Mount Jefferson State Natural Area – Lost Province Trail -

Nestled within the ecologically diverse Mount Jefferson State Natural Area in West Jefferson, North Carolina—a National Natural Landmark boasting over 700 plant species and rare bird habitats—the Lost Province Trail offers hikers a captivating 0.75-mile loop through a pristine virgin oak-chestnut forest.

Branching off from the Rhododendron Trail near the dramatic Luther Rock overlook, this moderately challenging path winds gently downhill in a clockwise direction, avoiding steeper rocky sections while revealing blooming rhododendrons and mountain laurel in spring. Ideal for a serene extension to the park’s summit hikes, the trail invites visitors to immerse themselves in the area’s rugged beauty, where the mountain rises over 1,600 feet above the landscape, all accessible year-round from the convenient picnic area parking.

The trail gets its name from the ‘Lost Province’ of North Carolina. This term refers to how hard it was to reach the area, which includes Ashe, Alleghany, and Watauga Counties. The Blue Ridge Mountains separated these counties from the rest of the state for much of the 1800s and early 1900s.