Devil’s Den Nature Preserve

Elevation: 2906 ft.

The name “Devil’s Den” refers to a 600-million-year-old cave formation comprised of several layers of rock that contain many large rooms. Formed by the collision of the Appalachian and Piedmont rock encrustations, this cave is primarily metamorphic schist, granite stone with depositions of mica and pyrites, and even 45 inlays of solid quartz bands. The nature preserve surrounding the cave offers 280 acres of land, which includes mature hardwood forests, cleared plateaus, and shrubby brush. A strenuous 1.5 mile loop trail passes through most of these habitats and has a short spur leading towards the spectacular cave. However, because the cave is unstable, public access is no longer allowed. Red-eyed vireo, black-throated green and hooded warblers, wood thrush, scarlet tanager, and indigo bunting are common throughout the summer.

Located just south of the Blue Ridge Parkway, this site is well-traveled by migrating neotropical songbirds in the spring and fall. Other wildlife viewing possibilities include white-tailed deer, eastern box turtle, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, and red fox. The cave has yet to be used as a maternity home for bat species, but big brown bat and other species of bats have been seen flying around this area. Look for butterflies such as great-spangled fritillary, eastern tiger swallowtail, and spicebush swallowtail, in the meadows.