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February 1-29

February 29

2024 Leap Year Hike – 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Meet at the Cabins Overflow Parking Lot. Price is $0/Free Participant Registration, $10/Participant +$10 Park Donation, $20/Participant + $20 Park Donation. 

2024 is a leap year and what better way to celebrate than to leap into a hike at beautiful Roan Mountain State Park? Join Park Ranger Phil Hylen from 1 to 3 p.m. for a 1.5-mile loop hike along Moonshiner’s Run, Forest Road, and Turkey Trot trails. This moderate difficulty hike offers gorgeous views of the Doe River, Southern Cove Forests, and ridgetop views of the surrounding foothills of majestic Roan Mountain. All trails are natural surface with a steep 30% grade climb along the 0.10-mile stretch of Forest Road Trail. For more trail and hike eligibility requirements, please see the attached Essential Eligibility Criteria form.  

This hike will meet and end at the Cabins Parking Lot Trailhead for Moonshiner’s Run Trail. Once you enter the cabins area off Highway 143, signs will be posted to direct you to the trailhead. This hike is limited to 20 participants, so be sure to register your spot today! Optional donations made will be used for the construction of a back country trail and campsites. Be sure to wear good hiking shoes and dress for unpredictable winter weather. 

March 2

Roan Mountain 2024 Weed Wrangle – 9 a.m.- Noon. Meet at the Visitor Center Porch. Register for the event.

Join Roan Mountain State Park rangers and other volunteers for an invasive plant mop-up operation at the Visitor Center from 9 a.m.-noon. Volunteers will work alongside rangers to remove non-native Chinese Privet new growth from the forest edge surrounding the Visitor Center and also plant native plants in the same area to aid in rehabilitating the area against re-growth of privet. Hand tools and protective gear will be provided by the park. Volunteers are asked to bring water and to wear good work clothes and close-toed shoes. March in Roan Mountain can also be quite cold, so be prepared for chilly weather. 

Volunteers are limited to 20 individuals and minors under the age of 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the event. Volunteers also must be a minimum of 12 years of age. Meet your hosts at the Visitor Center porch to begin.

 

March 9

Naturalist: BioBlitz – 3 p.m. 4:30 p.m. Meet at Shelter 3 in the campground. Price is $0/Attendee, $5/Attendee + Donation, $5/Donation (no attendance), $10/Attendee + Donation, $10/Donation (no attendance). Register for the event. “A bioblitz is a communal citizen-science effort to record as many species within a designated location and time period as possible.”

Join us as we learn about amazing tools such as iNaturalist that scientists and citizens alike can use to identify wildlife in their own backyard! As we discuss what citizen science is, and the importance of it, we will be scouring the Tom Gray trail to see what we can find. By participating in this program you are serving an important role in collecting species data for Roan Mountain State Park.

This program is suitable for all ages and is a great way for families to learn and explore nature together! We will meet at Shelter 3, located in the campground next to the camp store and playground. The campground is located directly past the tennis courts on the right. 

Participants should bring sturdy hiking shoes, a device with the iNaturalist app installed (we can help on location if needed), and plenty of water.

March 16

Peg Leg Mine GeoVenture – 1 – 3 p.m. Meet at the Visitor Center Porch. Price is $10. Register for the event. Join Park Ranger Phil Hylen from 1-3PM on Saturday, March 16th at the Roan Mountain State Park Visitor Center porch to take part in a unique iron mining history tour of the Peg Leg Mine. Located on the edge of the Cranberry iron ore vein, the Peg Leg Mine offers participants a 1.2-mile hike through Southern Appalachian Cove forest to see how iron mining in the mountains was conducted at the turn of the 20th century.

While exploring, participants will take on the role of iron miners in the late 1800s, test iron deposits for quality, and open your very own iron ore and geodes. This guided experience is limited to 12 participants with a ticket fee of $15.00 per person. This program will begin and end at the Visitor Center porch. Be sure to dress warm and bring a camera!

March 23

2024 Spring Hike – 10 a.m. 12 Noon. Meet at Visitor Center Porch. Price is $0/Attendee, $10/$10 Donation (not attending), $10/Attendee + $10 Donation, $20/$20Donation ( Not attending), $20/Attendee + $20 Donation. Register for the event. Join Roan Mountain State Park on Saturday, March 23rd at the Visitor Center from 10:00 AM – Noon for a Spring hike along the Moonshine Run Trail.  After meeting at the Visitor Center Parking Lot, guests will follow the park ranger to the trail head parking lot by the park cabins area for a 1.5 mile hike along the gorgeous Doe River while enjoying some of our early Spring wildflowers. This hike is limited to 20 participants with no cost, but donations to our park will help with current trail planning and construction.  

Hikers are encouraged to bring cameras, water, and sturdy hiking shoes. Leashed dogs are welcome.

February 29

2024 Leap Year Hike – 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Meet at the Cabins Overflow Parking Lot. Price is $0/Free Participant Registration, $10/Participant +$10 Park Donation, $20/Participant + $20 Park Donation. 

2024 is a leap year and what better way to celebrate than to leap into a hike at beautiful Roan Mountain State Park? Join Park Ranger Phil Hylen from 1 to 3 p.m. for a 1.5-mile loop hike along Moonshiner’s Run, Forest Road, and Turkey Trot trails. This moderate difficulty hike offers gorgeous views of the Doe River, Southern Cove Forests, and ridgetop views of the surrounding foothills of majestic Roan Mountain. All trails are natural surface with a steep 30% grade climb along the 0.10-mile stretch of Forest Road Trail. For more trail and hike eligibility requirements, please see the attached Essential Eligibility Criteria form.  

This hike will meet and end at the Cabins Parking Lot Trailhead for Moonshiner’s Run Trail. Once you enter the cabins area off Highway 143, signs will be posted to direct you to the trailhead. This hike is limited to 20 participants, so be sure to register your spot today! Optional donations made will be used for the construction of a back country trail and campsites. Be sure to wear good hiking shoes and dress for unpredictable winter weather. 

March 2

Roan Mountain 2024 Weed Wrangle – 9 a.m.- Noon. Meet at the Visitor Center Porch. Register for the event.

Join Roan Mountain State Park rangers and other volunteers for an invasive plant mop-up operation at the Visitor Center from 9 a.m.-noon. Volunteers will work alongside rangers to remove non-native Chinese Privet new growth from the forest edge surrounding the Visitor Center and also plant native plants in the same area to aid in rehabilitating the area against re-growth of privet. Hand tools and protective gear will be provided by the park. Volunteers are asked to bring water and to wear good work clothes and close-toed shoes. March in Roan Mountain can also be quite cold, so be prepared for chilly weather. 

Volunteers are limited to 20 individuals and minors under the age of 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the event. Volunteers also must be a minimum of 12 years of age. Meet your hosts at the Visitor Center porch to begin.

 

March 9

Naturalist: BioBlitz – 3 p.m. 4:30 p.m. Meet at Shelter 3 in the campground. Price is $0/Attendee, $5/Attendee + Donation, $5/Donation (no attendance), $10/Attendee + Donation, $10/Donation (no attendance). Register for the event. “A bioblitz is a communal citizen-science effort to record as many species within a designated location and time period as possible.”

Join us as we learn about amazing tools such as iNaturalist that scientists and citizens alike can use to identify wildlife in their own backyard! As we discuss what citizen science is, and the importance of it, we will be scouring the Tom Gray trail to see what we can find. By participating in this program you are serving an important role in collecting species data for Roan Mountain State Park.

This program is suitable for all ages and is a great way for families to learn and explore nature together! We will meet at Shelter 3, located in the campground next to the camp store and playground. The campground is located directly past the tennis courts on the right. 

Participants should bring sturdy hiking shoes, a device with the iNaturalist app installed (we can help on location if needed), and plenty of water.

March 16

Peg Leg Mine GeoVenture – 1 – 3 p.m. Meet at the Visitor Center Porch. Price is $10. Register for the event. Join Park Ranger Phil Hylen from 1-3PM on Saturday, March 16th at the Roan Mountain State Park Visitor Center porch to take part in a unique iron mining history tour of the Peg Leg Mine. Located on the edge of the Cranberry iron ore vein, the Peg Leg Mine offers participants a 1.2-mile hike through Southern Appalachian Cove forest to see how iron mining in the mountains was conducted at the turn of the 20th century.

While exploring, participants will take on the role of iron miners in the late 1800s, test iron deposits for quality, and open your very own iron ore and geodes. This guided experience is limited to 12 participants with a ticket fee of $15.00 per person. This program will begin and end at the Visitor Center porch. Be sure to dress warm and bring a camera!

March 23

2024 Spring Hike – 10 a.m. 12 Noon. Meet at Visitor Center Porch. Price is $0/Attendee, $10/$10 Donation (not attending), $10/Attendee + $10 Donation, $20/$20Donation ( Not attending), $20/Attendee + $20 Donation. Register for the event. Join Roan Mountain State Park on Saturday, March 23rd at the Visitor Center from 10:00 AM – Noon for a Spring hike along the Moonshine Run Trail.  After meeting at the Visitor Center Parking Lot, guests will follow the park ranger to the trail head parking lot by the park cabins area for a 1.5 mile hike along the gorgeous Doe River while enjoying some of our early Spring wildflowers. This hike is limited to 20 participants with no cost, but donations to our park will help with current trail planning and construction.  

Hikers are encouraged to bring cameras, water, and sturdy hiking shoes. Leashed dogs are welcome.