page_title: Roan Mountain (Roan Highlands)
section_title: Access
hierarchical_section_title: Roan Mountain (Roan Highlands) / Access
caption_attribution_description: The Appalachian Trail shelter just below the summit of Roan High Knob, on the Tennessee-North Carolina border. The shelter was built in the 1930's, and originally used by the fire marshall who manned a nearby fire tower. It is now maintained by the Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club (TEHCC), and at 6,280 ft./1,914 meters is the highest shelter on the entire trail.
context_page_description: Roan Mountain is the highpoint of the Unaka Range of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, located in the Southeastern United States. The mountain is clad in a dense stand of Southern Appalachian spruce-fir forest, and includes the world's largest natural rhododendron garden, and the longest stretch of grassy bald in the Appalachian range. The Cherokee National Forest and Pisgah National Forest converge atop the mountain, with Roan Mountain State Park located near its northern base. The Appalachian Trail traverses most of the Roan's crest. The Roan High Knob Shelter is the highest back-country shelter on the entire 2,174-mile trail.
  Roan Mountain comprises the greater part of the Roan Highlands, a 20-mile massif stretching from Big Rock Creek on the west to U.S. Route 19 on the east. Most of this massif lies along the Tennessee-North Carolina border, between Carter County and Mitchell County. Yellow Mountain and Little Hump Mountain, on the northern tip of the massif, are part of the Roan Highlands but are generally not considered part of Roan Mountain proper.
  Roan Mountain encompasses five summits, which are divided into two sections by Carver's Gap.
context_section_description: State Routes TN-143/NC-261 — which connect the village of Roan Mountain in Tennessee with Bakersville, North Carolina — ascend the northeast slope of Roan Mountain, crossing its crest at Carver's Gap. The Appalachian Trail can be accessed from Carver's Gap (it runs perpendicular to the highway), where there is a small parking lot. To the east (across the street from the parking lot), the trail ascends Round Bald and proceeds across Grassy Ridge. To the west, the trail swings around Roan High Knob just over one mile (1.6 km) to Tollhouse Gap, where it turns north.
  A paved road crosses the south side of Roan High Knob, connecting Carver's Gap with Tollhouse Gap, although this road is closed in Winter. This road leads to the Cloudland Trailhead, which crosses the Rhododendron Gardens and ascends the western slope of Roan High Bluff to the observation platform just below the summit. The trail is just over a mile long.
  The Roan High Knob Shelter, near the summit of Roan High Knob, can accommodate 15 backpackers. The shelter is maintained by the Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club.
caption: The Roan High Knob Shelter.
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