Visit Roan Mountain
Published 2:35 pm Tuesday, March 19, 2024
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March 1-31
March 23
2024 Spring Hike – 10 a.m. – noon. Meet at the 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 at the Visitor Center from 10 a.m. – 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 trailhead 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.
March 23
Doe River Beginner Fly-Tying – 10 a.m. – 12 noon. Meet at the Visitor Center Porch. Price is $20 and you can register for the event. Have you ever wanted to learn to make your own flies for fishing the streams of the Roan Mountain? Join Park Ranger Phil Hylen from 10 a.m. – noon for our Fly-tying for Beginners class. In this 2-hour course, participants will learn the basics of the art of fly-tying and make their very first fly. This class will also introduce you to some of our more common aquatic critters that flies model by turning over a few rocks and leaves in the Doe River and getting a close-up look at the dinner menu our local trout enjoy. This 101 class is limited to 5 fly-tyers at a fee of $20/person with registration available by using the registration link on this event or at a park office. If you are registering a youth, parents are asked to stay and assist the minor during the class (assisting adults are not required to register unless you are making your own fly as well). This class will take place at the Roan Mountain State Park Visitor Center – meet your host on the porch.
March 24
Snakes of North East Tennessee – 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Meet at the Visitor Center Porch. Meet Ranger Phil Hylen and a couple of our local snake ambassadors at the Roan Mountain State Park Visitor Center from 10-11 a.m. Learn what some of our local snakes are and the jobs they do for us. Also, learn some interesting region-specific information while busting a few local myths! This free program will end with a live snake presentation designed to learn more about the nature of these unique critters found in the Appalachian Mountains.
Raptors of the Roan – 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Meet at Park Headquarters. Join Roan Mountain State Park at the aviary (located at the park headquarters building) to meet our owl ambassadors and aviary staff. Participants will become familiar with the rich and unique diversity of birds of prey (raptors) found in the park and surrounding area of Roan Mountain. This is a great way to learn of many local raptor birding destinations and events! Of course, meeting our live education owls is an experience all on its own! Pets are not allowed in the vicinity of the aviary unless in the case of service animals at a distance set by the program staff.
March 30
Build Your Own Hiking Stick – 10 a.m. – Noon. Meet at Shelter 3 in the campground. Price is $15. Register for the event. Visitors will have the opportunity to select a stick among the park’s downed trees along the Tom Gray trail and campground. Visitors can either cut their limb with a bow saw or have a ranger do it for them. This event will end at the camp store where participants will be able to use files, rasps, and cordage to customize their very own hiking stick!
This program is suited for ages 12 and up. Participants should wear sturdy hiking shoes and bring plenty of water.
Meeting location: Shelter 3 in the campground. Campground is located on the right directly past the tennis courts.
Night Sky Party: The Spring Triangle – 8 p.m. – 9 p.m. Meet at Cabins 21-30 Parking Lot Fire Pit. Roan Mountain State Park will be hosting a free night sky party at the cabins area fire pit located by the cabins 21-30 parking lot. Our March night sky theater will focus on the Spring Triangle, a trio of stars readily seen every night from across our country from spring to early summer. Enjoy the warmth of a campfire while enjoying snacks and ranger-led stories about the March stars. This is a free event with no registration. Guests are encouraged to dress for the weather and to bring a comfy chair and binoculars.
March 30
Tomahawk Toss – 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Price is $5. Register for the event. Learn to throw a tomahawk! Join Ranger Holland as we have fun learning a popular frontier pastime. Tomahawks provided. No previous Tomahawk-throwing experience is required to enjoy this fun program. Meet at Shed #3.
March 31
Natural Crafts – 2 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Price is $10. Register for the event. Express your artistic side while making useful and decorative items from natural materials. During the program we will repurpose wood portions of downed trees from past storm damage and other materials found in nature. These will be used to create unique items that each participant may keep at the conclusion of the program. Meet at park headquarters prior to going to the program area.
al event will meet at the Roan Mountain State Park Headquarters building at 9:30 a.m. where staff will split volunteers up into working groups to move along the highway in search of areas of Garlic Mustard to tackle. The park will provide volunteers with work gloves and tools. This volunteer event is limited to 30 participants. Plucking out the pesky invaders when they’re young and tender isn’t hard work, but it does take a lot of hands!
Volunteers are encouraged to bring water bottles and snacks for the day. We will break for an hour lunch period at noon where volunteers could bring a packed lunch or utilize one of the many local dining options in the village of Roan Mountain. The event will conclude with a weigh-in of the pulled Garlic Mustard.