Farewell trip - Roan Highlands

Roan Highlands 1 Night Backpacking: Toll House Gap to Highway 19E

Friday 9/19: Option to gather at Mountain Harbour Inn for food truck dinner and music Friday night. Camping is available there, just call to let them know to expect you. (423) 772-9494

Shuttle: Saturday 9/20, 10am to Roan High Knob / Tollhouse Gap, approximately a 45 minute shuttle from Mountain Harbour. The fee is $10 per person, $5 per dog (Koko!). Parking $5/night with shuttle. (I've booked the shuttle already)

This trip has all the things I love (and will miss) about this area--the high grassy balds with panoramic blue mountain views; the “smoky” fog rolling through the gaps; the AT switchbacks through gorgeous old forest and wild flowers; local hospitality at Mountain Harbour Inn; and great memories with friends! I hope to find time to create a Gaia map of our route, for now, here is a description I tweaked from info online:

There are a few shelters on this route, but weather permitting we can camp on one of the balds. Little Hump, the gap between Little Hump and Hump Mountain, and Hump Mountain have lots of established sites. There are also sites around Jane Bald and Grassy Ridge Bald. I'd love to catch the sunset and sunrise views from our site. The disadvantages are cold, windy nights and lack of water nearby. (We can decide on our camp spot when we know what the weather is looking like.)

We will shuttle to Toll House Gap. This adds 2-4 miles (depending on side trips) of flat and downhill hiking to the typical Carver's Gap route, but it takes you through beautiful virgin pine forest and to two 6,000-foot peaks.

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Day One, 9/20: Toll House Gap to Little Hump Mountain (12 miles)

Starting at Toll House Gap, and before we head to the AT, we'll take the 2-mile side trip to Roan High Bluff. It’s clearly marked from the parking area.
The walk to the lookout point runs through the pine forest. This is the least crowded section of trail. It’s often chilly and foggy, but you have a good chance of being above the clouds. It’s a flat mile to the viewing platform. Double back the way we came.

Then, we'll pick up the AT heading north. We’ll descend gradually for about two miles through more pine forest. We’ll hit Carvers Gap and the crowds when we cross the road.

From there, we have a little bit of a climb and then some rolling hills across a series of grassy balds: Jane Bald, Roan Mountain, Yellow Mountain, and a side trip to Grassy Ridge Bald. We stay above the tree line the whole time. Take the side trails to 180-degree views on both sides. We’ll follow the ridge for about two miles, with a couple short, steep, rocky stretches of climbing.

After crossing Yellow Mountain, we’ll drop below the tree-line. From here we have almost four miles of straight descent to Overmountain Shelter.
Overmountain Shelter is a popular camping spot, but we'll keep going for better views. It’s only about a 2-mile climb to Little Hump Mountain. We’ll gain almost 1,000 feet of elevation, but it’s gradual. One of the best views is climbing out of the gap from Overmountain Shelter.

Once we reach Little Hump we can stake out a campsite. Most sites are immediately along the trail. There are a handful of sites a bit further off-trail — there's one right before we drop back into the trees, on the west side. The panoramic sunset views are amazing apparently.

Day Two, 9/21: Little Hump to Highway 19E (8 miles)

We can take our time packing up your campsite this morning. We have about eight miles to hike, but it goes quickly. The gap is one of the most gorgeous places on the hike, especially on a slightly foggy morning - my favorite time in these mountains!

Next is the infamous climb up Hump Mountain. This one-mile ascent has a reputation for being difficult. The views the whole way just keep getting better. The key to remember is it’s long — it goes on way farther than you can see from the gap. The summit of Hump Mountain is marked with a plaque, and offers 360-degree views.

Finally, it’s all downhill from here. First descending along the north side of the bald. This is our last chance for great views before we’re back in the forest. Then, it’s about four miles of straight, rocky descent back to Highway 19E and Mountain Harbour Inn.

The total hike from Toll House Gap to Highway 19E, with a side trip to Roan High Bluff, is approximately 21 miles with 2,900 feet of elevation gain.

I'm so excited to celebrate my move back to MA this way with all of you!