Onion Mountain Preserve was gifted to Mainspring by a couple in 2021, who donated the 323 acres with the desire that it be a forever-wild public place. Mainspring added 125 acres to the preserve in 2023. It’s a different experience than Mainspring’s other preserves, with a peak at 3,480 feet and a winding network of steeper forested trails. There are around two-miles of hiking trails using the primitive road.
VISIT:
There are two entrances:
(909 North Laurel Trail, Franklin, NC): Take US-23 S/US-441. Turn left onto Cat Creek Rd. Drive 2 miles and turn left to stay on Cat Creek Rd. After 0.8 miles, turn right onto Mountain Grove Rd. The parking area will be on the right after 2 miles. At this location, there were two large geodesic domes originally intended for habitation on the property. They have since been removed, but the concrete pads remain and are good places for stargazing.
(opposite 3575 Ellijay Road, Franklin, NC): Take the Highlands Road (NC 28 South) 4.5 miles toward Highlands. Turn left onto Ellijay Road (SR 1001) and follow 3.7 miles. The Property is on the left, just past a bridge over Ellijay Creek.
