Misplaced Pages

Florence Nature Preserve

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Nature preserve in North Carolina, US

Florence Nature Preserve
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
Map showing the location of Florence Nature PreserveMap showing the location of Florence Nature PreserveLocation of Florence Nature Preserve in North CarolinaShow map of North CarolinaMap showing the location of Florence Nature PreserveMap showing the location of Florence Nature PreserveFlorence Nature Preserve (the United States)Show map of the United States
LocationHenderson County, North Carolina, United States
Nearest cityGerton
Coordinates35°28′26″N 82°19′57″W / 35.47389°N 82.33250°W / 35.47389; -82.33250
Area600 acres (240 ha)
Elevation2,280 ft (690 m)
EstablishedMay 4, 2005
Named forTom and Glenna Florence
Governing bodyConserving Carolina

Florence Nature Preserve is a publicly-accessible privately owned nature preserve in Gerton, Henderson County, North Carolina in the United States. The 600-acre (2.4 km) nature preserve is located 18 miles (29 km) southeast of Asheville, North Carolina, and is owned and managed by Conserving Carolina, a local nonprofit, member-supported land trust.

Early park development

The preserve was named after Dr. Tom and Glenna Florence, who donated the land that makes up the preserve. A 50% interest in the 600 acres was donated to Conserving Carolina, then known as the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, in 1996, which was the first property that the land trust owned. The Florence couple went on to donate the remaining 50% interest in the property in 2001. Conserving Carolina adopted and improved nearly five miles of existing trails and has opened the land to the public as the Florence Nature Preserve. Additionally, a small portion of the land is owned by Henderson County Parks.

Recreation

The preserve contains five hiking trails. Notable sights on the trails include vistas of the summit of Burnshirt Mountain from Rattlesnake Rock, a scenic view of Chimney Rock State Park's Hickory Nut Gorge from Little Pisgah Point, waterfalls, creeks, and various wildlife.

Additionally, an access hiking trail links the park to nearby Little Bearwallow Falls, as well as the interconnected Bearwallow Mountain, Trombatore, and Strawberry Gap trails, all of which are managed by Conserving Carolina. Trails on the preserve are part of the Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail, which may someday connect the preserve to Chimney Rock State Park.

See also

References

  1. Protected Area Profile for Florence Nature Preserve from the World Database on Protected Areas. Retrieved May 23 2023.
  2. "Size of the North Carolina State Parks System" (XLS). North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation. July 1, 2020. Archived from the original on August 18, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  3. "Florence Nature Preserve". WNC Magazine. April 15, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  4. "Florence Nature Preserve". Conserving Carolina. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  5. "Florence Nature Preserve – Rutherford Outdoor Coalition | NC". Rutherford Outdoor Coalition. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  6. "Strawberry Gap Trail, newest link in Hickory Nut Gorge, opens in Henderson County". Hendersonville Times-News. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  7. Barrows, Kari (December 20, 2020). "Public input needed for multi-county trail planning". WLOS. Retrieved May 21, 2023.

External links

Categories: