Mount Jefferson

Activities Mount Jefferson State Natural Area is nestled in the far northwestern corner of North Carolina along its border with Tennessee and Virginia. The mountain peak can be seen from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Named after Thomas Jefferson and his father Peter, who owned land in the area in the 1700s, the peak rises 4,683 feet above sea level and 1,600 feet above the town of Jefferson. Experience the Park! Mount Jefferson State Natural Area 1481 Mount Jefferson State Park Rd. West Jefferson, NC 28694 336-246-9653 mount.jefferson@ncparks.gov GPS: 36.393564, -81.468012 Fun Facts ■■ The park was established in 1956. ■■ The mountain was named a National Natural Landmark in 1975. Mount Jefferson is home to the Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly. The park is home to over 750 different species of plants, including the Dutchman’s Pipevine. A 5,000-yearold Kirk Corner Notch spear point was found on the mountain. ■■ The dominant rock in Mount Jefferson is amphibolite, which has properties that make the soil less acidic. ■■ The mountain is over 300 million years old. The mountain used to be called “Panther Mountain.” ■■ The summit ridge line of the mountain create the park. ■■ Red-tailed hawk ■■ Eastern Woodchuck ■■ White-tailed deer ■■ Chipmunk ■■ Red Fox ■■ Raccoon ■■ False lily of the valley ■■ Trillium ■■ Rhododendron ■■ Mountain laurel ■■ Flame azalea ■■ Dogwood Jefferson is 56.9 cm. ■■ Land was donated by local residents to ■■ Virginia opossum ■■ Pink lady slipper ■■ Average annual snowfall on Mount is oriented in the southeast to northwest direction. ■■ Southern flying squirrel ncparks.gov MNQP