Location
Events
Camps
Programs
Calling all nature lovers!
Plan your visit to the Highlands Nature Center to meet live animals, explore our natural history exhibits, and stroll through the adjacent Highlands Botanical Garden. There’s something for all ages and interests.
Summer Hours
The Nature Center is open for Summer hours starting May 26th. Admission is free. Stop by to explore exhibits, stroll the gardens, and enjoy family-friendly fun all summer long!
- Monday: 10:00AM – 5:00PM
- Tuesday: 10:00AM – 5:00PM
- Wednesday: 10:00AM – 5:00PM
- Thursday: 10:00AM – 5:00PM
- Friday: 10:00AM – 5:00PM
- Saturday: 10:00AM – 5:00PM
- Sunday: Closed
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Visit the Nature Center
Phone:
Address:
930 Horse Cove Road
Highlands, NC 28741
Admission:
FREE! Your admission is supported by the Highlands Biological Foundation, the State of North Carolina, & Western Carolina University. Donations are accepted.
Pets:
Please note, only service animals may accompany individuals into the Nature Center. Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times while on campus (in the Botanical Garden, etc.).
Highlands Nature Center
Bringing a goup?
If you’re planning to visit the Nature Center with a group of 10 or more, please review our Visiting Groups guidelines and fill out a quick form to let us know you’re coming. Our small space can only accommodate limited group sizes at a time, and advance notice helps us ensure a smooth visit for everyone!
Exhibits & Programs
Explore our exhibits, engage in hands-on activities, and enjoy a variety of programs focusing on the spectacular biodiversity of the southern Appalachian region.
Questions – please contact the Nature Center at 828.526.2623.
2025 Nature Camps
Summer Nature Camps at the Highlands Nature Center offer an exciting blend of fun, creativity, and hands-on learning for children ages 5-10, inspiring a deeper connection to nature.
Learn about our summer camp offerings HERE.
Outreach Programs
Highlands Nature Center offers a variety of outreach programs to K-12 students (public, private and home schools) and community organizations (afterschool programs, preschools, libraries, and senior centers).
History
Highlands Nature Center was founded as the museum of the Highlands Biological Station in 1927, and was originally housed as an annex to the Hudson Library. Its present home, the Clark Foreman Museum building, was constructed between 1939 and 1941 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) using native granite from the local quarry and wormy chestnut salvaged from the Nantahala National Forest. Following a renovation in 2001, the Nature Center now offers exhibits and year-round educational programming focusing on the biodiversity of the southern Appalachian region.
