Roan Mountain Elopement Guide

Trying to figure out where to elope? Consider Roan Mountain in Eastern Tennessee! The spot that most people hike to for their elopement is technically called Round Bald, but most still refer to it as Roan Mountain. This location is a “bald” which is a type of mountain that has 360 degree unobstructed views. That makes this spot perfect for both sunset & sunrise ceremonies. There are so many pros to eloping here!

The Hike

The hike to “Round Bald” is only about two thirds of a mile one way. It is uphill the entire way, but not too steep. If you want to elope on the actual Roan Mountain, your hike will be more like four miles round trip. You’ll park at Carver’s Gap & cross through an opening in a fence and start the trek upwards. Almost immediately you’ll pass through a pine forest which makes for the perfect spot to get dressed into your wedding attire or touch up before your first look or ceremony. (Don’t worry, I have a popup changing tent exactly for these situations) After hiking through the forest you’ll pop out and get your first panoramic views. Continue upwards until you reach the top of the bald where there is plenty of room to have an intimate ceremony.

Travel to Roan Mountain

Carver’s Gap is about an hour and a half drive from Asheville, 2.5 hours from Knoxville, & about an hour from Boone.

Weather

The weather on Roan Mountain can be iffy! The bald sits at about 5800ft above sea level which makes it colder than down below in town. That means you can still get snow up here in May. When planning a Tennessee Elopement in the mountains it’s extremely important to have a few backup plans. Generally the roads are fairly well maintained, but just after a snow storm they can be very scary.

Clothing

Make sure to bring adequate clothing & to warn guests to wear layers. Because of the lack of trees, on a sunny day it can feel very hot even when the temperature isn’t that warm. But also because of the lack of trees, if there’s any wind, it can feel very cold even on a warm day. Hand warmers are also super helpful fall through spring.

Best Time of Year for your Roan Mountain Elopement

The best time of year for an elopement ceremony at Roan Mountain depends on what you’re looking for! If you like the look of frozen trees & snow, winter & early spring is perfect. For autumn leaves on the mountains in the backdrop, then October is your best bet. If you want to see the Rhododendron Blooms on the neighboring mountains after your ceremony, then June is when you’ll want to elope there.

Permits for Roan Mountain Elopements

The best part about this location is that it is part of the Cherokee National Forest land. That means that no permit is required for elopements with a group size under 25 people. (This number includes any hired vendors. Although I highly suggest keeping the guest count to a minimum because parking can get full during busy weekends). The only exception for this is if you are using a wedding planner. That would require your planner to have a guiding permit since the wedding planner would be liable in case of an emergency due to their involvement in helping choose your location.

Some important notes on eloping on National Forest Land:

• Birdseed, petals, rice, etc., CANNOT BE USED. They are detrimental to the environment & wildlife.
• Chairs, arbors, or other large items are prohibited
• You cannot ask other visitors to move for your ceremony or photos. The mountain is public land & is meant for everyone to enjoy

Tips & Tricks

Here are some tips & tricks to have the best Roan Mountain Elopement ever!

• Dogs are allowed, so bring your pupper!
• Carpool with family & friends. Parking can get difficult on the weekends because the location is a very popular spot for backpacking.
• The only restroom is an outhouse, so make sure to go before starting the drive & remind your guests!
• The road to Carver’s Gap goes up the mountain on both sides. Generally the NC side is maintained well in the winter while the TN side is not.
• Wear comfy shoes for the hike & bring your nicer shoes in a backpack to wear for your ceremony
• Bring a headlamp for the hike down the mountain if you plan on doing a sunset elopement

Timeline

The perfect timeline for a Roan Mountain Autumn elopement would be:

1pm-2pm: Hair & Makeup/Getting Ready at airbnb

2pm – 3:30pm: Drive from Asheville to Carver’s Gap

3:30pm – 4pm: Put on your wedding attire in the tree covered area

4:00pm – 4:20pm: Hike the rest of the way to the top

4:20pm – 4:30pm: First Look

4:30pm – 5:00pm: Couples photos

5pm: Ceremony

5:30pm – 6pm: Family & guest photos

6pm-6:30pm: Couple’s photos

6:30pm – 7pm: Hike back to cars

8:00pm: Late dinner in Bakersville, Burnsville or other nearby town

Final Notes

Roan Mountain makes for the best elopement location for couples wanting to add a little bit of adventure to their day – with stunning views – but still being close enough to town to celebrate after. It’s accessible for anyone able to hike very short distances, which means you can have family & friends join you. Roan is an affordable option & a beautiful spot all year long. For more elopement tips, checkout my planning resources. If you’re wanting to book my photography services for you Roan Mountain Elopement, click here.

Checkout more awesome places to elope in North Carolina here.