Little Hawk Mountain
We purchased 220 acres on Little Hawk Mountain in the Highlands of Roan, protecting mature forest, trout waters, and important bird habitat. This acquisition adds to thousands of acres conserved by SAHC in the Yellow Mountain State Natural Area since 2008.
“This acquisition extends the protected corridor along the ridgeline of the Yellow Mountain State Natural Area and offers potential for future public access and recreation,” said Executive Director Carl Silverstein. “We are looking at the long view, protecting the land now for people to enjoy in the future.”
Little Hawk Mountain bridges the area between Little Yellow Mountain to the north and the Cane Creek Mountains to the south. Located in Mitchell County, NC, the tract is visible from summits of Little Yellow, Speartops, and all along the Cane Creek ridgeline.
The land contains exceptional habitat for birds and other wildlife, as well as clean waters that support native trout. The Audubon Society’s Roan Mountain Important Bird Area covers the majority of the property, and it adjoins the Little Yellow Mountain and Hawk Mountain Natural Area (ranked Exceptional) as designated by the state of NC.
Elevations reach 5,400 feet on the northern-most point of the property. The tract contains northern hardwood forest and Appalachian oak forest.
The headwaters of Hawk Creek, designated by the NC Division of Water Quality as Trout Waters, flow through the property and into the Left Fork Cane Creek.
Ultimately, we intend to transfer the property to the State of NC, to become part of the Yellow Mountain State Natural Area.
Neighbor Perspective: Camp Spring Creek
The Little Hawk Mountain property adjoins Camp Spring Creek, a residential summer camp offering dyslexic children one-on-one reading instruction plus arts, friendship and fun in the outdoors.
“We are delighted to have environmentalists and conservationists as our neighbors and look forward to many opportunities to partner with SAHC,” said Susie van der Vorst, camp director and co-founder.
Founded in 2003, Camp Spring Creek accepts campers with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences, including ADHD.
For more info, visit CampSpringCreek.org.
