Cane Creek Mountain and Observatory Woods

Cane Creek Mountain in southern Alamance County is the largest area of upland forest in the county and a significant natural asset for the region. The 101-acre property, acquired by PLC in 2014, will be turned over to the Alamance County Parks & Recreation Department where hiking trails will be developed to allow public access for outdoor recreation. The mountain’s side slopes create the headwaters of several streams that drain in to the Haw River further downstream.

Cane-Creek-Woods-natural-areaIn addition to its natural significance, the site also serves an important role for its neighbor – the Three College Observatory. One of the largest telescopes in the southeastern United States sits atop the adjacent knoll. The observatory was originally located to take advantage of the lack of light pollution the area has to offer. By keeping this land forested and undeveloped, PLC has helped to safeguard the future of this important educational asset to our region.

“Creating natural areas where the public can experience the beauty of the Piedmont is the first step in fostering our community’s appreciation of our natural resources. We hope this will be the first of many projects on which we partner with PLC.”

– Brian Baker, Alamance County Recreation and Parks Director