Hike the Cloud land trail to Roan High Bluff Lookout

Bakersville, North Carolina

Save

View all 3 photos

All 3 photos

Save Review Directions Add Photo

Details

Distance

2.4 miles

Elevation Gain

400 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by jeremiah Yoak

Breathtaking vista of Roan Highlands, flowering rhododendrons and the Roan High Knob.

Starting at the Cloudland hotel site parking area. or to add difficulty and distance you can hike from carvers gap (5500 ft). This is a dense trail moderately strenuous, with a few parking areas you can park in to make it shorter or longer. Beautiful views with flowering rhododendrons,the trail is a tunnel of cedar trees that goes up and down in elevation and a final vista at the overlook of the Roan Highlands ridge make this a very enjoyable hike.

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Features

Fishing

Photography

Hiking

Bathrooms

Dog Friendly

Easy Parking

Family Friendly

Forest

Hike the Cloud land trail to Roan High Bluff Lookout Reviews

Have you done this adventure? Be the first to leave a review!

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Backpack to Overmountain Shelter in the Roan Highlands

Starting from the Carver Gap Parking area (do not leave belongings visible in your vehicle) head North on the Appalachian Trail (cross the road and head up the hill past the kiosk). Stay on the Appalachian Trail for 5.5 miles climbing across open balds and treking through forests and wildflower patches. You will come to an intersection where you'll notice a lot of little signs; this is Yellow M...

Grassy Ridge Bald in the Roan Highlands

Once you've parked at Carver's Gap (5500'), the trailhead is pretty easy to find. Simply cross the highway and jump onto the Appalachian Trail, right on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. Head north on the AT as you head through the Roan Mountain Balds. In the very beginning of the hike, you'll pass through a forest until you reach the Balds, which are wide open, allowing for amazing v...

Round Bald via Carver's Gap

This super easy hike to the campsites near Round Bald is the perfect intro to backpacking for kids or newbies, but serves just as well for the more experienced backpackers who can't squeeze a longer trip in over the weekend. This short (.5 mile) hike in leads to a grassy opening with amazing views of the surrounding Appalachian Mountains. There are designated campsites right along Round Bald a...

Appalachian Trail: Carvers Gap to Yellow Mountain Barn

Roan Highlands: Carvers Gap to US 19E via Appalachian Trail

The Roan highlands, possibly one of the best sections of the Appalachian Trail, is a section of grassy balds that range from 5000-6000 feet following the A.T. Start at Carvers Gap ( Highway 261 NC / Highway 143 TN) on the TN/NC border. You can either leave a car at Highway 19E or arrange for a shuttle with Mountain Harbour Hostel. Head North on the A.T. Climbing Round Bald, Jane Bald, and Gra...

Jane Bald via Appalachian Trail

This journey begins at Carvers Gap, on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. At a beginning elevation of 5512 ft. you will cross the road from the parking area to the trailhead, on the Appalachian Trail, northbound. The trail climbs gently through grasslands and rhododendron before entering a pine forest. After a short wooded hike, you will break out into the grassy, open expanse know...