The Pine Mountain Wildlands Corridor is an ecologically significant and climate resilient landscape within Central Appalachia. Featuring some of the most biodiverse temperate forests on the planet, Pine Mountain is home to thousands of plant and animal species, more than 200 of which are considered rare or endangered. Kentucky Natural Lands Trust (KNLT) is focused on safeguarding this corridor. With a pledge of support from Atira Conservation in November 2024, KNLT acquired an additional 402 acres on the north face of Pine Mountain. Located in Letcher County, Kentucky, just below the Creech Overlook on the famed Little Shepherd Trail, the new tract is now known as the Karen Wilder Addition to Hurricane Gap Preserve. This addition doubles the size of the existing preserve to 836 acres.

Hurricane Gap Preserve protects forested habitat at the headwaters of the North Fork of the Kentucky River. It is an important swarming habitat for endangered Indiana bats and northern long-eared bats. These bats use this swarming area each year in late fall to feed heavily on insects so that they can build the fat reserves they need to survive hibernation during the winter months in nearby Line Fork Cave on Kingdom Come State Park Nature Preserve and Green Cave on KNLT’s Warbler Ridge Preserve.

Expanding Hurricane Gap Preserve adds to the connectivity of conservation lands along Pine Mountain, quilting together more than 6,000 acres of contiguous protected wildlands in Letcher and Harlan counties. The preserve also includes a section of the Pine Mountain State Scenic Trail, a hiking trail which is part of the planned 1,800-mile Great Eastern Trail. These outdoor recreation assets provide access to nature and make a positive contribution to the transitioning economy of Central Appalachia.

• Property Cost: $710,0000
• Atira Conservation Funding: $40,000