Buffalo Mountain
1 & 4.2 mi.
Buffalo Mountain Natural Area Preserve, located in Floyd, VA offers two trails, a short one mile trail to the top of the mountain, and a 4.2 mile trail around the sides of the mountain. This is not a particularly difficult trail system, the longer trail being mostly flat with the shorter trail being semi-difficult with a few long switchbacks and an elevation gain of 895'. The parking area for this trail is quite small so it is recommended hikers get there relatively early or later in the day. Pets and small children will be able to easily do this mountain but keep in mind not all dogs get along and a leash is necessary at all times. Buffalo Mountain has a unique natural makeup making it one of the most significant natural areas of Virginia. The mountain and surrounding preserve contains 13 rare plant species, 3 rare animal species, and 6 unusual natural communities. Buffalo Mountain is the only known location containing a bug known as the Buffalo Mountain Mealybug (Puto kosztarabi). Due to the lack of trees on the summit and the strong winds the climate is classified as sub-alpine and allows for the growth of three-toothed cinquefoil and Rocky Mountain woodsia. Halfway down the mountain the terrain becomes almost that of the midwest prairies rather than the usual climate zones of Virginia. The bottom of the mountain is a wet, almost bog-like terrain that permits bog bluegrass and large-leaved grass-of-parnassus to flourish in the magnesium rich soil. From the summit you can see Sharp and Flat Top mountains near the Peaks of Otter, and Pilot Mountain which is actually across the border in North Carolina.