New River Valley Byway
Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, NC

You can get a glimpse of it from the Blue Ridge Parkway, but Mount Jefferson is even better up close. This State Natural Area includes hiking trails and picnic grounds to accommodate visitors who want to explore the forest of Mount Jefferson.

Once known as "Panther Mountain," the mountain was renamed to honor Thomas Jefferson after the revolution. Colonial stories tell of a child who was attacked on the mountain by a panther in earlier days. You won't see panthers on Mount Jefferson today, but the area is still thriving with both plants and animals.

Since 1975, Mount Jefferson has been nationally recognized for the multiple species of plants that live there. The chestnut trees found in the area are rare. And the Red-tailed Hawk makes the mountain its home. From forests of trees to fields of wildflowers, Mount Jefferson is a place where nature flourishes.