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Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission

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Pine Mountain Trail State Park Nature Preserve

Location: Harlan County
Size: 609 acres
Access: Open to the public Open to Public

Owner:
* Kentucky Department of Parks
Managers:
* KSNPC
* Kentucky Department of Parks
Purchased with Assistance of:
* Kentucky Natural Lands Trust
* Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund

The 609-acre Pine Mountain Trail State Park Nature Preserve on the south slope of Pine Mountain in Harlan County contains a great variety of habitats and biological diversity. The preserve was dedicated into the state nature preserves system on June 13, 2007. Large sandstone outcrops found throughout the preserve feature gnarly old pitch pines (Pinus rigida) and Virginia pines (P. virginiana), colorful mosses and lichens. These openings offer striking views of Black Mountain across the valley to the south. Pine woodland, a rare community type recovering from the pine bark beetle outbreak in the late 1990s, fringes these outcrops to the north. An Appalachian bog, one of the rarest natural communities in the state, also is known from the property. The preserve provides habitat for rare plants such as showy gentian (Gentiana decora) and pale corydalis (Corydalis sempervirens), which are restricted to Pine Mountain. The only known state record of a globally rare club-moss occurs there as well. Facilities are planned for through-hiking on the Pine Mountain Trail on land adjoining the preserve. Access to the preserve is presently limited to guided hikes with approved personnel.