This week, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) took a significant step toward protecting natural treasures by acquiring 191 acres on the shoulder of Warren Wilson College in the Swannanoa Valley. This land purchase safeguards a stretch of forest, open pasture, and a vital section of Bull Creek from the creeping threat of real estate development. More than just land, it's securing a living, breathing landscape for the community and future generations to explore and learn from.

SAHC’s Bull Creek Preserve at Warren Wilson College is a bold collaboration that highlights conservation with education. The Conservancy will manage this property as a nature preserve while Warren Wilson College continues to utilize it for environmental studies and land-management training. It’s a partnership rooted in both stewardship and hands-on learning.

Spanning a beautiful cove and mixed hardwood forest, the preserve includes a 17-acre pasture offering commanding views of the Black Mountains. Bull Creek, a tributary of the Swannanoa River, threads through the property with rocky streambanks and inviting wading pools. The creek carries the legacy of the Black Mountains’ waters just south of the Blue Ridge Parkway, its currents daring hikers to pause and listen.

About 3 miles of single-track trails crisscross the preserve, used for hiking and biking. The trails present a moderate challenge, weaving through forest and farm, engaging adventurers with steady climbs and refreshing downhill stretches. These paths offer a hands-on invitation to witness a working farm and forest fiercely alive and preserved in its natural state.

As SAHC’s Farmland Protection Director Jess Laggis reflects, "This property on Bull Creek is beloved in the Swannanoa community," underscoring the local value and care woven into its future. SAHC Executive Director Carl Silverstein echoes this by emphasizing the property’s role in Swannanoa’s legacy of conservation, made possible by dedicated local leaders.

Exploring Bull Creek Preserve isn't just about a hike; it’s about connecting with an ecosystem fiercely itself, understanding how land and water interact, and seeing conservation in action. Whether you seek a quiet spot to watch the creek push forward or an energizing ride through wooded trails, this preserve sets a new benchmark for outdoor experience with practical stewardship at its core.

Planning your visit here means preparing for moderate terrain on mixed surface trails, bringing water and sturdy footwear, and respecting the property’s role as both a community resource and nature sanctuary. Early mornings or late afternoons reward visitors with cool light filtering through mixed hardwoods and pasture grasses swaying in the breeze.

Thanks to the leadership and generosity behind this acquisition, Bull Creek Preserve will remain an open invitation to adventure, education, and conservation in the heart of the Southern Appalachians.

Learn more about this exciting new destination and how you can support its future by visiting the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy at SAHC’s Bull Creek Preserve announcement.