MARION, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina has acquired 22 acres in southern McDowell County, bolstering conservation efforts and public recreation along the developing Wilderness Gateway State Trail.
The newly protected Vein Mountain Connector property links Box Creek Wilderness and Bobs Creek State Natural Area, reinforcing a network of more than 65,000 acres of conserved land in the South Mountains region. The parcel also safeguards a stretch of Bakers Creek and supports habitat for rare species such as the Four-toed Salamander and the federally threatened Bog Turtle.
The land will host part of a 10-mile trail loop under development as a segment of the 170-mile Wilderness Gateway State Trail, a planned multi-county route designed for hiking, biking and adaptive recreation. Officials say the acquisition marks a step forward in expanding ecotourism and access to natural areas in Western North Carolina.