Dedication & Hike: Occoneechee Mtn SNA joins the Old-Growth Forest Network

625 Virginia Cates Road,Hillsborough NC 27278

05 November, 2022

Description

Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area in Orange County will be inducted into the Old-Growth Forest Network on Saturday, November 5th, at 10:00 am. Sarah Adloo, Executive Director for the Old-Growth Forest Network, will present a plaque to North Carolina Department of Natural & Cultural Resources staff from the nearby Eno River State Park. Following the ceremony, DNCR staff will lead an interpretive trail walk. The public is invited to join us for refreshments and a hike as part of the induction ceremony however space is limited to 30 participants and pre-registration via EventBrite is required. The event will take place rain or shine. Registered attendees will gather at the trailhead located at 625 Virginia Cates Rd, Hillsborough, North Carolina. Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area is part of the homelands of the Eno, Saponi, Sissipahaw, Occaneechi, and Shakori peoples and their descendants. The State Natural Area is located near Hillsborough in Orange County and offers a quick escape into nature with trails winding through forests of mountain laurel and rhododendron. Two quiet fishing ponds complement the nearby Eno River, while the summit overlook affords a great sunset view. The rare brown elfin butterfly has called the mountain home since the Ice Age. Dominant tree species are blackjack, chestnut and scarlet oaks and Virginia pine. The mountain’s protected status will allow the mature forest to continue to develop complex old-growth characteristics. The Old-Growth Forest Network is a nonprofit connecting people to nature by creating a national network of protected, accessible forests.