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Three Top Mountain Game Land

Heller's Blazing Star
Heller's blazing star in bloom
© Margit Bucher
 
Three Top Mountain
Three Top Mountain
© Margit Bucher
Location:
Mountains
Ashe County

Size in Acres:
2,808

Involvement in Acres:
2,289

Topographical Map:
Warrensville

Topographical maps are available by contacting:
NC Geographical Survey.
1612 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1612.
(919) 715-9718
www.geology.enr.state.nc.us/

Activities & Amenities:
Hiking / Birding

Ownership & Access:
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
1701 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1701
(919) 733-7291

Site Information:
Three Top Mountain is named for the three rock outcrops forming the spine of the mountain’s ridge. This area offers rugged hiking, cliffs, waterfalls, and great views. Elevations range from 3,000 to 4,800 feet above sea level. Three Top is part of the amphibolite mountain group, an unusual mountain chain containing a calcium-rich rock rare in the southern Blue Ridge. This group includes Mount Jefferson and Bluff Mountain, one of the North Carolina Chapter’s most well-known preserves.

The ecosystem supports large populations of spreading avens, mountain bluet, Carolina saxifrage, and Heller’s blazing star. Three Top offers good birding in the spring with opportunities to see nesting songbirds such as veery, rose-breasted grosbeak, chestnut-sided and Canada warblers, scarlet tanager, and red-eyed and solitary vireos.

Conservation Highlights:
In 1989 Chester Middlesworth offered to donate his 20 percent interest in a 1,100-acre parcel at Three Top. His generosity, combined with the willingness of the other four landowners to help the Conservancy, ensured the protection of the first portion of this project. Later, The Nature Conservancy purchased additional land from failed mountain developments.

Directions:
From West Jefferson drive north on 194/88. At Warrensville continue on NC 88 (over the New River Bridge) and and turn onto Peak Road (toward Creston) and then left on Three Top Road (also called Eller Road) and enter the Three Top Subdivision. Parking access is available on Three Top Road, on Hidden Valley Road and on Edwards Road. Check the NC Wildlife Resources Commission for the most current map.