Lance Hardin - Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust

Ice has quietly shaped the Highlands-Cashiers landscape, leaving behind rare species, rugged cliffs, and enduring beauty.

In 1909, Highlands rallied to protect the summit of Satulah Mountain—one of the region’s earliest acts of grassroots conservation. More than a century later, that legacy still echoes with every step to the top.

Golden leaves and crisp air make fall the perfect season to hit the trails—and the newly opened Edward Baker Preserve near Cashiers offers over three miles of scenic paths through wetlands, hardwood forests, and ridge-top vistas. Just minutes from town, this dog-friendly haven is a tribute to biodiversity and a gift to hikers.

Though today’s woods may appear lush and mature, the forests that ring the communities of the Plateau are still recovering from widespread timbering a century ago. With intentional stewardship and natural disturbance, biodiversity is slowly returning to the Plateau.

Mr. Kelsey’s love of horticulture would lead him to Highlands’ peculiar frost-free apples and the founding of this unusual town.

The soaring Peregrine Falcons of Whiteside Mountain are an enduring symbol of our wild heritage.

The Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust and The Village Green’s Village Nature Series, exploring the wild lands and the wild things of the Plateau, launches this month.

For nearly all of its 150 years, Highlands has had a faithful partner in the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust.

The Cashiers Village Green will be the stage for the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust and Village Green’s Village Nature Series, exploring the wild lands and the wild things of the Plateau.