Explore This Secret Trail Around An Abandoned Mine In Roan Mountain State Park In Tennessee
By Chris Dodge|Published October 03, 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.
We love Roan Mountain State Park and there is a trail there that has long been on my bucket list. The Peg Leg Mine Trail is a simple trail that leads to an old abandoned mine and is too irresistible to pass up. So recently, we packed our hiking gear, laced up our shoes, and headed out for an amazing adventure at one of our favorite parks in Tennessee.
The trail is easy to find and starts right at the park's Visitor Center.
This is a lovely little place to start the trail because you can sit on the porch rocking chairs, enjoy the sound of the creek, and explore the old water wheel. This spot is like the quintessential picture of historic mountain life in Tennessee. That is just one of the many reasons I love this place and have had a picnic here many times.
You'll take off past the Visitor Center and turn left into the woods.
When we went, there was work being done on the trail so we were not able to walk directly to the mine; fortunately for us, though, the trail continues on to make a larger loop. The path was an exciting adventure as we walked through the old trees, past rhododendrons, and alongside beautiful fern gardens.
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We didn’t mind going the extra mile because this forest is so peaceful. We hiked almost the whole trail without seeing a single person, and it was lovely to just take a stroll through the woods with my family.
Soon enough, we arrived at the mine and there was a set of wooden stairs and a bridge to cross, making for a fun labyrinth of green to traverse down to the gaping hole in the ground.
You can’t go into the mouth of the cave very far because there is standing water hidden in the dark. If you listen carefully, you can hear the dripping into the pool below and the echo through the cave. The abandoned mine was a fascinating find in the middle of the woods and something I would highly recommend visiting.
The journey isn’t quite over if you would like to go further.
We decided to take the loop and make for a little bit of a longer hike. We were rewarded with a fun cave-like opening complete with a massive boulder you can climb up on. The trail circles around and follows the creek until you reach the back of the Visitor's Center once again, making for a wonderful and easy-to-follow hiking adventure in Tennessee.
Over all the Peg Leg Mine Trail is fairly simple but truly is a must-see hike in Roan Mountain State Park. We essentially paired the Peg Leg Mine Trail with the Cloudland Nature Loop and you can check out those trails on AllTrails to prepare for your very own adventure. For more information about this wonderful place in Tennessee, check out the Roan Mountain State Park website. Also, check out our journey through this trail with our Adventuring in the Moment video:
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