버팔로 마운틴 자연 지역 보호구역

고도: 3090 ft.

Buffalo Mountain Natural Area Preserve encircles Buffalo Mountain, a knob within the Blue Ridge Mountains whose shape resembles the head of a Buffalo. Two hiking trails lead explorers from the parking area to a peak of 3971 feet. This area is unique in that it offers sub-alpine vegetation, magnesium-rich soils, and windswept balds along the summit. Trails to the summit pass through mature hardwood forests. Listen for Scarlet Tanager, Black-throated Blue and Black-throated Green warblers, Veery, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. The summit and exposed areas along the ridge are unique to mountaintops within this area. The combination of magnesium-enriched soils and sub-alpine winds and temperature provide microclimates ideal for rare plants such as three-toothed cinquefoil and mountain sandwort. This is also the only site in the world where the Buffalo Mountain mealybug can be found. Virginia’s largest population of the globally rare, large-leaved grass-of-parnassus is found near the base of the southern flanks of the mountain. The open summit also features many native grassland species such as little bluestem, big bluestem, and blazing star. These areas can be good spots to watch hawk migration in the fall. Red cedars border the fringes of this bald and are frequently visited by nesting Eastern Towhee, Dark-eyed Junco, and Brown Thrasher. Woodland butterflies such as common wood-nymph and northern pearly-eye flit about forest edges. Red fox, black bear, white-tailed deer, and Ruffed Grouse are local denizens of the mountainsides. 

참고: 

• 10-주차장은 특히 주말에 빠르게 만차가 됩니다. 주차 공간을 찾을 확률을 높이려면 일찍 도착하세요. 자리가 만석인 경우 자리가 생길 때까지 기다리거나 다음에 다시 방문하세요.
• 버팔로 산 정상 서식지에는 짓밟힘에 매우 민감한 수많은 희귀 식물이 서식하고 있습니다. 방문 중에는 표시된 트레일에서 벗어나지 마세요.