Onion Mountain

Macon County

Acreage: 448

Year: 2021 and 20023

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. Among the native species, there’s a significant patch of American Columbo, which is a somewhat uncommon and peculiar plant. Eventually a two-mile hiking trail will be formed using the current primitive road.

A locally prominent peak in the Cowee Mountain range in the Little Tennessee River watershed, there are around two miles of trails throughout the preserve that range from gently sloped to steep and all are almost entirely forested. The Onion Mountain Natural Heritage Area extends onto the preserve and Mainspring has partnered with Western Carolina University for wildlife studies and other student research. Many locals will remember 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 star-gazing.

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.

(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.