Carter County, a region in northeastern Tennessee, is characterized by its diverse mountainous terrain, pristine waterways, and extensive forest lands. The landscape features the high elevations of the Roan Highlands, sections of the vast Cherokee National Forest, and the clear waters of Watauga Lake and the Watauga River. These natural features create varied environments suitable for several sports like hiking, jogging, touring cycling, road cycling, and more.
Outdoor enthusiasts exploring Carter County will find…
80
Routes
4.7
(28)
Average rating
635
People visited

33
hikers
23.2km
07:14
610m
1,410m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
22
hikers
4.11km
01:21
270m
80m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

21
hikers
39.3km
11:45
1,270m
1,180m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

15
hikers
8.79km
02:40
210m
470m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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3.0
(1)
14
riders
31.6km
01:52
200m
200m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
10
riders
15.3km
01:43
480m
480m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.10km
00:16
20m
20m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

9
riders
29.8km
03:09
740m
740m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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10
runners
7.94km
01:06
340m
340m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

6
runners
8.92km
01:06
120m
120m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
runners
17.2km
02:32
790m
790m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
runners
7.53km
00:57
140m
130m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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1
riders
43.4km
02:43
350m
360m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
riders
28.9km
01:48
280m
280m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
riders
29.9km
02:08
520m
520m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

28.5km
01:54
430m
430m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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1
riders
52.0km
02:45
680m
680m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

1
riders
105km
05:09
1,450m
1,440m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

14
riders
47.2km
02:23
400m
400m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

13
riders
46.0km
02:16
510m
510m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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Carter County offers a variety of outdoor activities, including Hiking, Jogging, Touring cycling, Road cycling, and Mountain biking. The region features diverse landscapes such as the Roan Highlands, Cherokee National Forest, and Watauga Lake, providing varied environments for these sports.
Carter County provides hiking options suitable for various skill levels. For easier routes, consult the Easy hikes in Carter County guide. The Tweetsie Trail, a 10-mile (16 km) crushed gravel rail-trail, is also suitable for walking and running.
Carter County is home to several scenic waterfalls. Notable locations include Laurel Fork Falls within the Pond Mountain Wilderness and Blue Hole Falls, which offers accessible, calm waters. The Waterfall hikes in Carter County guide provides specific routes.
Carter County features routes for touring, road, and mountain biking. The Tweetsie Trail is a popular 10-mile (16 km) crushed gravel path for cycling. For mountain biking, the Hampton Watershed trail system offers 6 miles (9.7 km) of singletrack. More options are detailed in the Cycling in Carter County guide.
The Tweetsie Trail is a 10-mile (16 km) crushed gravel rail-trail connecting Johnson City and Elizabethton, suitable for families walking, running, or cycling. Blue Hole Falls also offers an accessible and popular spot for all adventure levels. Specific family-friendly options can be found within the hiking and cycling guides.
The Roan Highlands, including Roan Mountain State Park, are popular for their open views and sections of the Appalachian Trail. The Cherokee National Forest also offers a vast wilderness with numerous trails. Laurel Fork Falls and Blue Hole Falls are frequently visited natural features.
Komoot lists 79 routes in Carter County across various sports. These routes have been explored by more than 2,000 visitors and hold an average rating of 4.56 out of 5 stars.
Komoot offers several guides for Carter County, including Hiking in Carter County, Easy hikes in Carter County, Cycling in Carter County, and Waterfall hikes in Carter County. Guides for running, road cycling, and mountain biking are also available.
Carter County is characterized by the Roan Highlands, including Roan Mountain State Park, and sections of the Cherokee National Forest. It also features Watauga Lake, known for its clean waters, and the Watauga River, popular for fly-fishing. Several waterfalls, such as Laurel Fork Falls and Blue Hole Falls, are also present.
Yes, Carter County offers trails for running. The Tweetsie Trail, a 10-mile (16 km) crushed gravel rail-trail, is ideal for running. Additional options can be found in the Running Trails in Carter County guide.
The official website for Carter County, Tennessee, is www.cartercountytn.gov. This site provides general information about the county.

