Department of Conservation and Recreation
Conserve. Protect. Enjoy.
Department of Conservation and Recreation
LOCALITY |
OWNER |
ACRES |
ACCESS |
NEWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin | DCR | 112 | No |
SITE DESCRIPTION:
Home to four globally rare natural heritage resources, Bald Knob has been a long-standing conservation priority for DCR in Virginia's southern Piedmont. The thin soils and sparsely vegetated rocks found on parts of the Preserve support vegetation assemblages different than any other documented site. Bald Knob Natural Area Preserve is the largest and best known occurrence of a "Piedmont mafic barren" where exposed rocks resist weathering and have unusual chemical properties, making them and their derived soils different from typical Piedmont sites. For more information, see: Low-Elevation Outcrop Barrens
The Preserve was established in 2016 after decades of work by Natural Heritage Program scientists who first noticed something unusual about one of the plants on the site. After years of additional documentation and study, a College of William and Mary botanist confirmed that these plants were indeed a new species, not previously known to science. To-date, this species, Piedmont Fameflower (Phemeranthus piedmontanus) has only been documented at a handful of sites in the world.
The initial Preserve purchase was made possible by funding support from the Land & Water Conservation Fund and Virginia Land Conservation Foundation. Although more work is needed to fully protect the natural heritage resources of the site, this prominent and unique feature of the Rocky Mount and Franklin County landscape is well on its way to being fully protected for future generations.VISITATION:
In late 2025, a small parking lot will provide access to a moderate 1.3-mile hiking trail that loops around the lower elevations of the preserve on the north side of East Court Street. This trail includes a short accessible section and features views of the rocky summit. The trail, only open to foot traffic, is designed to minimize impacts to rare plants and avoids fragile habitats. To expand hiking opportunities, an additional hiking trail is planned for future development on the southwest side of East Court Street.
CONTACT:
Ryan Klopf, Mountain Region Supervisor
Department of Conservation & Recreation
Division of Natural Heritage
Roanoke, VA
540-265-5234
