Friday, Feb. 7

Pack That Backpack – 7- 9 p.m. – Join Ranger Holland for an evening beginners program on the basics items needed for backcountry backpacking.  This program is for hikers new to backpacking and will be focused on what basic items should be included in your backpack and their uses. The program will be held in an indoor environment and last approximately one to one and a half hours. Participants can bring their own backpacking gear in addition to getting familiar with items brought for display.

This program is free but does require registration due to limited group size.  Meet at the park headquarters prior to going the program area. Meet at:Park Headquarters

Saturday, Feb. 8

2020 Winter Naturalist Rally

See schedule for program times.

Join the Friends of Roan Mountain for their annual Winter Naturalist Rally at Roan Mountain State Park. Celebrate the beauty of nature in winter while learning about the unique natural features that make this mountain such a unique place. 

Stay tuned for a schedule of events that will include guided nature hikes, guest speakers, wildlife viewing experiences and more! To keep up to date with the Winter Rally and to learn more about this awesome group of naturalists, visit the Friends of Roan Mountain website at http://www.friendsofroanmtn.org/default.htm. 

Meet at: See rally schedule for meeting locations.

Sunday, Feb. 9

Meet an Over Mountain Man – 3-4 p.m. – On Sunday, February 9th at 3:00PM, meet at Picnic Shelter #3 in the Roan Mountain State Park Campground to meet an Over-Mountain man as he prepares for the multi-day march to Kings Mountain in South Carolina. Participants will learn the history of Carter County’s most historic group of men who risked their life to bring security to their new found settlement. Many call the Battle of Kings Mountain the “beginning of the end” of the American Revolutionary War. Participants will also experience a live black powder demonstration and explore the gear and equipment used by these men in the late 1700s. No registration is required, just show up at Picnic Shelter 3.

Meet at:Picnic Shelter 3 in the Campground

Saturday, Feb. 15

Roan Mountain Geo Venture – 1-3 p.m. – On Saturday, February 15th at 1PM, join Ranger Phil Hylen at the Visitor Center to set off on a 1-mile geology expedition around the park. Participants will visit and learn about the iron mines and pits found across the park as well as learn how Roan Mountain was formed. Participants will also learn how to read topographic maps and compass. Before concluding, each participant will have the chance to break open their very own geode to discover their contents! This program is limited to 20 people and costs $10 to register. Be sure to dress warm and bring hiking essentials!

Meet at: Visitor Center Porch

Saturday, Feb. 22

Primitive and Improvised Cooking Methods – 1-p.m.-? – Join Ranger Holland for an educational and interactive program on various methods of preparing and cooking meals in the wild using improvised and primitive methods. Instruction will include using rocks for frying and steaming food, boiling in improvised containers, making bushbread, ashcakes, and bannock bread, planking meat with boards and other primitive cooking methods. Seasonal menu items may also include Squirrel on a Rock and Venison on a Stick depending upon availability.

Cost $11 per person. Registration is required and program space is limited.  This is a bushcraft program and will be held outdoors. Participants should dress according to weather conditions. Meet at Park Headquarters prior to going to the program area.

Saturday, March 7

Weed Wrangle 2020

To Be Determined.

Roan Mountain State Park once again joins in the state-wide Weed Wrangle event to combat non-native species of plants and restore our beautiful mountain landscape. Join us for a day of volunteering as we remove various unwanted vegetation and replace it with beautiful native plants. Times and details will soon be available, so be sure to check back! 

Volunteers must register online at:  https://stateoftennessee.formstack.com/forms/weed_wrangle_2020_rsvp_form and meet at the Park Visitor Center the morning of Saturday, March 7.    

Weed Wrangle® is a one-day, area-wide, volunteer effort to help rescue our public parks and green spaces from non-native invasive species through hands-on removal of especially harmful trees, vines, and flowering plants. Supervised by an expert in invasive weed management, Weed Wrangle® volunteers learn, practice and begin a habit of maintaining an area free of non-native invasive plants and encourage replanting with natives in removal areas. By engaging our neighbors and challenging them to take action in their own spaces, we hope to create a movement that will have the greatest impact on the invasive plant population.

Meet at Visitor Center Porch.

Saturday, April 4

Easter Egg Field Day

Noon – 3 p.m. — Roan Mountain State Park hosts our annual Easter Egg Hunt and Field Game Day from noon to 3 p.m. at the park amphitheater. Youth in various age groups will enjoy challenging outdoor egg hunts that showcase the beauty of spring in the Mountains. After our hunt and prize ceremony, the whole family is invited to join us for several field games and a photo op with the Easter Bunny! 

Hunt and Field Game details will be available soon!   

Meet at Park Amphitheater.