Mount Roosevelt WMA

Site Directions: 

Riggs Chapel Entrance  Lat-Long  N 35.92372  W -84.62016

Take exit 340 on I-40 and turn North on Highway 299, go 0.3 miles, and turn right onto Old Rockwood Highway.  Travel 1.1 miles and turn left onto Lower Road and travel 1.8 miles to Dry Hills Rd and Turn right onto Dry Hills Road.  Travel 3.7 miles on Dry Hills Road, entrance on the right side of Dry Hills Road.

Grant Helton Entrance  Lat-Long  N 35.90019  W  -84.67914

Take exit 340 on I-40 and turn North on Highway 299, go 0.3 miles, and turn right onto Old Rockwood Highway.  Travel 1.1 miles and turn left onto Lower Road and travel 1.0 miles to Grant Helton Rd and turn left onto Grant Helton Road.  Travel 0.1 miles and the entrance is on the right.

Jolly Rd Entrance  Lat-Long  N 35.89787 W  -84.68472

Take exit 340 on I-40 and turn North on Highway 299, go 0.3 miles, and turn right onto Old Rockwood Highway.  Travel 1.1 miles and turn left onto Lower Road and travel 0.7 miles to Jolly Road and turn left onto Jolly Road.  Travel 300 feet on Jolly Road Entrance is on the left.

Lower Rd Entrance  Lat-Long  N  35.89169  W  -84.68870

Take exit 340 on I-40 and turn North on Highway 299, go 0.3 miles, and turn right onto Old Rockwood Highway.  Travel 1.1 miles and turn left onto Lower Road and travel 0.3 miles and entrance is on the right

Westel Rd Entrance #1  Lat-Long  N  35.89981  W  -84.71032

Take exit 340 on I-40 and turn North on Highway 299, go 0.3 miles, and turn left onto Westel Road (old hwy. 299).  Travel 0.7 miles and the entrance is on the right.

Westel Rd Entrance #2  Lat-Long  N  35.89845  W  -84.72363

Take exit 340 on I-40 and turn North on Highway 299, go 0.3 miles, and turn left onto Westel Road (old hwy. 299).  Travel 1.5 miles and the entrance is on the left.

Fire Tower Rd Entrance  Lat-Long  N  35.86493  W  -84.71600

Take exit 338 on I-40 turn south onto Pig Path Road (Highway 299) and travel 2.8 miles to Highway 70 East.  Turn left onto Highway 70 East and travel 1.2 miles to Fire Tower Road and turn left on Fire Tower Road.  Travel 1.3 miles and the entrance will be on your left.

Highway 70 Entrance  Lat-Long  N  35.84978  W  -84.73167

Take exit 338 on I-40 turn south onto Pig Path Road (Highway 299) and travel 2.8 miles to Highway 70 East.  Turn left onto Highway 70 East and travel 1.0 miles and the entrance is on your right.

Hours: daylight hours

Seasonality: year-round

Fees: none

Cumberland/Roane/Morgan counties • 11,000 acres
Don Chance (931) 456-2479

Special Use - Hooved animal riding, bicycling, and Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) use permitted only by individuals possessing a valid hunting and fishing license and WMA permit or a High Impact Habitat Conservation Permit.

Closed to all non-hunting activities during big game hunts.

Big game, small game, and trapping are the same as statewide seasons except as noted.

Closed to September Archery Bear Season.

Dogs are not permitted during spring squirrel season.

Quail - Nov. 4, 2023 - Jan. 15, 2024.

Deer - same as statewide Unit A deer season. Closed to antlerless deer hunting during the gun season.

Dog training - Sept. 1, 2023 - March 15, 2024.

Site Description: The Roosevelt Mountain WMA is approximately 11,000 acres and virtually surrounds the town of Rockwood, TN. However, the best and the easiest access point is the Overlook.

The overlook (believed to be one of the highest in the Cumberlands) is a celebrated site for witnessing the fall migration of not only raptors but also songbirds and butterflies.

The overlook possesses a small parking area, picnic tables, and observation platforms. Also, a spur trail leading to Walden Ridge Trail is located at the overlook adjacent to the fire tower. Bring a scope for better viewing birds from the viewing area atop the mountain. 

There is a fire tower at the overlook; however, it is fenced off from the public. If there are holes cut through the fence, do not climb the stairs. Please do NOT climb the fire tower as it is unsafe.

Mount Roosevelt WMA is part of the TN SWAP, Catoosa / Emory River Conservation Opportunity Area (COA).

Wildlife to Watch: Watching migrating raptors in falls, such as Red-tailed Hawk and Broad-winged Hawks, can be excellent.

Also find migrating flocks of Blue Jays, Northern Flickers, Black Vulture, and Turkey Vultures. Butterfly migration, especially Monarchs, is impressive during spring and southerly winds in fall.