Highlands Nature Center

Paul Duffe

2024-04

Beautiful trails. Easy to walk and so much to see. The Nature Center was closed for the season but I’ve been there several times, definitely worth checking out when open. But the gardens and trails are open! Great photo opportunities. I especially like that the center and trails are so close to town. I highly recommend checking them out if looking for something to do close to town. Always a favorite for me.

Christopher Field

2022-05

Great place to stop with the kids either along with the Sunrise hike across the street, or to enjoy the level nature trail behind the center, or just to explore the exhibits inside. I have always enjoyed and leaned from the exhibits, but the nature walk behind the center fantastic. There are a couple of paths to travel, all are well maintained and relatively level. The walk is easy but the ground surface is mulch or pebble or boardwalk - not something a wheelchair is going to traverse. But flip flops will do fine. The views of the bog and pond are excellent. The new instruction building is very well done, too. The main pond trail is a quick walk - 20 minutes? Enjoy, take your time, and stop and soak it all in. Look for turtles.

Janet Spicer

2022-05

We walked through the botanical gardens and many trails that led from it. It was wonderful and offered much more to explore than I thought would be there. We didn't go into nature center because it was closed on Sundays.

DT Photography

2023-05

Beautiful place to visit. Well maintain trails through the woods, meadows. Easy walk. Knowledgeable people at the main nature center. Must visit when in Highlands NC.👌

Troy Nixon

2022-05

Stumbled across this by accident, this is a hidden gem 💎 in the lovely mountain town of Highlands. Interesting and informative exhibits and nice comfortable walkway around a picturesque pond. For the more adventurous there's a hike to a waterfall nearby. Good place to visit.

Danny Decker

2023-05

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Seth Schwartz

2023-05

The staff are very informative. After viewing the center walked the trails. It's very well laid out and the flora is identified.

J. H.

2023-05

Great place and great for families. Very informative. Cute gift shop. Botanical gardens were awesome!!!!!!

Ellie Johnson

2021-05

This is a very beautiful spot, wonderful place for a walk. Across the street offers some lovely short hikes! (Sunset and Sunrise)

Gary Crossley

2020-05

The Highland NC Nature Center is a very well done display of area nature, wildlife, and landscape. Friendly educational exhibits for both adults and kids! Well done.

Kerri McFalls

2021-05

A beautiful place to visit. Plants are labeled and they're many trails. A great place to take the entire family.

Peg & Ron LaMascus

2023-07

What a beautiful, well designed natural preservation project and area! Great walking trails (don’t overly rely on the confusing map) with the different types of areas marked as to the featured flora and fauna. We found the trails moderately easy and accessible and when we were there yesterday, it was my 78th birthday and have minor mobility difficulties. Do note that the website and Google Maps say closed on Sunday but clearly they were open yesterday so you may want to check. Also, the website says service animals only but as everywhere these days, there were multiple dogs being walked that clearly were not service animals! Not appreciated! The staff was very friendly and helpful including the gentleman who was setting out cups of refreshments for the 92 different types of bees as he guided us to the carnivorous plants and told us about them. What a great way to spend an afternoon and certainly much cooler than we have been in SC!

Bryan O'Neal

2023-05

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Danielle F

2023-05

Great learning experience there we had fun

Jason Perkowski

2022-05

Great easy walk through bogs, meadows, woods, and flower gardens. Easy to walk trails...well maintained bridges, gravel and mulch trail surfaces. We went in early Spring and plants were just starting to bloom. No doubt even better by May or June. Maps and trail markers could be better coordinated/labeled to make it easier to navigate without missing sections.

Lindsay Black

2023-06

We love this Nature Center! It is great for kids of all ages. There is also a beautiful garden that you can walk. Pack a picnic and have fun with the family.

Brian Schuster

2020-05

I love it. It is FABULOUS. An exotic wood deck walkway is nearing completion ( as of this writing ) that transverse a beautiful lily filled bog. There also are several well marked trails with a large variety of plants that have identification tags. This very unusual botanical gardens also has a lovely welcome center with knowledgeable staff on site. AND Oh , did I mention......entrance to the garden is FREE ! Construction should be completed in the spring and if you are reading this you DEFINITELY need to plan for a visit. ( pets on leash welcome but not in the Welcome Center )

Peggy Sabol

2021-05

We had a nice stroll through their garden and around a bog. We were surprised that there weren't any mosquitoes! They do need to mark their trails a little better. It was our first time there. There weren't any maps, but the scenery was nice.

Anique Jolee

2019-05

One of the most breathtaking places I've been. Absolutely loved stopping here on my travels! A beautiful hiking spot is also located nearby, It takes you to the top of the mountain where you can look to see the town below. ❤❤

Connie Patterson

2021-05

Loved this place, it was very pretty even in the fog. It had been raining earlier, but the trails were well maintained. Perfect for a casual little walk. What to go back when everything is in bloom.

Lewis

2020-05

Loved walking the trails!

Hannah Rowland

2022-05

We love visiting the nature center to learn a little bit more about Highlands, enjoy the natural and landscaped greenery, and to see the gigantic snapping turtles by the lake. Can't wait to go back for a nice hike and picnic! Bring a mask to enter the nature center building regardless if you are vaccinated!

Vernon Schuler

2022-05

Today I had a little hard time walking on the trails. But they have them so much easier for me to walk through . Great job to the people that take care of the property. They was working as we was there . Walker or cane you can do this

Frank Troglauer

2021-05

We didn't go to the center itself but rather the botanical garden. It is too early for most of the plants but we still enjoyed walking the trails. We saw a few birds, two doe, some fish, and two ducks. What a delight!

Jeanne Hasty

2022-05

Beautiful Nature Center and walk!!! Highly recommend!!!

David McCullough

2023-05

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Brenda Meeks

2021-05

Beautiful place. Online it said they were closed, but we went anyway. The building is closed, but you can still walk through the trails and we did! It was one of the easy walking trails and we were glad we went. Very pretty.

TheChurchAtSapphire Baptist

2023-05

Beautiful and a wealth of information plus hiking trails featuring natural local plants. I highly recommend this place as GODs creation is displayed and loved!

Ralph Smith

2016-05

Beautiful gateway to the Highlands Botanical Gardens. Lovely walking trails over mountain streams and through enchanted glades and moss covered forests of Mountain Laurel and native hardwood. Great with children.

Dawn L

2023-09

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