Piece by Piece
Adding to Ridges Mountain,
A Piedmont Treasure
JULY 2025
On July 1st, Piedmont Land Conservancy (PLC) purchased 70 acres of undeveloped forest in Randolph County on the western side of Ridges Mountain, a rocky hill, or monadnock, that rises to 840 feet in the ancient Uwharrie range. The purchased tract neighbors land that PLC first protected in 2000 and transferred to the North Carolina Zoo, a conservation effort that earned statewide praise for safeguarding rare plants, wildlife, and striking geology.
This newest addition builds on growing, steady momentum. In 2024, the Zoo accepted a 139‑acre gift from The Conservation Fund, bringing the formal Ridges Mountain Nature Preserve to 423 acres. This PLC purchase now pushes the contiguous protected landscape to nearly 500 acres, creating a larger buffer against development and a richer outdoor classroom for scientists, students, and weekend explorers alike.
Within the combined tracts visitors can experience a wide range of natural communities: Basic Oak-Hickory Forest, Monadnock Forest, Upland Depression Pools, and Upland Depression Swamp Forest. These habitats shelter breeding salamanders and frogs, provide stopovers for migrating songbirds, and support uncommon plants such as fragrant sumac and southern shagbark hickory. At the summit, fifty‑foot granite boulders inspire awe from today’s hikers and climbers, while centuries‑old stone walls hint at the site’s historic role along the Great Trading Path.
We continue to pursue land protection around Ridges Mountain because larger connected preserves deliver greater ecological benefits. More room means healthier waterways and safer corridors for wide‑ranging species like wild turkeys, bobcats, deer, and migrating neotropical songbirds. Less than 3 miles from Ridges Mountain, PLC also protects 900 combined acres at Mt. Shepherd, Caraway Creek Preserve, and Camp Caraway.
Visit Ridges Mountain
With a simple reservation, the trail at Ridges Mountain is open to hikers!
Ridges Mountain Nature Preserve is managed by the North Carolina Zoo. Hiking and rock climbing are allowed, but guests must obtain permission before their visit. Reservations may be made online.Â
You can make hiking reservations or make rock-climbing reservations.
Reservations are free. The reservation system limits the number of visitors per day to 25 to reduce the amount of strain on the land.
Hiking out and back on the trail is a total of 2.3 miles. The trail is natural surface, starting wide on a old road then narrowing to a rocky trail that requires careful stepping.
PLC regularly hosts guided hikes a Ridges Mountain. We hope you’ll join us sometime! See our upcoming events.
