Likewise, there are fewer places that have the same level of dedication this official A.T. Community has for serving its visitors and stewarding its land. Located in southeastern Carter County, the town shares a name with the mountain that the A.T. crosses, just south of town. At 6,285 feet, Roan is the highest point in Tennessee outside of Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains. This section of the A.T. is home to the Roan High Knob Shelter, which sits at a higher elevation than any other on the Trail.

Just down the road from the Trail, Roan Mountain State Park, which offers 2,000 acres of wildlife and wildflowers, is the gateway to the Roan Highlands. The park has 12 miles of hiking trails ranging from beginner to expert, offers educational programs, maintains areas to fish and swim in the Doe River, and keeps their cabins, RV sites and tent sites full for months. Spring brings wildflowers and trout fishing while summer means rhododendrons in bloom and swimming at the pool. The bright colors of autumn provide a lovely backdrop for the park’s special events, hiking, and a visit to Jarrett’s Orchard and the Miller Farmstead. In winter, Roan Mountain transforms into a spectacular ice and snowscape and provides opportunities for cross-country skiing.

Roan Mountain also offers a variety of accommodations for travelers. There’s the campground with RV sites at the state park as well as hostels and bed and breakfast establishments for people with a more domestic preference. Roan Mountain Bed and Breakfast and Mountain Harbour Bed and Breakfast and Hiker Hostel are two veteran accommodations with long-standing reputations among hikers. Every option for accommodation feels like home and most are expanding to cater to the needs of those who enjoy hiking the Appalachian Trail. A newcomer to the accommodation scene is Doe River’s Hiker Rest.

But you don’t need to like hiking to enjoy all that this area has to offer. Fish, sail, kayak, and white-water raft; or just relax and enjoy the surroundings and welcoming vibe of what is often referred to as “Tennessee’s Mountain Playground.”

Rest and relax at Mountain Harbour Bed and Breakfast, which also offers hostel beds, tenting, and even a unique and cozy treehouse (complete with queen size bed) that makes for a perfect romantic getaway.

The Doe River Hiker Rest is a nine-bunk hiker hostel with a small working farm on site that provides farm fresh eggs for breakfast, bikes for rent, and has a well-equipped kitchen.

Grab an ice-cold brew at The Station at 19E — Roan Mountain’s only craft beer pub, which also accompanies a hostel. The hostel is owned by Doe River Hiker Rest and because it is located off the trailhead, this stop is a mixing point for the local community and travelers.

Stay at the Roan Mountain Bed and Breakfast. This cozy bed and breakfast is hosted by Steve and Ann Campbell, both of whom are retired from the local school system and love to share their knowledge of the area to create a memorable vacation.

Fish, camp, stay at a cabin, swim, and relax at Roan Mountain State Park. The park hosts several seasonal events including a summer concert series.

Enjoy a tasty meal and reminisce at Bob’s Dairyland, one of the oldest restaurants in Carter County. It was opened in 1956 and is frequently visited by travelers who remember the establishment from their childhood.

Treat yourself to something savory at Smoky Mountain Bakers, which offers more than just fresh bread. Locals rave about the brick oven pizza and breakfast specials, all cooked up by award-winning bakers Tim and Crystal Decker.

Take in the lofty beauty of the Roan Highlands section of the Appalachian Trail that passes through Carver’s Gap, the Roan Balds, and the largest stand of Catawba Rhododendron in the world — with an elevation that reaches above 6,000 feet.