Our public agencies, land trust partners, tribes, and surrounding area residents envision a model for economic growth, environmental protection, cultural vitality, and community-driven decisions on land use and planning. Together, land trusts are working to expand protected land around Waterrock Knob at Milepost 451 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Local communities including tribes, local governments, business owners, and families are committed to conserving the exemplary ecosystems and biologically diverse communities that are still intact in this area of the Southern Appalachians. 

As we advance our conservation goals, partners recognize the need to develop a holistic vision for sustainable recreation and tourism, regional trail connections, and opportunities for immersion into the rich Cherokee and Appalachian cultural heritage of the region. 

Preserving land along the Parkway does not exclusively benefit those residing in Western NC but throughout the entire state…and beyond. Accessibility to recreational areas, providing clean drinking water, furthering climate resilience, and ensuring that the natural beauty of our state is preserved for future generations are just a few of the reasons why land conservation along the Blue Ridge Parkway is so critical.  

Conservation and Funding Partners who make this work possible: Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, The Conservation Fund, Mainspring Conservation Trust, The Nature Conservancy, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, Southwestern Resource Conservation and Developmental Council, Haywood Waterways Association, Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, government agency partners, tribal councils, and universities that have made the conservation success at Waterrock Knob possible.