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Garden Trail Descriptions
The Highlands Botanical Garden serves as a refuge and demonstration garden for the diverse flora of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Over 500 species flourish in natural forest, bog, and wetland plant communities. Trails and boardwalks lead to display gardens for native azaleas, carnivorous plants, butterfly-pollinated plants, edible/medicinal herbs, and examples of native plant landscapes for homes and businesses. The Garden also includes natural areas, such as the Coker Rhododendron Trail, an old-growth hemlock-hardwood forest. The Garden covers approximately 11 acres on the shores of 4-acre Lindenwood Lake. The Garden is a museum of living plants; please do not pick or remove plants.
Main Trails: Nature Center Trail
Woodland Loop The Woodland Loop begins at the Howell Garden entrance to the Botanical Garden and winds through a hardwood-dominated forest, typical of the Highlands Plateau. It passes a variety of woodland wildflowers and understory trees and shrubs. Includes interpretive signs on forest wildflowers and stream habitats. Average walk, few stairs. Distance 0.1 mi.
The Foreman Loop also begins at the Howell Garden entrance to the Botanical Garden, crosses a bridge through a hemlock-hardwood forest, turns right at the beginning of Falls Trail and joins Woodland Loop at a shaded stream. Average walk, some stairs and roots. Distance 0.1 mi.
Falls Trail Falls Trail begins at the corner of the Foreman Trail at an interpretive sign on cove hardwood forest habitats. It continues along a shaded stream and loops past a small cascade at the border of the Botanical Garden property. Somewhat difficult, rocks and stream to navigate. Distance 0.1 mi.
Fern Trail The Fern Trail is a bypass option between the Foreman Trail and Lower Lake Trail. It passes across silty soil hosting some wetland species and an array of ferns native to the Southern Appalachians. Includes an interpretive sign on fern species. Easy walk, sometimes wet and muddy. Distance <0.1 mi.
The Lower Lake Trail begins at the Foreman Trail and follows the stream through riparian hardwood forest, crossing a boardwalk over a Southern Appalachian bog, and ending at the Upper Lake Trail. Includes an interpretive sign on bog plant species. Easy walk, level. Distance 0.1 mi.
Upper Lake Trail The Upper Lake Trail forks from the Foreman Trail and winds through a heath forest along the eastern shore of Lindenwood Lake, across a boardwalk through a former beaver pond area, and eventually ending on Lower Lake Road. Moderate walk, some narrow bridges, roots and stones. Distance 0.2 mi.
Coker Rhododendron Trail The Coker Rhododendron Trail begins on Lower Lake Road, near the junction with the Upper Lake Trail. This trail leads through a gorgeous old-growth hemlock-hardwood forest, nestled in a rhododendron covered cove, overlooking a stream complete with musical cascades. The trail ends at a stream crossing. Hikers should turn around and hike back towards Lower Lake Road. Average to challenging, steep inclines and roots. Distance 0.2 mi.Visitors should walk back to the Upper Lake Trail and through the Botanical Garden to the Nature Center, or follow Lower Lake Road and cross the dam. This will pass the Biological Station administrative office and research laboratories, weather station, and Butterfly Garden.
Look for posted maps of the entire grounds on the dam, at the end of Upper Lake Trail, behind the Nature Center, and at the entrance near Howell Cottage.
Other Biological Station Trails:
Featured throughout the Botanical Garden is the HBS "William Bartram Trail," which showcases many native plant species described by Bartram during his Travels through the southeast in the late 1700s. Click here for more information.
Adjacent to the Biological Station is the trail to Sunset Rock, a public park owned by the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust. It is a popular destination for visitors. The 0.6 mile trail is a gravel road that begins on Horse Cove Road, across the street from the Nature Center. Driving up is not prohibited but is strongly discouraged. At the top of the mountain is a large rock outcropping with excellent views of the town of Highlands, especially at sunset. Another small unmarked trail to the left leads to Sunrise Rock, with views of Horse Cove.
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The Nature Center Trail
connects the Nature Center with
the Botanical Garden
entrance; passing the
Wildflower
Garden, the Azalea Garden, the Amphitheater, the Vernal Herb Garden, the
Foreman
Loop Trail
Lower Lake Trail
