Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area is a
North Carolina state park in
Orange County,
North Carolina
North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...
in the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
. Located adjacent to the town of
Hillsborough, it covers
and includes Occoneechee Mountain, the highest point (867 ft) in
Orange County and a settlement of the
Occaneechi
The Occaneechi are Indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands whose historical territory was in the Piedmont region of present-day North Carolina and Virginia.
In the 17th century they primarily lived on the large, long Occoneechee Island ...
tribe.
History
Rising more than from the
Eno River
The Eno River, named for the Eno Native Americans who once lived along its banks, is the initial tributary of the Neuse River in North Carolina, United States. Descendants of European immigrants settled along the Eno River in the latter 1740s and ...
, the Occoneechee Mountain summit is the highest point in Orange County.
Researchers believe that the area's habitat has remained relatively unchanged since the
last ice age due to the presence of the brown elfin, a rare butterfly, and several unique plant species. The brown elfin is typically found in mountainous and northern areas, and the nearest brown elfin population to Occoneechee is more than west. When the
Piedmont's habitat underwent enormous transformations after the Ice Age, the area became unable to support the brown elfin and other species more accustomed to cooler environments. Brown elfins, believed to have once populated the Piedmont, were restricted to the state's mountains. However, the brown elfin butterflies at Occoneechee Mountain remained.
The land the state natural area now sits on was originally settled by the Occaneechi Band of the
Saponi Nation, who traveled to the mountain from the west. In the colonial period, European immigrants settled the area. Until 1987,
a mill village occupied a section of the natural area. The
NC Division of Parks and Recreation first purchased land at Occoneechee Mountain in December 1997. Since then, the natural area has grown to
Recreation
Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area features over 3 miles of trails, as well as fishing and picnic areas.
The park's trail network also connects to the paved Hillsborough Riverwalk trail, which extends east along the Eno River towards downtown Hillsborough.
Since 2019 the area has hosted the annual Ochoneeche Mountain Challenge, a 10 mile race from Occoneechee Mountain to the
Occoneechee Speedway
Occoneechee Speedway was one of the first two NASCAR tracks to open. It closed in 1968 and is the only dirt track remaining from the inaugural 1949 season.
It is located just outside the town of Hillsborough, North Carolina.
Site history Occo ...
and back.
Nearby state parks
The following state parks are within of Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area:
*
Eno River State Park
Eno River State Park is a North Carolina state park in Durham and Orange Counties, North Carolina. Together with the adjoining West Point on the Eno city park, the two parks preserve over 14 miles (22.5 km) of the Eno River and surrou ...
*
Falls Lake State Recreation Area
Falls Lake State Recreation Area is a North Carolina state park in Durham and Wake counties, North Carolina in the United States. Near Wake Forest, North Carolina, it covers along the shores of Falls Lake.
History
Prior to 1978, flooding o ...
*
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area is a List of North Carolina state parks, North Carolina state park spanning Chatham County, North Carolina, Chatham County, and Wake County, North Carolina, Wake County, North Carolina. It comprises of woodlands ...
*
William B. Umstead State Park
William B. Umstead State Park is a List of North Carolina state parks, North Carolina state park in Wake County, North Carolina, Wake County, North Carolina in the United States. It covers nestled between the expanding cities of Raleigh, North ...
References
External links
*
Aerial View of the Occoneechee Mtn. Overlook and Eno River - Hillsborough, NC
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Mountains of North Carolina
State parks of North Carolina
Protected areas of Orange County, North Carolina
Protected areas established in 1997
Landforms of Orange County, North Carolina
Inselbergs of Piedmont (United States)
1997 establishments in North Carolina
Occaneechi