Roane County: Water, Nature and History

Watts Bar Lake, natural areas, outdoor trails and historic sites offer different ways to experience Roane County. You can plan your trip around the season, walking and cycling routes, or museums and historic sites.

Water Landscapes and Birdwatching

Watts Bar Lake is formed by the Tennessee, Clinch and Emory rivers. On the Roane County shore of the lake, the McGlothin-Largen Wildlife Management Area covers 112 acres. Paint Rock Refuge also borders the lake and includes forest, wooded edges and fields.

When planning a birdwatching visit, consider the season: waterfowl and bald eagles are often seen at Paint Rock Refuge in winter. Ospreys are best observed there from a boat in spring and summer. Be sure to keep the recommended distance from nests. These seasonal notes offer different birdwatching highlights to consider when planning your trip.

Lakeshore Park offers another perspective: It is located on a peninsula on the Emory River and includes the Gupton Wetlands area, considered an important birdwatching area in the region. Paved trails for walking and cycling run along the lake. Nature observation and outdoor activity are two different options to enjoy here.

Trails for Walking, Hiking and Cycling

If you would like to plan a walk with a specified loop length, Roane County Park has a 1.3-mile loop trail. Ladd Landing offers miles of hiking and cycling trails. The community lies in the heart of Kingston, along a three-mile shoreline on the Clinch River.

The Rockwood Forest Trails are multi-use trails with wildflowers and offer opportunities for mountain bikers, hikers and trail runners. Trail conditions may vary. The K-25 Overlook and Visitor Center provides visitors with information about hiking trails and boat launches in the area; specific recreation conditions may change. If you use any of this information to plan your visit, check current conditions beforehand.

Historic Sites and Museums

Fort Southwest Point is the only reconstructed pioneer-era fort in Tennessee to have been rebuilt on its original site. The fort’s visitor center houses a museum with artifacts excavated on site. The excavation was supervised by the Tennessee Department of Archeology.

The K-25 Overlook and Visitor Center offers a clear view of the K-25 site. The K-25 History Center is next to the original foundation of the K-25 building. Visitors can explore more than 250 original artifacts and an interactive gallery. The center also includes nearly 1,000 recorded oral histories from former employees, collected over a period of ten years. The view of the site and the exhibits at the History Center offer two different ways to learn about K-25’s history.

The Historic Roane County Courthouse is one of only six antebellum courthouses in Tennessee. It houses an archival library, a transportation museum and the Roane County Museum. The Harriman Heritage Museum displays artifacts, photographs and memorabilia about Harriman’s past. The range extends from a single historic courthouse with several facilities to a collection focused on the history of a city.

Getting Oriented for Your Trip

Roane County is located at the intersection of Interstates 40 and 75. The Walton Road Historic Byway runs through Rockwood and Kingston in Roane County. Road conditions and signage may change; check this information when planning your route. In Roane County, boat launches and marinas provide access to Watts Bar Lake. As individual facilities may change, check the specific boat launch or marina in advance.

Discover more destinations: Kingston, Rockwood, Harriman, Hamilton, Hamblen, Cumberland County, Coffee, Greene.

Return to the main travel overview: Tennessee.