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Elk Knob State Park


Elk Knob
© William A. Bake
 

Why You Should Visit
Elk Knob’s heavily forested summit dominates the skyline of the region. A dense northern hardwood forest covers the mountain’s steep slopes; the absence of stumps and old roadbeds suggest that portions of this forest may never have been logged. Rich forests dominate north-facing coves along larger streams on the mountain’s lower slopes. Elk Knob is an important headwaters area for the New River, one of the oldest rivers in the world, and one of the very few rivers which flows south to north. The top of the 5,520-foot peak features great views of the surrounding landscape, including Mt. Rogers, the highest point in Virginia.

Location
Watauga County

Size
1,100 acres

What to See: Plants
The preserve boasts one of the greatest concentrations of rare plants in the southern Appalachians, including trailing wolfsbane, meehania, Roan rattlesnakeroot and Gray's lily. The hardwood forest is dominated by Northern red oak, yellow birch and sugar maple.

What to See: Animals
Black bears inhabit this large block of unfragmented forest, as well as rare boreal creatures like the northern saw-whet owl and the globally endangered Carolina northern flying squirrel. Birders will enjoy Elk Knob’s avian life: broad-winged hawks and ravens can be seen soaring overhead and you are likely to hear ruffed grouse drumming during the breeding season. The many species of neotropical migratory songbirds that nest here include chestnut-sided warbler, black-throated blue warbler, ovenbird, scarlet tanager, and Canada warbler.

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
In addition to its natural beauty and ecological value, the purchase of Elk Knob enabled The Nature Conservancy to protect a significant part of the New River Headwaters area. This area is particularly vulnerable to development pressures, since much of the land in the region is privately owned. The Conservancy’s acquisition of Elk Knob protected this significant natural area near Boone from the increasing development pressures.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
Elk Knob was transferred to the State of North Carolina to be managed as Elk Knob State Park.

Read a postcard from the field about Elk Knob.