Blue Ridge Conservancy Protects Scenic Mountain Vista in Ashe County
Blue Ridge Conservancy recently protected 133 acres of mountain top land in Ashe County, located between existing BRC conservation lands at Pond Mountain and Three Top Mountain. The property, known as “Ottaray,” includes the summit of Dove’s Knob at an elevation of 4,220 feet, and the headwaters of Mill Creek.
Ottaray boasts significant scenic benefit to the citizens of Ashe County, features diverse and varied habitat for multiple wildlife species, and high conservation values for water quality and agricultural use.
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Blue Ridge Conservancy Purchases Scenic Property Adjoining Jumpinoff Rock on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Conservancy recently purchased 121 acres of land in Ashe and Wilkes counties, located near the popular Jumpinoff Rock Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Bear Den Branch creek, a headwater stream of the Yadkin River, originates on the property, and is designated High Quality Water, Trout Water, WSII by the NC Division of Water Resources. The ridgeline acreage, skirted along the boundary by the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, will be added to the Parkway in the future.
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Ashe County Rotary Club Awards $2,000 to Northern Peaks State Trail
Rotary Club of Ashe County has awarded $2,000 for signage at Paddy Mountain Park, the West Jefferson Trailhead of the Northern Peaks State Trail. The park is currently under construction and is anticipated to be open in the fall of 2024. Ashe County Rotary Club and the Rotary Club Foundation are the latest in a long list of partners, which includes the NC Parks and Rec Trust Fund, the NC Recreational Trails Program, the NC General Assembly, Ashe County, and the Town of West Jefferson, among others.
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Blue Ridge Conservancy and Watauga County Officially Open Valle Crucis River Access
On Friday, July 26, BRC and partners officially opened the Watauga River Access on 194 in Valle Crucis. BRC staff were joined by officials from the Tennessee Valley Authority and Watauga Tourism Development Authority, MaryAnn Mueller and Diana Travis, who gifted the majority of the land for the access point, and supporters of the project. This beautiful spot, including 1,300 feet of river frontage located in between the Valle Crucis Community Park and the Watauga Gorge Park, provides parking and recreational opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, tubing, and fishing.
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