The Oconee River Land Trust (ORLT), a local land conservation non-profit, is working with the Mount Oglethorpe Foundation to permanently protect Mt Oglethorpe and Eagle's Rest Park. Mt. Oglethorpe has special sigificance to the Cherokee and is the original terminous of the Appalachian Trail. Part of the collection routes, where Cherokee and Creek were taken to forts preceding the Trail of Tears, passed over Mt. Oglethorpe.

The forested mountain is also ecologically significant as a wildlife corridor with diverse native plant species, like sassafras, wild hazelnuts, trilliums, and bloodroot, and plays a vital role in protecting water quality in local streams, rivers, and lakes.

The Mt. Oglethorpe Foundation has created and maintains a public park on Mt. Oglethorpe. This 107 acre park is open to the public for free every day, where they have hiking trails, picnic areas, panoramic viewing decks, and more. Furthermore, the Mount Oglethorpe Foundation often hosts birding demonstrations, history lectures, and creative performances.

These funds will ensure this land is conserved by a permanent conservation easement held by Oconee River Land Trust. Without this, there is no guarantee the land will not be developed in the future.

Eagle's Rest Park, located in Pickens County, Georgia is facing pressure as suburban development grows northward from Atlanta. Already, due to overdevelopment in the area, Jasper has implemented a temporary moratorium on new developments in order to secure new water sources.

Help us permanently preserve this culturally and biologically significant land with your donation.

Learn more at: https://www.eaglesrestpark.org/