A new trail opens at the Cane Creek Mountains Natural Area on July 3, 2021. The Longleaf Loop Trail will offer an additional 1 mile of surfaced trail offering clear views of the mountain range above. The packed gravel trail is perfect for runners or hikers with strollers or animals. The Longleaf Loop Trail meanders through a section of the park that has been recently planted with Longleaf Pine, a species native to Eastern North Carolina, but rarely found in the Piedmont.

The Cane Creek Mountains Natural Area is the largest county park in the area with over 1,000 total acres. The development of the park will continue over the next several years and will include an observation tower, camping facilities, a wildlife observation platform, and more. Phase 2 of the park is expected to open in 2022.

The Longleaf Loop Trail is accessible via the Pine Hill Trailhead located at 5075 Bass Mountain Rd, Snow Camp, NC 27349. Visitors to the park will enjoy rolling piedmont hills, abundant creeks and streams, and some of the best views in Alamance County.

For more information about Cane Creek Mountains Natural Area visit www.alamanceparks.com. Follow Alamance Parks on Facebook (AlamanceParks), Instagram (alamanceparks).

In February 2021, Alamance Parks, The Conservation Fund, and Piedmont Land Conservancy announced the addition of 432 acres to the Cane Creek Mountain Natural Area located in Snow Camp. The property, known as the Sizemore addition nearly doubled the size of the Natural Area, bringing it to roughly 1,000 acres of County-owned, protected, publicly accessible land.

Cane Creek Mountains Natural Area opened to the public in May of 2020, providing access to Alamance County’s largest state-significant natural heritage area. The new addition will expand hiking trails and opportunities for nature exploration.

“This acquisition protects one of the most unique and beautiful places in the Piedmont,” said Brian Baker, director of Alamance Parks. “Cane Creek Mountains Natural Area will be a tremendous boost to the health and happiness of Alamance County citizens as well as our local economy. We cannot wait to share this unspoiled land with the people of North Carolina.”

Partners, including Alamance Parks, The Conservation Fund, and Piedmont Land Conservancy, helped establish the Natural Area. About halfway between the growing Piedmont Triad and Research Triangle regions, conserved open space like the Cane Creek Mountains is critical for wildlife habitat, ecological value, and water quality for local communities.

The development of the park will continue over the next several years. Upon completion, the park will include an observation tower, camping facilities, a wildlife observation area, and more!

To read the full press release, visit The Conservation Fund’s website.

CANE CREEK MOUNTAINS NATURAL AREA OPENS MAY 22, 2020 – BY RESERVATION ONLY

Cane Creek Mountains Natural Area opens to the public on May 22, 2020. The Pine Hill Trailhead is the first phase of development in the new park and includes 3.5 miles of trail. Hikers will enjoy rolling piedmont hills, abundant creeks and streams, and some of the best views in Alamance County.

Due to current social distancing requirements surrounding COVID-19, the park is open by reservation only. Visitors can secure a reservation at the park by visiting alamance.recdesk.com. Reservations are available to groups of 10 or less in 3-hour time slots during which they will have exclusive access to the park.

Cane Creek Mountains Natural Area is located at: 5075 Bass Mountain Rd, Snow Camp, NC 27349. For more information, visit www.alamanceparks.com.

About Cane Creek Mountains Natural Area

Cane Creek Mountains Natural Area is located 8 miles south of the City of Graham in the Cane Creek Mountains Range, a Piedmont Monadnock range. The mountain range comprises the largest State Natural Heritage Area and the largest area of undisturbed woodland in Alamance County. The property contains four miles of streams and supports Piedmont Monadnock Forest, Dry-Mesic Oak-Hickory Forests, as well as low elevation seeps. The area contains plants and animals found nowhere else in Alamance County and is home to the highest peak in North Carolina east of Greensboro at 987 feet.

Upon completion, the Cane Creek Mountains Natural Area will total over 1,000 acres. The development of the park will continue over the next several years.  

The Cane Creek Mountain Natural Area is a partnership between The Conservation Fund, Piedmont Land Conservancy, and Alamance Parks. Funding support has been received from Clean Water Management Trust Fund, North Carolina Recreational Trails Program, North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund and private donors.

The North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund has awarded Alamance County a $470,000 grant for the development of the Cane Creek Mountains Natural Area. The grant will fund the construction of an observation tower, trailhead, natural surface hiking trails, and camping facilities at the park.

The Cane Creek Mountains are located 8 miles south of the City of Graham and comprise the largest State Natural Heritage Area and largest area of undisturbed woodland in Alamance County. The mountain range is also home to the highest peak in North Carolina east of Greensboro at 987 feet. The property contains four miles of streams and supports Piedmont Monadnock Forest, Dry-Mesic Oak-Hickory Forests, as well as low elevation seeps. The area contains plants and animals found nowhere else in Alamance County.

Upon completion, the Cane Creek Mountains Natural Area will total over 1,000 acres. The observation tower will offer unparalleled views of this exceptional mountain range. No other parks in our area approach the size and scope of the Cane Creek Mountains Natural Area.

The Cane Creek Mountain Natural Area is a partnership between The Conservation Fund, Piedmont Land Conservancy, and Alamance Parks. Additional funding support has been received from Clean Water Management Trust Fund, North Carolina Recreational Trails Program and private donors.

The first hiking trails of the park are expected to open in 2020.