The Nature Preserve is mostly owned by Conserving Carolina. They partnered with Henderson County Parks and Recreation for a parking area and
connector trail. The perverse consists of an interconnecting series of trails with a beautiful mountain creek and several scenic overlooks. Look for the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Trailhead, the same parking area for the Wildcat Rock trail.
For more details visit Conserving Carolina’s website at:
https://conservingcarolina.org/florence-nature-preserve/
The preserve is part of the newly designated Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail System. That system is envisioned to be more than 100 miles of trails throughout
Hickory Nut Gorge. To read more about the plans and see a map of the current and proposed trails see the link below:
https://conservingcarolina.org/hickory-nut-gorge-trail/
WHERE: 3836 Gerton Hwy, Gerton, NC 28735
DIRECTIONS: Located directly on Highway 74A. Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Trailhead. From the Lake Lure Welcome Center, about 7.3 miles west on US 74-A. Trailhead will be on your right. It is also the trailhead for the Wildcat Rock/Little Bearwallow Falls Trail.
Keep your maps in a plastic bag to protect them from the rain and know how to use them. GPS units are great, but they are not substitutes for knowing how to use a map and compass.
