September 26, 1780 After setting out from Sycamore Shoals on September 26th the militia marched through the day, and chose for their encampment a relatively flat stretch of land along the Doe River. This spot was ideal because of the large overhanging stone feature known as Shelving Rock (sometimes called Sheltering Rock). The Overmountain Men were caught in a downpour of rain and knew that they needed to keep their gunpowder dry if they were ever going to accomplish their mission. Although partially filled in during road construction, it’s still easy to see why the rock was a prominent feature.
Sheltering Rock has been marked with a commemorative plaque by a chapter of the D.A.R. There are no facilities at the site, however there are restroom and picnic facilities available at Roan Mountain Community Park, approximately 1.5 miles north of the site. The park also features a short section of certified OVNHT available to walk.
The site is open to the public. There is currently no pull off at the site. However if visitors wish they may park on McMahon-Gibbs Rd., which is located just south of the site on Hwy 143 and then walk down to the site. There are no sidewalks along Hwy 143 so if you choose to do so exercise extreme caution.
