Black's Bluff

Why You Should Visit
The exceptional diversity of plant life at Black's Bluff is due to the bluff's unique structure and composition. It has a rich oak-hickory forest that grows on a steep outcrop of 500 million-year-old Conasauga limestone along the Coosa River. The site has long been regarded by naturalists as one of the most botanically diverse areas in Georgia, and has been described as a "massive natural rock garden." The steep, north-facing slope is cooler, moister, and receives less sunshine than surrounding areas. These factors, combined with the alkalinity of the lime-rich soil, provide ideal growth conditions for numerous rare and unusual plants.

Location
Floyd County, near Rome

Size
132 acres

Conditions
Oak hickory forest

How to Prepare for Your Visit
The Nature Conservancy welcomes visits to Black's Bluff. Volunteer work parties regularly visit the preserve to assist with its management. There is a walking trail through the preserve. Contact Michelle Cable at (404) 253-7213 or email mcable@tnc.org for further details.

Directions
From Atlanta:
Take I-75 North past Cartersville. Take GA 20 to Rome. At Rome Interchange (US 411/US 27) stay on US 411. Count 3 miles (to flashing yellow light and FINA gas station). Turn right onto Walker Mountain Road. Travel 1.5 miles. Turn right onto Black's Bluff Road. Travel 1.7 miles and park across from quarry.

What to See: Plants
Rare plants at Black's Bluff include the endangered large-flowered skullcap, a perennial herb in the mint family, and the state-endangered limerock arrowwood, which grows almost exclusively in northwest Georgia. Many northern plants not typically found in the South, such as dutchman's breeches, also flourish here. This thick carpet of wildflowers and other plants helps to prevent erosion during the spring, when heavy rains feed the streams cascading down the slope

What to See: Animals
A rich assemblage of salamanders can be found in the forests and spring-fed streams. Of particular interest are cave salamanders, which can be found in the limestone caverns.

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
This site has enjoyed a reputation as a botanical "hot spot" for many decades and has always been a top priority for our state. Documentation of the remarkable richness of Black's Bluff dates from the last century, when botanists from the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, traveled throughout the southeastern United States to record the flora of the region.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
Black's Bluff is one of only two Georgia preserves open every day to the public. Since the Conservancy first protected 107 acres at this site, our efforts of land protection have continued, and Black's Bluff may be the first site in Georgia to be fully protected through our efforts.