Highlands Biological Station
We are thrilled to premiere our brand new HBS video by Bonesteel Films!
Highlands, NC is an incredibly special place. The Highlands Biological Station, located just minutes from downtown, seeks to better understand the incredible biodiversity of our region while also sharing the Plateau’s natural wonders with our community and visitors. From visiting researchers, to academic courses and workshops, to free, educational programs for all ages, there’s so many wonderful things going on at the Station. Click play below for a sneak peek into the magic!
The Highlands Biological Station (HBS) is a multi-campus center of Western Carolina University. It is made up of the Highlands Nature Center, Laboratory, and Botanical Garden. HBS is supported in part by the Highlands Biological Foundation. Our mission is to foster research and education focused on the rich natural heritage of the Highlands Plateau, while preserving and celebrating the integrity of the “biological crown of the southern Appalachian Mountains.”
HBS realizes its mission of education and research broadly through:
- Supporting scientific research and graduate training
- Offering accredited field-centered courses and community workshops/seminars
- Hosting visiting academic researchers and classes
- Providing diverse outreach programming for regional K-12 schools and the local community
Getting Here
- Our address is: 265 North Sixth Street, Highlands, NC 28741
From Cashiers, NC: Take Hwy 64 W to Highlands and turn left onto Main St. Continue straight through town. Turn left onto Sixth St. and make a right turn into the Station driveway. - From Franklin, NC: Take Hwy 64 E (the Gorge Road) to Highlands, which becomes Main Street. Continue straight through town. Turn left onto Sixth St. and make a right turn into the Station driveway.
- From Walhalla, SC: Take Hwy 28 to Highlands and turn right onto Main Street. Continue straight through town. Turn left onto Sixth St. and make a right turn into the Station driveway.
- From Dillard, GA: Take Hwy 106 to Highlands and turn right onto Main Street. Continue straight through town. Turn left onto Sixth St. and make a right turn into the Station driveway.
Airports
We are located within 3 hours of 4 major regional/national airports. Please note that most of these airports do not have regularly scheduled shuttles to and from Highlands, so you will need to make arrangements for ground transportation to get to Highlands.
| Airport (click to visit website) | City | Time to HBS | Ground Transportation (click to see options) |
| Asheville Regional Airport | Asheville, NC | 1.5 hours | AVL Ground Tranportation |
| Greenville-Spartanburg Intl. Airport | Greer/Greenville, SC | 2 hours | GSP Ground Transportation |
| Jackson-Hartfield Atlanta Intl. Airport | Atlanta, GA | 2.5 hours | ATL Ground Transportation |
| McGhee-Tyson Airport | Knoxville, TN | 3 hours | TYS Ground Transportation |
Shuttle Services
These shuttle services are not verified or endorsed by HBS or WCU. Please use your discretion when arranging these.
– Highlands Ride Service
– Mountain Motor Coach
Public Transportation
Public transportation is limited due to the rural nature of this area. However, Macon County Transit operates reasonable services during the week. Once you’re in Highlands everything is within walking distance, including groceries, shopping, and public parks. Uber and Lyft services may be available but they should not be relied upon for last-minute trips.
Car Rentals
If you need to rent a car, there is an Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Franklin.