Drive & Trail Guide - Roan High Knob, W4T/SU-005

Food if driving from Atlanta: Best Plan: About 10 miles before Asheville (whether you go I-26 or I-40 route)

Duration: 4:40, 265 miles - Note: Google says it is 4:20. My 2018 experience is that you need 4:40 (plus any time for pit stops).
Directions:
I-285 to I-85 N
In Greenville, SC: I-185 N and go 1.6
Exit 15, US-25 N and go 39
I-26 W and go 45
Exit 9, US-19 N and go 10.7
US-19E N and go 6.9 (last McDonalds is on this stretch)
L on NC-197 and go 3
R on Fork Mtn Rd and go 4.2
L on NC-261 N and go 9.1
Continue at “Drive Guide - Carvers Gap to Roan High Knob” below.

Duration: 0:10, 1.6 miles
Seasonal/Limited Access: $3 ($5?) to park. Road (NC-1348) gated at Carvers Gap in bad weather.
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/recarea/?recid=48626 says the rec area is open “Memorial Day - Last Weekend in September”
- Call USFS office at 828-682-6146 to check road status (M-F, 8:00-4:30)
Directions:
- Follow gated, paved road 1348 WSW (up hill) and go 1.6
- Big parking lot on R. Restrooms here.

Duration: 1:25, 57 miles
Google Maps URL from 35.95440, -82.56102 to 36.10397, -82.13317: http://goo.gl/maps/u5KcU
Directions:
- Head south for 3.2 miles, generally paralleling I-26.
  - If you parked in the paved lot just before I-26, you will be heading away from I-26.
- R on 23-Alt, to cross I-26
- L to enter I-26 and go 5.9
- Exit for US-19 N and loop under I-26
- US-19 N and go 10.8
- S on “19E” N and go 6.9
- L on NC-197 N and go 6.7
- R on NC-197 N and go 4.5
- L on NC-226 N and go 3
- R on Fork Mtn Rd and go 4.2
- L on NC-261 N and go 9.2
- Continue at “Drive Guide - Carvers Gap to Roan High Knob”.
Food
- Last McDonalds:
- Penultimate McDonalds:
- Dinner

Duration: 4:45, 263 miles
Directions:
- WATCH CAREFULLY: You won’t have Google Maps for a long time, and I missed a turn in 2018.
- Turn L out of parking lot and go 1.6
- R on NC-261 S and go 9.2
- R on Fork Mtn Rd and go 4.2
- L on NC-226 S and go 3
- R on NC-197 S and go 4.5
- L on NC-197 S and go 6.7
- R on US-19E S and go 6.9
- S on US-19 S and go 10.8
- I-26 E and go 18.3
- Continue on I-26 E and go 26.8
- US-25 S and go 27.0
- R on US-25 S and go 11.6
- R on I-185 S and go 0.7
- I-85 S and go 125
- I-285

Duration: 150 miles, 2:55 (actual time in 2015)
Directions:
- Head downhill on SR-1348 and go 1.6
- L on TN-143 N and go 12.7
- L on US-19E N and go 10.2
- L on TN-361 W and go 2.5
- S on TN-362 N and go 5.8
- L on TN-362 N and go 0.2
- L on US-321 S and go 4.4 (cell signal somewhere near here)
- R on I-26 W and go 15
- I-81 S and go 57
- I-40 W and go 35

Duration: 0.8 miles, 250’ climb
- After 2 other summits: 0:30 up, 0:20 down (in 2014)
- After 1 other summit and not exhausted: 0:20 up, 0:20 down (in 2015)
Note: Flush toilets and a water fountain at trailhead.
Navigation
- If you follow the trail at the restroom end of the parking lot, you’ll come to the AT, where you turn R. There is a surprising amount of descent before the trail turns up. This descent is heavily eroded.
  - To avoid the eroded part, you can walk back down the paved road. After a few hundred yards, you’ll pass a gated road on your R. There will be some big rock on your L and a faint trail. This trail runs about 100’ to the AT, where you can turn R. I took this route (in reverse, when I hiked out on 9/27/2014.)
- At restroom end of parking lot, take connector trail to AT.
- R on AT.
- After you’ve been climbing for a while, when you’re beside the summit (or just a little past), the trail will turn slightly down. This is where you’ll find the blue blazed trail to the shelter and the summit.
Trailhead altitude: ??? @ 36.10397, -82.13317
Summit altitude: 6285 @ 36.1046, -82.1224

Duration: 1.6 miles, 1:30 up via creek, 0:50 down via NC-1348, 800’ climb (2nd summit of the day)
Navigation
- Option 1: Walk north (into Tennessee) to the end of the on-road parking. Turn L at double-blaze onto AT. This descends to a creek and then climbs through a series of switchback to the blue-blazed turn-off on the L to the summit + shelter.
- Option 2: Walk up NC-1348 past the gate about 1/10th mile. Look for a graveled trail on the R, with a vertical post blocking vehicles. This will join up with the AT in about 1/10th mile at the first major switchback. It isn’t as pleasant as option 1, but it saves you the descent to and climb from the creek.
Trailhead altitude: 5510 @ 36.1064, -82.1104
Summit altitude: 6285 @ 36.1046, -82.1224

Site Menu