Buzzard Roost via Stone Mountain Trail is a 3 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Hartford, Tennessee that features a river and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, and nature trips and is accessible year-round.
Gorgeous overlook. You can see Cammerer and Sterling from here. The trail head is located on the opposite side of the street from a pull over. The pull over is on the river side of the road. The trail head is difficult to see it is approximately 50 to 100 feet to the right of the parking area with your back to the river.. There’s a very steep narrow start. It is highly recommend bringing a set of trekking poles with you for the descent. There is a water source approximately 1.1 miles up from the trail head. It is on the left side of the trail and is coming out of a PVC pipe that has been installed. When you top out near the buzzard roost you come out on to what appears to be an old Road bed. Most likely a service road for the logging industry back in the day.
February 26, 20212/25/21 - welp, I underestimated the ‘steep’ descriptions left below. It’s as steep as it gets in the Appalachians (from my experiences). But certainly not too hard of an undertaking. Traction seems obvious and required. Trekking poles or a walking stick go a long way too. Beautiful down-the-barrel views of Cammerer, Sterling and many more southern peaks with the right visibility. 55 minutes to the top and 40 or so back down; right at the 3 miles as indicated.
February 2, 2021This was a cool trail several good rock cliff look outs. I gave it 4 stars because there is no trail signs but you didn’t need them really. Was a couple places where you could choose different directions to go but I just followed which way looked like was traveled the most. This is a steep climb and it there was snow on ground for us. Make sure you have good tread on your shoes . Otherwise you may slip and fall. We enjoyed trail and would do it again.
January 27, 2021Amazing trail and definitely HARD. Just when you think you’re getting to the top, it just keeps on getting steeper. Bring tight fitting boots with good grips. There is a really cool natural spring near the top where you can fill your bottles or hands with amazing water. If you have any ankle, knee, or lower back issues, I wouldn’t attempt this hike. Overall, amazing hike that is certainly difficult, but in my opinion that’s what keeps the crowds out!
January 24, 2021January 23, 2021Aggressive on the uphill but it was over quickly. Definitely worth the view! Bring your Leki poles!
January 22, 2021Very difficult trail. Pure vertical for about half of it. Well worth it at the end!
January 16, 2021January 16, 2021Hard is accurate. It’s pretty much straight up. The 38% grade is brutal. View is really nice though and it’s overall a great way to spend an hour or two.
January 10, 2021Difficult hike-almost all uphill. It is short, but strenuous. If you are going with ANY chance of there being snow on this trail-it is almost necessary to have proper boots and trekking sticks. Otherwise, just good boots are helpful. The parking is easy to miss. It’s a small nook, fitting about 3-4 cars, directly off Hartford Rd., and the trail head is across the street, markedwith a small yellow sign. The view up top is one of my favorites! The top has such a wide view of Mount Cammerer and its surrounding peaks.
January 9, 2021Super steep, was cloudy at the top but walking up through the snowy trees was gorgeous. Sure the view would’ve been pretty. Was very muddy so shoes w good tread is essential and be careful esp on the way down!
January 5, 2021Trailhead and parking were hard to find. Coming out of "downtown Hartford" on Hartford Rd., it's 1.4 miles past the first I-40 overpass. Yellow NPS boundary sign (on the Pigeon River side of the road) and a picturesque, mossy stream were good clues. The stream does not figure into the hike at all, it's not really accurate to say that this hike "features a river." Super steep right off the bat, and near the end. Otherwise it's a medium difficult climb. Beautiful views at the top in all directions, but not all at once. There were nice rock stoops to take breaks on ascending. Anyone who makes it up this in 30 minutes should be an Olympian, but if it was less muddy my time might have been better. It took me 1:45 to ascend, but I had to stop a couple times to check (and bolster) blood sugar. 30-minute descent. Not a single trail marker, just a miniature cairn at a not-obvious left turn near the end of the descent.
January 2, 2021Very steep!
January 1, 2021unbelievable steepness
December 20, 2020The views are worth the steep hike.
December 18, 2020Steep hike and definitely a workout. Though it is well worth the view!
December 17, 2020Fog got us again! Very very steep hike! Whew-eeee!
December 11, 2020December 10, 2020Steeeep
December 9, 2020Well, it looks like alltrails may not have saved my recording. Finding the trailhead isn’t too hard- it’s between the stream and the yellow sign on the opposite side of the road from the parking area. This trail is definitely steep. The beginning of the hike is a good introduction to what you’re going to experience towards the end of the trail. The view is just beautiful. We were the only ones on the trail- didn’t see a single soul the whole time. Worth the strain to get up that hill... it took us about 33 mins to get up to the top and about 20 to get back down.
December 7, 2020Trailhead seemed to be the most treacherous part of this whole trail.... fell going in and then again on my way out. Trail is not marked but easy enough to follow with several small side trails to other look outs and creeks. Pretty steady climb and would not have done this trail without poles. Fresh water source coming out of PVC pipe about 3/4 of the way on left side on the way up. Very nice look out spots up top with place to set up a tent or three. I'll be back to camp here as the sunsets are unbeatable. Had the trail to myself today and parking is limited so I can't imagine this trail ever gets busy.
November 29, 2020Awesome hike! Very steep in the beginning and towards the top, but definitely worth it. My legs were on fire! Forgot to start recording until about two thirds the way up, but we finished the whole thing in about two hours.
November 14, 2020Straight up climb with few switchbacks, but the views at the top are spectacular.
November 7, 2020Steep!
October 18, 2020Steep trail great view at the top. Only downside is hearing traffic from 40 most of the way. When returning be mindful not to take the more obvious trail to the right. It traverses the mountain.
October 17, 2020October 17, 2020Definitely need trekking sticks. Great view, worth the climb!
