Self-Guided Tours

See Historic Bethabara Park at your own pace - enjoy a leisurely walk on the grounds. 

Because Historic Bethabara has the fascinating flora and fauna inventories that Christian Reuter, North Carolina's first forest ranger, made here in the 1750's and ‘60s, we can explore the connection between man and his environment for a 250-year period. The contrast between the Moravian sensitivity to their natural environment and our contemporary one is instructive. Reuter's inventories and his maps provide Park staff guidance for the preservation and restoration of the natural environment within the 175-acre wildlife preserve as well as the basis for a fascinating educational program.

We have preserved many sensitive areas including lowland stands of native wildflowers, an Eastern floodplain forest, several stream and creek environments, a natural bog garden and a six-acre wetland containing Beaver, otter, mink and muskrat. The Audubon Society has inventoried 129 kinds of birds in the Park, annually. These resources form the basis of our environmental educational programs illustrating Bethabara´s natural and cultural history through the centuries. The education programs include three 10-kilometer natural and cultural history trails and faculty-led tours of the Wildlife Preserve, using NC Wild Education materials and equipment.

Preservation projects:

• 183-acre wildlife preserve with beaver, otter, mink, fox and deer; 129 kinds of birds, annually, as well as and many unusual and exotic native flora.
• Floodplain wildflowers under study
• Eastern floodplain forest
• Upland pine and hardwood forest
• Several creeks and streams
• A natural bog garden
• A six-acre wetland and beaver pond

We have trail maps available for printing

Lower Trail Map [pdf/278kb/1p]
Lower Trail Directions [pdf/7kb/1p]

Upper Trail Map [pdf/366kb/1p]
Upper Trail Directions [pdf/81kb/1p]

SciWorks Trail Map [pdf.150kb/1p]    
SciWorks Directions [pdf/75kb/1p]