Unaka Mountains Unaka Mountains Conservation Area Nolichucky Gorge Highlands of Roan Proposed Midsize Protection Areas: Slide Hollow Extension Strawberry Mountain a. Little Rock Knob b. Upper Toms Creek Unaka Mountain Big Bald Download this Map Unaka Mountains Conservation Area 3.2 mb pdf file Slide Hollow Extension Approximate size: 199 acres Slide Hollow contains 200 acres of roadless acreage but has no USFS Large Old Growth Patch. to Top of Page >> Strawberry Mountain (TN) Approximate size: 787 acres Little Rock Knob Little Rock Knob contains two candidate old growth sites, but does not have a USFS Large Old Growth Patch. Little Rock Knob has High Elevation Northern Red Oak forest communities. Riparian forests in this area may be rich and diverse. Brook trout exist in the upper section of Big Rock Creek. Upper Toms Creek Upper Toms Creek has neither a USFS Large Old Growth Patch or old growth acreage, but there is one candidate old growth site. The area has not been thoroughly investigated so there is no record of forest communities or interesting plant and animal species. to Top of Page >> Unaka Mountain Approximate size: 2,910 acres Old growth acreage: 181 acres There are three candidate old growth sites in the Unaka Mountain unit, as well as a North Carolina Natural Heritage listing. It does not have a USFS Large Old Growth Patch. The NCNHP lists Spruce-Fir Forest and High Elevation Northern Red Oak forest communities. These listings include possible old growth. Richard Chisholm of the Western North Carolina Alliance reported finding large red spruce trees along the Appalachian Trail. Some of the higher elevation forest communities or deep remote coves in this area could have uncommon or rare plant species. to Top of Page >> Big Bald (TN) Approximate size: 3,343 acres Big Bald does not contain a USFS Large Old Growth Patch, but it does have four candidate old growth sites and a North Carolina Natural Heritage Listing. High Elevation Northern Red Oak forest is listed by the NCNHP in upper Jim Creek. These listings include possible old growth. The Forest Service has relatively recently acquired extensive holdings in the Jim Creek watershed, which is located northeast of Hensley Ridge. Northern Hardwood forest, occurring above 4,000 feet, has been located in the northeast section of this delineated area near the Appalachian Trail. The Forest Service has proposed the Northside timber sale in this same general area but it is yet to occur. Surveyors have reported butternut trees near the Appalachian Trail in the northeast section of this delineated area. A small species was found in Rich Cove or Northern Hardwood forest in this same general area. Pockets of calcareous or circum-neutral substrate are likely. High balds in this area (Big Bald reaches 5,516 feet in elevation) may support unique plant communities or plant species. The Tennessee side of this area has not been investigated for the presence of unusual or rare species. The area was not listed in the Tennesee Mountain Treasures book of 1996. to Top of Page >>

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