Celebrate Halloween the natural way! Free, guided tours of the botanical gardens will lead you trick-or-treating around the trail to meet some native animal characters. This event is weather dependent. For more information, call (828) 526-2623. Highlands Biological Station, a multi-campus center of Western Carolina University

There is always something changing in the Highlands Botanical Garden! Take a guided tour to see what’s new in our demonstration gardens and among the hundreds of species that call our campus home. Tours are on the 1st Monday of every month from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Tours are weather dependent. This tour will be live streamed on the HBS Facebook page (@highlandsbiologicalstation). The Highlands Biological Station is a multi-campus center of Western Carolina University. For more information, call (828) 526-2623.

More info. to come!

Kick off your holidays by making decorations from natural materials! Drop by the Highlands Nature Center on December 5th to create twigs stars, pine cone ornaments, and more. It will be held rain or shine at the Highlands Nature Center, 930 Horse Cove Road, part of the Highlands Biological Station, a multi-campus center of Western Carolina University. Free, all ages welcome. No registration necessary. For more information, please call (828) 526-2623.

There is always something changing in the Highlands Botanical Garden! Take a guided tour to see what’s new in our demonstration gardens and among the hundreds of species that call our campus home. Tours are on the 1st Monday of every month from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Tours are weather dependent. This tour will be live streamed on the HBS Facebook page (@highlandsbiologicalstation). The Highlands Biological Station is a multi-campus center of Western Carolina University. For more information, call (828) 526-2623.

More info. to come!

After more than a year of closure, the Highlands Nature Center will be opening its door to visitors once more beginning Friday, April 2nd! Spring hours are Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free reservations are required to visit. To ensure the safety of our community and beyond, visiting the Nature Center will look a little different this year. As part of our COVID-19 measures, we have implemented a free reservation system to ensure that only one extended household or group is in the Nature Center at one time. Masks are required of all guests, and hands-on exhibits (including our Kids Discovery Room) are currently closed. Restrooms are for staff only. Nature Center staff will clean the center in-between guest visits. Click HERE to reserve a 30 minute slot to visit the Nature Center. We hope to see you soon!

CLIFF & ROCK OUTCROP COMMUNITIES OF THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS with Ms. Laura Boggess, Mars Hill University and Mr. Gary Kauffman, USFS