Appalachian Trail Countryside

The focal point of this conservation area is the 150-mile stretch of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (AT) from Rich Mountain, NC (north of Hot Springs) to Watauga Lake in northeastern TN. We protect high quality land along the AT and in the surrounding areas visible from the trail. Our conservation success stories in this focus area include the stunning 10,000-acre Rocky Fork watershed, the historic Tilson Homeplace Farm in Unicoi County, TN, and iconic Lost Cove — site of an abandoned community within the Pisgah National Forest.

Conservation

The TN and NC sections of the Appalachian Trail lead visitors through a diversity of important natural communities and old growth forest. Headwaters in this area provide habitat for rare and endangered aquatic communities, and the Rocky Fork watershed contains 5 miles of blue ribbon trout streams. Big Bald is an important corridor for migrating birds, especially neotropical migratory birds, due to its treeless summit and good sources of fresh drinking water.

Recreation

This conservation focus area contains a popular and accessible network of public lands and public trails. Recreational opportunities include day hiking, backpacking, camping, horseback riding, mountain biking, nature watching, canoeing, and rafting. Waterfalls, trout streams, rivers, and TVA lakes abound in this region, including Watauga lake, the Nolichucky River, and Red Fork Falls. Fourteen AT shelters can be found in this focus area.

Stewardship

Our volunteers and staff have worked to remove trash and accumulated debris from properties which are now protected – including the stunning Lost Cove site, an in-holding in the Pisgah National Forest which we purchased in 2012. In 2014, our Corporate Partner USA Raft teamed up to help us remove over a ton of garbage from the Lost Cove. It was a creative endeavor that enabled us to “Raft Out the Trash.”