The Slickens Creek tract is a central, 94-acre inholding of the Panthertown Valley, a treasured 6,300-acre backcountry recreation area within the Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina. Known for its waterfalls, swimming holes, and unparalleled geological and ecological features, Panthertown Valley is a recreational destination referred to as the Yosemite of the East.

Lying on the eastern continental divide in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Panthertown Valley features more  than 25 miles of designated trails where visitors can enjoy deep gorges and broad valleys, mountain bogs, granitic rock domes, tranquil creeks and plunging waterfalls while hiking, biking, or horseback riding.

This 94-acre tract holds more than 2,800 feet of stream frontage along Slickens Creek, a tributary of the Tuckasegee River, and is suspected to contain many of the natural heritage elements that rank the surrounding Panthertown Valley Natural Heritage Area as “excellent.”  The spray cliff on the Slickens Creek waterfall (pictured above) is likely to host rare and unique species. Slickens Creek hosts wild populations of brook trout and is an excellent source of high water quality along its length before emptying into the Tuckasegee River. There are several open meadow acres on the property to be maintained as early successional habitat, high enough in elevation to provide important habitat to species of greatest conservation need in North Carolina, including golden winged warblers and ruffed grouse.

The property is accessed via the state-maintained Rock Bridge Road and will provide entry to two popular trails within the Panthertown Recreation Area: the Rattlesnake Knob Trail and the Turkey Knob Trail. Purchase and thoughtful management of the Slickens Creek tract will allow for limited public access while also protecting the most sensitive habitats and unique areas.

This property, within the Blue Ridge Parkway Viewshed, has long been an acquisition priority of Mainspring Conservation Trust, Friends of Panthertown (FOP), Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, the U.S. Forest Service, and several other conservation groups. Mainspring, with FOP’s help, will own and manage this tract.

• Property Cost: $1,657,801
• Atira Conservation Funding: $17,801