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Black Mountains: Craggy Mountains (Big Ivy) |
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Location: Buncombe County, NC, 12 miles southwest of Burnsville, Toecane Ranger District, Pisgah National Forest
USGS Topographic Maps: Mt. Mitchell, Barnardsville, Montreat, Craggy Pinnacle
The Craggy Mountains form the western edge of the larger Black Mountains landscape conservation area, extending from the high elevations of the Blue Ridge Parkway at 6,000 feet down to lower elevation rich coves at 3,000 feet.
The area, also known as Big Ivy, which takes its name from the river with headwaters in the area, is extremely rich in and important for its biological diversity and scenic and recreation value. It includes the Craggy Mountain Wilderness Study Area, Big Butt Ridge and much of the land in between, including the Walker Cove Natural Area.
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Approximate size:
10,616 acres
Roadless acreage:
2,659 acres
Old growth acreage:
3,072 acres |
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Although an isolated section of national forest land, it is well connected to the rest of the Black Mountains through protected conservation lands, the Asheville Watershed and the Cane River Hunt Club lands.
The Craggy Mountains are a very significant biological area. The area is home to numerous rare species and extensive old growth. The State Natural Heritage Program recognizes several State Natural Heritage Areas containing significant biological habitat within this Mountain Treasure area. Botanist Karin Heiman, working with the State Natural Heritage Program and the U.SF. Forest Service, documented 40 locations of 32 rare plant species. A designated Forest Service large old growth patch stands within this area, and there arefour verified old growth sites containing 2,857 acres of old growth. Most of the old growth sites overlap with areas of significant biological habitat.
Congress designated the 2,380-acre Craggy Mountain Wilderness Study Area in 1984; the Forest Service recommended it for wilderness in 1987. Legislation to establish it as wilderness passed the U.S. House of Representatives in 1990, but did not clear the Senate. The area contains spectacular trails including thoses leading from the popular Craggy Gardens Visitor Center through virgin stands of hemlock and oak to the lovely Douglas Falls and Carter Falls. Although the Craggy Mountain Wilderness Study Area itself is protected, most of the rest of the area is open to logging and road building.
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Forest Communities:
Red Spruce Forest, Spruce-Northern Hardwood, Northern Hardwood (mesic and dry), Beech Gap, Rich Cove, Acidic Cove, Hemlock-Mixed Mesophytic, Hemlock Forest, High Elevation Northern Red Oak, and Dry Oak.
* Hemlock-Mixed Mesophytic forest was found in the Walker Branch area. Submesic Oak and Carolina Hemlock Forest were found near Big Andy Ridge in the same watershed.
* Montane Cedar-Hardwood Woodland is present in the Cedar Cliff Knob area. This knob is part of High Knob Ridge, and is on the western edge of this delineated area. This community is listed with the NCNHP as likely having old growth.
* An unusual band of Hemlock Forest is present in the Carter Creek-Waterfall Creek watershed. This band crosses open slopes, a deep cove, and follows a main ridge. Eastern hemlock trees between 4 and 5 feet in diameter were found in this area.
Largest Diameter Tree of Its Kind in the Nantahala-Pisgah:
* Yellow birch, 58 inches (Carter Creek-Waterfall Creek)
* Black cherry, 48 inches (Carter Creek-Waterfall Creek)
* Sugar maple, 44.7 inches (Walker Cove RNA)
* Butternut, 19.2 inches (Walker Branch)
* Eastern hophornbeam, 15.4 inches (Hawkbill Rock area)
* Fire cherry, 14.8 inches (Upper Staire Branch)
* Striped maple, 10.4 (Upper Staire Branch)
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Unusual Plants
(listed here by location and forest community):
Upper Mineral Creek:
Northern Hardwood: Herbaceous density and diversity were very high in this community, except where rhododendron thickets drown the herbs out. Several rare plant species occur within the site including: wolfsbane (Aconitum reclinatum); spotted mandarin (Disporum maculatum); broadleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis latifolia); and, a very rare federally listed lichen (Gymnoderma lineare).
Carter Creek-Waterfall Creek:
Northern Hardwood: The herbaceous layer is outstanding in this type, both in is considerable diversity and in its coverage. Several rare plant species were seen (or were noted in the past) within this site. These include: alpine rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera repens); trailing wolfsbane; purple fringed orchid (Platanthera grandiflora); broadleaf coreopsis; northern beech fern (Phegopteris connectilis); and, a grass of parnassus (Parnassia asarifolia).
Upper Little Andy Creek (between Point Misery and Little Butt):
Northern Hardwood: Herb diversity is very high, as is typical of moist high-elevation sites, and there is very dense cover of many species. Some species such as rose mandarin (Streptopus roseus) are more abundant here than elsewhere, according to Alan Smith. The amounts of this uncommon plant are impressive. Pervious visits to the site found two rare plant species: the white twisted stalk (Streptopus amplexifolius); and gnome-fingered lichen (Gymnoderma lineare).
Pigpen Knob (north):
Rich Cove forest: This is an exceedingly rich and diverse area, with herbaceous diversity and densities that rival any old growth sites in the area. Soils in this cove are especially deep and rich for the area, which probably accounts for the rich herb flora. The presence of some amount of amphibolite rock, as seen in small surface samples is another indication of less acidity and high cation nutrients.
Several rare plant species occur at this site including: mountain catchfly (Silene ovata); trailing wolfsbane; spotted; broadleaf coreopsis; green violet (Hybanthus concolor); and, a sedge (Carex leptonervia).
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