Roan Highlands Balds
An open, grassy ridge walk across the Roan balds, Round Bald to Jane Bald, with 360-degree views and famous June rhododendron.
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- Length
- 4.6 mi
- Elevation gain
- 700 ft
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Route
- out-and-back
Trail conditions
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Report current conditions →Elevation
1.8 mi · 663 ft of climbing · high 5,895 ft · low 5,517 ft
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Parking
Nearest parking from OpenStreetMap (not verified by us).
Directions to parkingParking data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Weather at the trailhead
61°FFog now
Sunrise 6:20 AM · Sunset 8:47 PM
- TodayRain64° / 58°F56% precip
- SunDrizzle65° / 56°F71% precip
- MonRain showers68° / 52°F71% precip
Forecast from Open-Meteo. Mountain conditions change fast; check again before you go.
From Carvers Gap, the Appalachian Trail climbs onto the Roan balds, a rare stretch of treeless high country straddling the Tennessee–North Carolina line. The walk over Round Bald and Jane Bald is mostly gentle with enormous views in every direction. Time it for mid-June and the rhododendron gardens blaze pink. Wind and fog are common up here; bring a layer even in summer.