Cedar Mountain / Bramlett Tract

Cedar Mountain is a stunning Blue Ridge gem, an archetype for what we look for in land conservation. The property has 0.4 miles of frontage on Old Highway 25, which is the start of a popular biking route for cyclists heading into or coming from North Carolina. Looking up from the road, the property is characterized by an undulating ridge line that summits at 1,765 feet called Cedar Mountain.

Ecologically, Cedar Mountain is significant. South Carolina’s Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) biologists made a cursory trip to visit and document the flora and fauna found on the tract. To their surprise they found two new records for rare plant species and the second-known record of a milk snake in the entire state. Judging by tracks found on the property there is ample bear, bobcat and deer, which likely use the land as a corridor to link into the Watershed. During the winter there is also a large wild turkey roost and, in the mornings, the turkeys fly from the mountain down to the Bramlett Bottoms to forage and mate. For these reasons, DNR is considering creating a new heritage preserve on the site.

This property builds on the collaborative conservation efforts of Greenville Water, SCDNR, Trout Unlimited, Trees Upstate, Easley Combined Utilities, ReWa and Save Our Saluda who we have worked with to restore and protect this area of the North Saluda River. Cedar Mountain is exactly the kind of special place we aim to protect for future generations. This property contains all the rare and iconic elements that define the natural landscape of the upcountry while providing opportunities to expand and enhance public recreation in Greenville County.

This property adjoins the soon-to-be Cedar Mountain Heritage Preserve. The main intent for this property is to increase the size of the Preserve and transfer the property to SCDNR. Naturaland Trust will hold the property until DNR can provide the deficit funding to take ownership and include the parcel in its footprint and management plan. We anticipate it will be Fall of 2024 when SCDNR can take over ownership of the property.

Parker Tract Expansion

26 acres adjacent to Cedar Mountain and 40-acre Dividing Water tract in Greenville County is the Parker Tract Expansion. Naturaland Trust will raise the remaining funds through private donations and the ULCF fund developed by Upstate Forever. The property climbs steep terrain from Old Highway 25 to a beautiful ridge line that overlooks the North Saluda River and the Greenville watershed. This tract is in the heart of land conservation efforts by The Nature Conservancy to expand Poinsett Bridge Heritage Preserve, Greenville Water’s efforts to restore the North Saluda River, and the more than 180 acres recently acquired by Naturaland Trust across Dividing Waters and Cedar Mountain. This acquisition is part of a strategy to build on the soon-to-be Cedar Mountain Heritage Preserve as properties become available.