The Pharr Family Preserve is home to 1.7 miles of natural surface trail perfect for walking or biking. The trail winds through 66 acres of land protected by the Catawba Lands Conservancy. The property also features a canoe and kayak launch located 300 yards from the trailhead. More information about the canoe and kayak launches can be found in the Rocky River Blueway trail description.
The Pharr Family Preserve Trail offers a unique place to meander through a protected alluvial forest along the scenic Rocky River. Hikers will appreciate the rich diversity of this thick forest which contains at least 48 different species of trees. Sycamores, black walnuts, cottonwoods and bitternut hickories constitute the majority of the canopy. In the spring and summer, nature enthusiasts can observe many blooming trees, shrubs, and herbaceous flowers. Look for spring wild flowers such as blood root, hepatica and the subtle, but unique, wild ginger flowers. This forest is also home to a wide array of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Look and listen for the pileated wood pecker which is our largest wood pecker in the Carolinas and is dependent on large, mature trees for its survival.
Pharr Family Preserve Trail is a part of the Butterfly Highway. "The Butterfly Highway is a statewide conservation restoration initiative that aims to restore native pollinator habitats to areas impacted by urbanization, land use change and agriculture across North Carolina. From backyard Pollinator Pitstops to large-scale roadside habitat restoration, the project is creating a network of native flowering plants to support butterflies, bees, birds and other pollen and nectar dependent wildlife." NC Wildlife Federation-Butterfly Highway Website
Visit the Catawba Lands Conservancy's website for more information or contact:
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