wind
%
Humidity
Summary
Some of the things to experience include hiking, fishing, swimming, and camping. A major attraction of the park is the Roan Mountain, which is part of the Appalachian Trail and is famous for its rhododendron gardens. The park also has a visitor center, amphitheater, and picnic areas.
Some of the specific points of interest to see are the Miller Farmstead, which is a 19th century farmhouse that is preserved along with its outbuildings and gardens. Other areas to see include the Doe River and the swimming pool area in the park.
Interestingly, Roan Mountain State Park is the first park in Tennessee to offer mountain bike trails. It also has some of the best trout fishing in the state. Additionally, the park is home to various wildlife species, including deer, raccoons, and black bears.
The best time of year to visit Roan Mountain State Park is from May to October when the weather is mild and the rhododendrons are in bloom. However, visitors can also enjoy the park during winter activities such as snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and ice skating.
Overall, Roan Mountain State Park offers visitors a chance to experience the natural beauty of Tennessee's Appalachian Mountains with plenty of outdoor activities and scenic landscapes to explore.
Weather Forecast
Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Roan Mountain State Park
Upper Laurel Fork
Mountain View Motorcycle Campground
Dennis Cove Campground
Dennis Cove Rec Area
Dennis Cove Recreation Area
Wilderness Pond Mountain
Watauga Point Recreational Area
Wilderness Big Laurel Brcanch