The Under-The-Radar Destination In Tennessee With The Most Beautiful Fall Foliage In The State
By Chris Dodge|Published October 13, 2023
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Chris Dodge
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My name is Chris Dodge and I live right here in the great state of Tennessee. My family and I are full adventurers filled with passion to see the amazing things our state has to offer. We are avid hikers and have explored many different places in Tennessee and beyond but we are always thankful to be living in such a glorious state.
When it comes to seeing beautiful fall foliage in Tennessee, there is no better place than the mountains. Then again, every season is perfect for heading to the mountains! There is a particular Tennessee park that is just teeming with views, though — and one particular view I finally got the chance to see for myself recently. Chestnut Ridge is a hidden gem within Roan Mountain State Park and it’s absolutely brilliant come fall.
Chestnut Ridge is an iconic spot in Roan Mountain State Park.
A simple boardwalk extends out over the canopy of trees to perfectly frame the surrounding landscape. This stunningly beautiful scene is lovely during the summer days when the whole mountain range is blanketed with verdant greenery. There are two ways to get to this boardwalk -- and one of them is a little local secret.
The first and obvious choice is to hike the Chestnut Ridge Trail up the steep mountain inching ever closer to the goal of seeing this sweet and rewarding view.
The route, however, is a 3.9-mile trail with over 1,300 feet of elevation gain, which gives this trek a "hard" rating. Now I always love to encourage people to get out into the woods as much as possible. But in reality, sometimes you just don’t have the time to devote to a big trail, or you might want to save your time hiking other places like Round Bald or the Raven Rock Trail. If that is the case, there is a road that leads right to this breathtaking vista, so all you have to do is hop out of your car and soak in the views.
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Admittedly that is what we did and I couldn’t have been happier with the results.
Take the road leading to the Miller’s Homestead and before you get to the farm take a right on a dirt road. You will see a small fenced-off area where there is a small family graveyard. Walking among the deceased and pondering the afterlife seems like a fitting activity for the fall and only adds to the overall experience while visiting Roan Mountain State Park.
The brilliant splashes of reds, oranges, and yellows are simply breathtaking. Roan Mountain and some of the other peaks tower over 6,000 feet above sea level so you can expect to see a difference from top to bottom in the changing colors of fall. This moment captures the contrast between the two seasons where the higher elevations are covered in snow while lower showcases the full spectrum of fall colors.
This is simply one of the best views in the park and you might have the place all to yourself. Bring your camera and take some pictures and then just relax while soaking in this incredible view.
I always love visiting farms during the fall and this historic site is picturesque. You can tour the building on select dates but you are always welcome to walk the grounds and see the animals. It is fascinating to imagine how people lived in what seems like a long-lost era, but thankfully there are great people in our state parks service who work hard to protect these places.
Whether you decide to hike or drive, the Chestnut Ridge Overlook is well-worth a visit. Pair that with a walk around the tombstones and explore the historic homestead for a near-perfect fall day in East Tennessee. For more information, please visit the Roan Mountain State Park website. To learn more about this pristine spot check out this Adventuring in the Moment video of our trip when we visited Chestnut Ridge.
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