Roan Mountain Rhododendron Gardens: Roan Mountain, Tennessee

Each summer, tens of thousands of nature lovers make the trek to Roan Mountain, Tennessee to visit the largest natural Rhododendron gardens in the country. However, Roan Mountain and gardens makes for a great day trip that is well worth the drive any time of the year.

Just as you enter Roan Mountain State Park, you will come along the park visitors center off to your right. There is plenty of printed materials here to get you oriented, but the lone ranger is often a little too busy operating the gift shop to provide detailed assistance. Ample restrooms here make this a good pit stop, and the Peg Leg Iron Ore Mine exhibit might interest the young ones. Typical park gift shop fare is available, as well as rhododendron souvenirs and memorabilia. Proceeding further up 243, you will slowly wind along Beacon Creek, and the drive can be a little slow going with the steep turns and leisurely paced park visitors. After passing some shelters, you will come to the park head quarters and camping area. This is where the annual Roan Mountain Rhododendron Festival is held.

From here, it is several miles up hill to the turn off that will take you to the gardens. This general area is often called Cloudland because the area rests at an altitude above many of the clouds, often affording views out to surrounding peaks with clouds drifting by below. Dense, dark shades of green surround the road as you wind up the final system of curves past both residential and protected properties.

Finally, you will find yourself at the intersection for the the Rhododendron Gardens off to the right at Carvers Gap. There is a fee station charging $3.00 per vehicle. Just past the station, there is a sharp right onto a dirt road heading to roan Gardens. If you can get lucky and hit the gardens at their peak, prepare to be blown away. The true peak only lasts for a few days, but it is a once in a lifetime experience if you catch them just right. The time I caught them at their peak, the mountain top was awash in fog that largely blocked the overlook of blooming rhododendrons, but the walk through the garden trail loop and witnessing the season's blossoms peak more than made up for it.

For more information on the Roan Mountain region of Tennessee and North Carolina, consider checking out my other articles here on Associated Content: Roan Mountain State Park, Trails of Roan Mountain and Roan Mountain Rhododendron Festival.