Smith Branch

Roan Mountain State Park is slated to get a bit bigger, thanks to Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s ongoing conservation work. SAHC recently closed on the purchase of a 103-acre property on Smith Branch in Carter County, TN, adjoining the northern boundary of the park. SAHC intends to own the tract for the short term, until it can be transferred to TN State Parks and added to Roan Mountain State Park. “One of the most rewarding ways SAHC conserves land is when we acquire it for future transfer to a public agency, making that land available to the public for hiking and camping,” says Land Protection Director Michelle Pugliese. “The Smith Branch property is the second tract that SAHC has purchased to expand Roan Mountain State Park in the past five years. I am grateful for the partnership of TN State Parks and Green South Foundation on this project, and for the former property owner’s commitment to seeing their beloved land protected forever.”

The Smith Branch property, with a log cabin and two sheds, had been listed for sale on the real estate market. Roan Mountain State Park staff reached out to SAHC for help to protect the property. It is located approximately 2,000 feet from the park Visitor Center and highly visible from the top of Roan Mountain and from the Appalachian Trail as it crosses through the Highlands of Roan. The Chestnut Ridge Trail runs along the boundary of the State Park and the recently conserved tract.

“The strategy for future acquisitions for Roan Mountain State Park is to acquire inholdings and properties surrounding the park for watershed protection, and properties that contain representative forest cover that further the wildlife, aesthetics, interpretive, and recreation missions of Roan Mountain State Park,” says Monica Johnson, park manager of Roan Mountain State Park. “A huge impact and threat would be created by a housing development on the ridges. Development would greatly impact the viewshed when looking down the valley from the top of Roan Mountain. Conserving this land helps protect the integrity of the park boundary.”

Ecological Importance

The tract is shaped like a bowl encompassing the headwaters of Smith Branch, a tributary of the Doe River. The river has been classified as a TN Exceptional Water and has recorded occurrences of the eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis), which has been proposed for listing under the endangered species act. This tract is located within the Audubon Society’s Southern Blue Ridge Important Bird Area. There are also records of rare species on the property, including the state special concern Roan Mountain Sedge (Carex roanensis), the state special concern American Bittercress (Cardamine rotundifolia), and the state threatened Blue Ridge Brome-like sedge (Carex bromoides spp montanium).

In the long term, after SAHC transfers the property to become part of Roan Mountain State Park, the existing cabin on the tract could serve for ranger or park employee housing. The land will be permanently protected as a boundary buffer for the park, managed in its natural state with minimal recreational land-use development; for example, the park may improve hiking trails, backcountry campsites, and overlook observation points.

SAHC purchased the property with generous donations from members and a significant bridge loan [a temporary loan to close the gap in funding for the purchase], which will be repaid when the property is transferred to TN State Parks. The expansion continues SAHC’s longstanding partnership with Roan Mountain State Park. In 2021, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy purchased 150 acres adjoining Roan Mountain State Park at Sugar Hollow, protecting habitat resources and streams in the Doe River watershed. This tract was transferred to the State of TN to be added to the park in 2022, providing space for a new trail expansion and backcountry camping sites.

About Roan Mountain State Park

The park encompasses more than 2,156 acres of rich hardwood forest. The park’s elevation ranges widely along the rugged landscape and ridges. Roan Mountain is known for its abundance of rhododendron that bloom their beautiful colors in the Summertime. The cool, clear Doe River winds its way through the center of the park and supports a healthy population of trout. Wildflowers and wildlife inhabit the hollows and ridges of the Roan foothills in abundance. Black bear even makes appearances from time to time. The park’s beauty draws in visitors from all over the world.

In celebration of the new land protection project closing, SAHC held the 2026 June Jamboree post-hike social at the Smith Branch property on Saturday, June 13. The celebration was attended by June Jamboree hikers, former and current Trustees, volunteers, partners, staff, and members of the organization. The group enjoyed beautiful weather, music, camaraderie, and long-range views of the Roan Highlands from the area around the Smith Branch cabin.