Departamento de Conservación y Recreación (DCR) Conservar. Proteger. Disfrutar.
Departamento de Conservación y Recreación (DCR) 
LOCALIDAD |
DUEÑO |
ACRES |
ACCESO |
Noticias |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin | DCR | 112 | No |
DESCRIPCIÓN DEL SITIO:
Home to four globally rare natural heritage resources, Bald Knob has been a long-standing conservation priority for DCR in Virginia's southern Piedmont. The thin soils and sparsely vegetated rocks found on parts of the Preserve support vegetation assemblages different than any other documented site. Bald Knob Natural Area Preserve is the largest and best known occurrence of a "Piedmont mafic barren" where exposed rocks resist weathering and have unusual chemical properties, making them and their derived soils different from typical Piedmont sites. For more information, see: Low-Elevation Outcrop Barrens
The Preserve was established in 2016 after decades of work by Natural Heritage Program scientists who first noticed something unusual about one of the plants on the site. After years of additional documentation and study, a College of William and Mary botanist confirmed that these plants were indeed a new species, not previously known to science. To-date, this species, Piedmont Fameflower (Phemeranthus piedmontanus) has only been documented at a handful of sites in the world.
La compra inicial de la Reserva fue posible gracias al apoyo financiero del Fondo de Conservación de Tierras y Aguas y la Fundación de Conservación de Tierras de Virginia. Aunque se necesita más trabajo para proteger completamente los recursos del patrimonio natural del sitio, esta característica prominente y única del paisaje de Rocky Mount y el condado de Franklin está en camino de ser completamente protegida para las generaciones futuras.VISITACIÓN:
In late 2025, a small parking lot will provide access to a moderate 1.3-mile hiking trail that loops around the lower elevations of the preserve on the north side of East Court Street. This trail includes a short accessible section and features views of the rocky summit. The trail, only open to foot traffic, is designed to minimize impacts to rare plants and avoids fragile habitats. To expand hiking opportunities, an additional hiking trail is planned for future development on the southwest side of East Court Street.
CONTACTO:
Ryan Klopf, Mountain Region Supervisor
Department of Conservation & Recreation
Division of Natural Heritage
Roanoke, VA
540-265-5234
