Primroy Creek Preserve

Primory Creek is a tributary of the Clear Fork of the Cumberland River. There are several sandstone outcrops and rock shelters here, and the grassy areas have a high potential for rare plant species.

Location
This tract is on Pine Mountain at the Kentucky-Tennessee border in Whitley County. It can be reached from I-75 by taking US 25 at Jellico, Tennessee.
 
Size
215 acres

Conditions
Due to the sensitivity of the site, the preserve is open to the public only through Conservancy guided hikes.

How to Prepare for Your Visit
For more information on visiting this and other Nature Conservancy sites in Kentucky, see our Preserve Visitation Guidelines page.

What to See: Plants
The forest consists of beech/hemlock types on the moist sites and oak/pine on the drier sections. The woodland on drier sites is open with an abundance of little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and goat's rue (Tephrosia virginiana).
 
Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
Primroy Creek is part of Pine Mountain, a large landscape of biological diversity in Kentucky. The rare Downy goldenrod (Solidago pubemla) has been found near the crest of the mountain. This site was donated to The Nature Conservancy by Lillian Rush.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
The Conservancy's priorities at Primroy Creek at to gather information concerning rare species, evaluate the status of invasive species, and control all-terrain vehicle access, a major threat.