Roan Highlands
The Roan Highlands are a series of five high mountain summits on the Appalachian Trail along the North Carolina/Tennessee line. Most of the summits are without trees offering beautiful views in all directions. The Roan Highlands are also a unique ecological region home to dozens of rare, threatened, and endangered species.
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I hit this on the weekend so it was packed full of people for the first few miles. But, because it was the weekend, I hit the jackpot when it comes to trail magic. At Carvers Gap, where the main access is located, there were two different trail magic stations. One was a station for a race but they were also feeding AT hikers. These had some of the most elaborate setups for trail magic including an enclosed vehicle trailer to go inside and eat in the warmth of heaters. I had camped up at the summit of Roan High Knob so it was early in the morning when I dropped down to Carvers Gap, but everything was in full swing. Departing the gap and all the food, I quickly forged on and found myself in miles of open terrain with views. What a treat the Roan Highlands are, probably the first real open terrain on the AT for more than just a vista or two. The highlands end with an epic viewpoint on Hump Mountain. How I wished I could have camped there but there was still too much daylight left.
My Visit:
From Hump Mtn. The AT crosses over Unaka and Roan High Knob but passes just under Grassy Ridge Bald.
Round Bald is so close to the parking area they have boardwalks for tourist hikers.
Roan Highlands goes all the way out there to Hump Mountain.
On Jane Bald looking over to Grassy Ridge Bald.
Jane Bald sign
On Jane Bald looking back to Round Bald and Roan High Knob.
In route to Little Hump Mountain.
Grandfather Mountain off the Blue Ridge Parkway.
On Little Hump heading toward Hump Mountain.
Summit of Hump Mountain
Looking back at the mountains the AT crossed over.
Heading north on the AT off a long ridge of Hump Mountain.
Summit of Hump Mountain looking back at Roan High Knob and Unaka Mountain.
Nice trail through the highlands.