Roan Mountain State Park

Miller Farmstead

The Miller Farmstead provides a glimpse back to the hardiness and self-sufficient lifestyles of the Appalachian settlers. The Miller house was built in 1908 and is now preserved as a reminder of the way folks used to live in these mountains. A barn, corn crib, hog pen, root cellar, smoke house, chicken house, spring house and, of course, an outhouse surround the old frame house. During the summer months, local musicians, storytellers and demonstrators of traditional folkways visit the house on Saturday afternoons to share their talents. October's autumn colors make a trip up to the house a treat. Every November the house gets decked out in holiday finery for the Old Time Yule at the Farmstead. Hot cider and snacks are served and live music fills the house. In 2015, the farmstead was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The farmstead is open Memorial Day to Labor Day, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM,  Wednesday through Sunday and weekends in October.

Carvers Gap

Carver's Gap, a low point in the ridgeline of Roan Mountain, is eight miles past the park on highway 143. As you drive up the road you leave Roan Mountain State Park and enter Cherokee National Forest, which is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). The parking lot at the gap provides access to the Appalachian Trail. To the north, the AT crosses a series of grassy balds, virtually treeless areas that offer unobstructed views of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina. This 10 mile stretch of balds is touted by many AT thru hikers as one of the most beautiful sections of the entire trail. To the south, the AT climbs to the high point of the Roan Mountain ridge - 6,285 foot Roan High Knob. 

To reach the famous Catawba rhododendron gardens and the old Cloudland Hotel site on Roan Mountain bear right at Carver's Gap onto the Forest Service access road. All vehicles must stop at the USFS fee station and pay a small fee to enter the gardens area. The access road is closed during the winter months. The Catawba rhododendrons normally bloom in mid to late June, putting on an amazing display of color. 

The pool opens on Saturday, May 26, for the 2018 season.

There are approximately 12 miles of hiking trails in Roan Mountain State Park and over 3 miles of mountain bike trails. Difficulty levels range from easy to strenuous.

The Doe River is one of the most productive trout streams in the state and is in close proximity to other wild trout streams as well as the Watauga River. Most anglers flyfish for abundant Rainbow and Brown Trout in the streams.  Other tackle is productive for bass, Walleye and catfish in the Watauga River.