Resources By Department: Getting to Know Bailey Mountain Preserve: Welcome to the Bailey Mountain Preserve Resource Guide

Who Saved Bailey Mountain?

Bailey Mountain Preserve and the Smith Farm: A Community Coalition Wins Protection for Local Heritage Land Resources

"This project came together because regular people in the community (including students) cared about the mountain. It wasn't "important people" or "someone else" that protected the mountain, but rather a community that got organized and knocked on doors and tabled at fairs and baked treats for bake sales." Professor Laura Boggess

Synopsis of Hoffman Trail
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The Bailey Mountain Preserve consists of adjoining properties under preservation easement available to the public to visit on foot. The Preserve encompasses over 250 acres, including much of the southern slope of the mountain, including the east of Connor Ridge down to Forest St, the “Smith Farm,” and to the west of Connor Ridge the headwaters of White Oak Branch and Hamp Gap. Bailey Mountain is the highest peak visible from the Town of Mars Hill, and Bailey figures prominently in the history of the Town and Mars Hill University. The preserve offers six contiguous miles of hiking trails for the responsible enjoyment of the public and is best accessed from the parking area and trailhead at 889 Forest St. Preservation of Bailey Mountain began in 1996 with considerable local community fundraising efforts through the Richard L Hoffman Foundation to purchase land for the public. The coalition of groups that now work together to maintain conservation of Bailey Mountain consists of the Friends of Bailey Mountain, the Town of Mars Hill and the Appalachian Barn Alliance, in cooperation with the Mountain Valleys Resource Conservation and Development Council and the North Carolina Land and Water Fund. Efforts continue to maintain and protect these lands as well as engage the public in educational outreach and involvement in the study and documentation of the natural and cultural resources at the Bailey Mountain Preserve and Smith Farm.
Appalachian Barn Alliance records the Heritage of Bailey Mountain
Located in the heart of the western North Carolina mountains in rural Madison County, the Bailey Mountain Preserve with the Smith Farm Heritage Farmstead is a tribute to the strength of community and love of the local heritage. Members of the community came together (led by an effort of the Richard L. Hoffman Foundation) to make this a reality.(2)
Friends of Bailey Mountain
Find the friends of Bailey Mountain in your community here in this document.(3)
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The Friends of Bailey Mountain of Mars Hill, NC convenes to support stewardship of Bailey Mountain including preservation, management and access. We meet quarterly and are open to all. Sub-committees convene as necessary prior to larger Friends group meetings, with each committee’s chair report to the larger Friends group. The Chair of the Friends of Bailey Mtn will report pertinent concerns and recommended actions to the Town of Mars Hill's Recreation Committee and Town Manager.
Visit Madison County Bailey Mountain Information
The Madison County Tourism Development Authority has supported Bailey Mountain Preserve with grants and has developed this information on Bailey Mountain. If you need directions to Bailey Mountain Preserve you can find them here.(6)
North Carolina Land and Water Fund
Since its creation in 1996 by the General Assembly, the North Carolina Land and Water Fund (NCLWF), formerly known as the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, has conserved well over one-half million acres and protected or restored 3,000 miles of streams and rivers.(13)
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The North Carolina Land and Water Fund holds the conservation easement on portions of the land in the Bailey Mountain Preserve Smith Farm Property.
News Records Sentinel Announcement of original land preservation in 2006
This 2006 newspaper article from the local paper, The News Record and Sentinel, sheds light on coalition and its history that gained traction to protect the Bailey Mountain tract.(5)
Asheville Citizen-Times reports on the original purchase.
This 2006 story from the Asheville Citizen-Times relates the story of the original acquisition of the land that was the beginning of the bailey Mountain-Smith Farm Preserve.(11)
Smith Farm Master Plan
The Town of Mars Hill acquired
the Smith Farm property in 2019 through
the generous support of Clean Water for
North Carolina. This is after several years of
planning and strategizing the future Parks and
Recreational needs for the community as a
leadership team. Greenways had previously
been identified as a priority for the town in the
Pedestrian Plan completed in 2007.(9)
The Town of Mars Hill: holding the deed to the Smith Farm
The Hoffman Foundation and the Town of Mars Hill hold the deeds to Bailey Mountain Preserve and the Smith Farm.(14)

The Biodiversity and Conservation of Bailey Mountain Preserve

The Conservation of Bailey Mountain Preserve - Smith Farm, in a Nutshell:

"The long-range goal of the Richard L. Hoffman Foundation has been to place as much of Bailey Mountain into conservation and preservation as possible."- Lee Hoffman

"Conservation- prevention of wasteful use of a resource."- Oxford Languages (8)

Conservation and Biodiversity-

There are several books available on conservation at Renfro Library, including these:

Biodiversity and Conservation by Lisa Idzikowski
ISBN: 9781534506411
Publication Date: 2019-12-30
The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert
ISBN: 9781250062185
Publication Date: 2015-01-06

MUDDY SNEAKERS! A NEW GENERATION ENJOYS ACCESS TO BAILEY MOUNTAIN FOR OUTDOOR EXPLORATION
"When Muddy Sneakers took its first groups of students to Bailey Mountain in Madison County last year, we knew it was a special property. "(12)
The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies sets forth Core Concepts
Members of the Conservation Education Strategy Team, a working group of the Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies, identified an extensive set of Core Concepts for Conservation Education that support the North
American Model of fish and wildlife management.(1)
The Land Trust Alliance answers FAQ about land trusts and conservation easements.
The Land Trust Alliance’s mission is to save the places people need and love.
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Protecting your land can be deeply meaningful. It’s also a big decision. You probably have a lot of questions. Here are some common ones to get you started.(10)
Ivy River Partners
The Ivy River Partners is the aquatic water quality partner for the Bailey Mountain Preserve.
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The Ivy River Watershed serves a vital role to communities in both Madison and Buncombe Counties. One of the largest tributaries of the French Broad in Madison County, it is used for fishing, swimming, agriculture, and drinking.

The Biodiversity on Bailey Mountain YouTube Playlist is a collection of videos created by students, citizens and teachers to highlight the amazing biological diversity of the Bailey Mountain Preserve. Click Below to check it out!

Visit and Get Involved

Directions driving from Asheville:

Take I-26 W towards Weaverville for 16 miles. Take exit 11 and turn left towards Mars Hill/Marshall/NC-213. After 1 mile turn right onto N. Main Street, and shortly after turn left onto Bailey Street. In approximately 1/4 mile, turn left onto Hickory Drive. 1/4 mile further, turn right onto Forest Street. The entrance and parking to the Bailey Mountain Preserve and Smith Property will be located on your left after 1 mile.

GPS Address – 889 Forest Street, Mars Hill, NC 28754

Report a Trail Maintenance Request

Trail Maintenance Request

Groups wishing to schedule activities at the lower Smith Farm should contact the Town of Mars Hill. 828-689-2301

Bailey Mountain Art Show Flyer
Fill out required fields on this form to submit art to the Bailey Mountain Art Show.
Friends of Bailey Mountain Interest Form
This form lets the Friends of Bailey Mountain know that you might want to get involved with the Bailey Mountain Preserve.
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The Friends of Bailey Mountain group of Mars Hill, NC convenes to support stewardship of Bailey Mountain including preservation, management and access. They meet quarterly and open to all. Sub-committees will convene as necessary prior to larger Friends group meetings, with each committee having a Chair report to the larger group.

The Chair of the Friends of Bailey Mtn will report pertinent concerns and recommended actions to the Town of Mars Hill's Recreation Committee and Town Manager.
Bailey Mountain Preserve Trail Register
This is a registration to document your visit to Bailey Mountain Preserve. This allows us to accommodate all our users and to respond to the suggestions and needs of all our visitors.
Visit Madison County's Bailey Mountain Preserve
Visit Madison County NC has a brochure and webpage to support your exploration of Bailey Mountain Preserve - Smith Farm.
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VisitMadisonCounty.org is a website sponsored by Madison County Tourism Development Authority.
Alltrails.com's Bailey Mountain Page
Alltrails.com provides directions, info, maps, detailed reviews, and photos curated by millions of hikers, campers, and nature lovers like you.
Bailey Mountain Map, 10/25/22
This links to the PDF version of the map, showing the topography, trailhead and trails at Bailey Mountain Preserve and the Smith Farm.
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Please register using the QR code on the map so we can better serve our visitors.

iNaturalist Project: Bailey Mountain Collection
Join the Project- Here you will find all the iNaturalist observations from within the Bailey Mountain Preserve - Smith Farm boundaries. By joining iNaturalist and adding observations to the collection, you will be contributing to our understanding of this important natural resource!
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iNaturalist is a citizen science platform where you can join the fun by adding your observations to growing body of knowledge produced by citizens.

Reference

References:

Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. (n.d.). Conservation Education Core Concepts [Non-profit]. Fishwildlife.Org. Retrieved October 30, 2022, from https://www.fishwildlife.org/application/files/6716/4616/6038/AFWA_Top_11_Core_Concepts_for_Conservation_Education.pdf
Barnhill, T. (2022, October 27). Smith Farm Heritage Farmstead [..Org]. Smith Farm Heritage Farmstead. https://appalachianbarns.org/smith-farm-heritage-farmstead/
Bell, R. (2021a). Friends of Bailey Mountain [Non-profit]. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1REFprlmQ2O51UMI4MbBA_tc4d1FKMu7r/view
Bell, R. (2021b). Bailey Mtn Preserve Current Map. Friends of Bailey Mountain. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iqZEBkKB4hDUX3OHBvs2XckBcWJLRAKA/view
Clark, P. (2006, August 2). Bailey Mountain Preservation Efforts Succeed. News Record and Sentinel, 36–37.
Downey, B. (n.d.). Bailey Mountain Preserve. Visit Madison County. https://visitmadisoncounty.com/bailey-mountain-preserve/
Friends of Bailey Mountain. (2022). Creation of the Richard L Hoffman Trail on Bailey Mountain Preserve of Mars Hill, North Carolina, Synopsis [Non-profit]. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sS113uJAu1HhVF-zv_truYGtK-9858Lm/view?usp=sharing
Google Dictionary, O. L. (2022, October 27). Definition of Conservation. Google Dictionary. https://www.google.com/search?q=define+conservation&oq=define&aqs=chrome.0.69i59j69i57j0i67l2j0i10i131i433i512j0i67l2j0i10i433i512j0i512l2.3831j1j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Land of the Sky Regional Council. (2018). Mars Hill Smith Farm Masterplan (pp. 1–32). Town of Mars Hill. https://townofmarshill.org/pdf_files/Smith%20Farm%20Plan%20Final.pdf?v=2019
Land Trust Alliance. (2022, October 30). Conserve Your Land, Frequently Asked Questions [Non-profit]. https://landtrustalliance.org/take-action/conserve-your-land/frequently-asked-questions
Morrison, C. (2006, July 30). Gifts help preserve Mars Hill Mountain. Asheville Citizen-Times. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Rl2Kh7DtqfhmJ6JFxaMW_Ypn2050rpFV/view?usp=sharing
Muddy Sneaker. (2019, November 4). NEW GENERATION ENJOYS ACCESS TO BAILEY MOUNTAIN FOR OUTDOOR EXPLORATION [Non-profit]. Field Notes. https://muddysneakers.org/news/new-generation-enjoys-access-to-bailey-mountain-for-outdoor-exploration
North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. (2022, October 30). NC Land and Water Fund [Government]. North Carolina Land and Water Fund. https://nclwf.nc.gov/
Town of Mars Hill. (n.d.). Bailey Mountain Preserve Farm Park [Municipal]. Mars Hill Parks and Recreation. Retrieved October 27, 2022, from https://townofmarshill.org/recpark.php

Getting to Know Bailey Mountain Preserve: Welcome to the Bailey Mountain Preserve Resource Guide