One of the most exhilarating hikes in North Carolina is only half a mile long and you may not even break a sweat as you meander along the pathway. But without a doubt, the views from the trail will take your breath away.

Welcome to the world's largest natural Rhododendron garden! It's located in the Roan Highlands on the very tippy top of Roan Mountain. And the best part? You can drive right to the top and park in a lot near the entrance to a trail that winds through a dense stand of blooming color (in season).
Google Maps/Jane Eustice
The Rhododendrons cover much of Roan Mountain, where the North Carolina and Tennessee borders meet, but the garden trail is located at the top of the park service road. (There's also a restroom up there.)
Google Maps/Jane Eustice

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The half-mile trail winds through this sea of color, with occasional observation decks so you can see for tens (hundreds?) of miles over the tops of nearby mountain ranges.
Google Maps/Jane Eustice
The world's largest Rhododendron garden is located at a height of more than 6,200 feet. The optimal blooming season is super short, so timing is everything!
tripadvisor/Hooked_on_travel77
Fortunately, the Roan Mountain Citizen Club hosts an annual Rhododendron Festival, the first of which was held in 1947. The second weekend in June marks the beginning of the peak blooming season. The festival is always held on the third weekend (Sat/Sun) in June.
Facebook/Roan Mountain Citizens Club

The annual Rhododendron Festival at Roan Mountain is set for June 16-17, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with events and vendors that will be set up at the community area near the pool and amphitheater. The Rhododendron Garden is eight miles beyond the pool, located on the service road that leads to the top of the mountain. The garden is open seasonally (when there’s no snow) seven days a week. There’s a guard station at the entrance to the gardens where you’ll be asked to pay a nominal fee to enter the garden area.

Although part of Roan Mountain is in North Carolina, the entrance to Roan Mountain State Park is located just over the border in Tennessee. The address is 527 TN-143, Roan Mountain, TN 37687. The visitor’s center at the entrance to the park is open year-round from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Entrance to the park is free (entrance to the Rhododendron Garden is usually a few dollars.)

Find out more about Roan Mountain State Park on the official website for TN State Parks. Learn more about the sea of color at Rhododendron Garden on the official website for The Roan Mountain Citizens Club.

Love low-key hikes that deliver big in the way of destinations? Here are eight more found right here in North Carolina. Let’s go!

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