Appalachian Trail Tennessee Section Hike: Roan Highlands and Dennis Cove
Looking to hike a section of the Appalachian Trail in Tennessee? The Roan Highlands and Dennis Cove Sections of the Appalachian Trail in Tennessee were two of our favorite AT Sections that could be combined into one loooooong weekend! In 2023 we section hiked 1,225 miles of the Appalachian Trail, the longest footpath in the world, and spent 13 weeks day hiking, working, and van camping on the Appalachian Trail as we moved up the trail slowly from Georgia to Maine. In this series we cover each section we hiked and in this article we cover the area Northbound and Southbound from Carvers Gap (the Roan Highlands region) and Dennis Cove in Tennessee.
The Roan Highlands Stretch of the Appalachian Trail on the Tennessee/North Carolina Border.
If heading NOBO (Northbound) on the Appalachian Trail the Roan High Knob shelter (technically in North Carolina) is marked as mile 379 of the 2023 AT Distance and the Wilbur Dam road is marked as mile 433. This 54 mile stretch is what we covered in four days and you will gain 12k in ascent and about 16k in descent!
Carvers Gap is a popular gap in this section and while you are in Tennessee on the AT you can see that North Carolina is just around the corner (literally!)
Roan Highlands and Dennis Cove Tennessee Appalachian Trail Section Hike Need to Know’s:
The Roan High Knob Shelter is the highest shelter on the AT at 6,285 feet!
Don’t plan on being able to leave a car or even park if at Carvers Gap on a weekend. This is a VERY popular place to day hike.
The fine team at Black Bear Resort Hostel and Campground provides slack packing services should you want to lighten your load on this section hike and stay there each night! We loved camping there with them.
If you are able to hike the Roan Knob Highlands section during the Rhododendron bloom in the spring you will be treated to the finest flower explosion I have ever witnessed! This was my 5th favorite day hiking on the AT.
Laurel Falls is one of the most magnificent waterfalls on the AT and you can walk there very easily from Dennis Cove/Black Bear Resort if you are just staying there and want to do a day hike with a “payoff.”
If you are choosing to backpack this 54 mile stretch you have four shelter options and one campsite option to break out your journey on the AT!
Take the Blue Blaze Trail to Coon Den Falls, it’s steep but well worth the extra two miles!
What else happened that was memorable during this section hike in Tennessee?
We saw (and technically attended!) our first wedding on the trail as a couple exchanged vows on a summit in the Roan Highlands while we ate lunch.
The area from Dennis Cove packed in a TON of wildlife/plants. Black bears, Orange Salamanders, Bright Red Fungi that were almost melting on the trees, Rattlesnake Skins galore, and every color of mushroom you could imagine!
The Smokeys gets a TON of love (and deservedly so) but this stretch of Tennessee is my favorite section of the AT on it. We didn’t hike the Smokeys in 2023 due to having our dog with us but I have done previous hikes there on the trail.
I got my trail name on this section! “Napa” and the “Hamburgler” said I was “DH” as in Day Hiker since I came off the trail every day to the van and it stuck/evolved to also mean “Designated Hitter” as in baseball. I was only playing offense. I didn’t have to dig holes to use the bathroom or sleep in the shelter so I was just hiking and playing offense.
I ran into a SOBO Thru Hiker at Laurel Falls who said the stairs out of that area were so steep he felt like he was “Back in Maine or New Hampshire!”
Travis and Linda who own the Black Bear are the best. You can listen to Linda on our podcast HERE!
What gear did I use and like the most on my 2023 AT Section Hike?
Hoka One Kaha’s were my trusted shoes for this day (and for the whole summer on the trail.)
I used my REI 40 Liter Backpack. This worked great since I was coming on and off the trail every day but most thru-hikers or multi-day section hikers were looking at bigger packs than mine.
Darn Tough Vermont and Merino Wool Socks from REI and SmartWool were my go to’s.
Osprey Water Bladder and Lifestraw Collapsible Filter for hydration.
I wore New Balance running shorts mainly and much preferred that to more typical hiking shorts.
Gaiters were a must as was coating our clothes in Permethrin to avoid ticks. (We did not get any ticks remarkably while hiking the AT in 2023.)
The AT Guide by AWOL and AT Conservancy are AMAZING resources for a hike on the AT!
Another gorgeous day hiking the AT in Tennessee.
We started to catch up with thru-hikers during this portion of the trail and it was great to feel that trail community coming alive.
Our dog Cotopaxi also was warned about a big yappy dog who runs around off leash…turns out it was a pug named Chloe who he became fast friends with!
When we mapped out our time hiking in Tennessee I recognized instantly that it was a short stretch (this was our only section we did in the state) and part of that was no dogs in the Smoky Mountain NP and part of that was just pure circumstance. However by doing this stretch we created a lifetime of memories on the AT in Tennessee and I think I would do this section again and again if I lived closer to it.
It’s THAT GOOD!
Tennessee was SHORT but super SWEET for us as I mentioned. And I have to say our timing of weather for when we hiked this stretch of the AT was perfect. The blooming, the wildlife, and I ever learned about what it meant to hike in the rain ALL DAY long for the first time. I did it twice and it gave me a greater appreciation for what it meant to do a thru-hike. It’s as much wetness, blisters, and bugs as it is fun, epic views, and memorable people. Thru-Hikers are tough and it takes guts!
Thanks for reading and happy trails to you! Whether you are planning a thru, section, or day hike…or are a trail town local, trail angel, or just someone wanting to learn more about the longest footpath in the world…I hope the Appalachian Trail gives you what you need! Don’t forget to Leave No Trace and pack your 10 Essentials!
Comment below with questions or your experience on this section.
Our Tennessee AT Trail Towns Podcast Episode can be found HERE or on your podcasts app and it details all of the trail towns we experienced in the state.
Because Adventure Feeds the Soul,
Mike R
Spring Bloom on the AT in Tennessee.