Hanging Rock, also known as Bear's Paw (Yonah‑wayah in Cherokee

Cherokee

The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...

), is a mountain in the North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

 High Country

Western North Carolina

Western North Carolina is the region of North Carolina which includes the Appalachian Mountains, thus it is often known geographically as the state's Mountain Region. It is sometimes included with upstate South Carolina as the "Western Carolinas", which is also counted as a single media market...

, next to the town of Seven Devils

Seven Devils, North Carolina

Seven Devils is a town in Avery and Watauga counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 129 at the 2000 census. The town, which is located in the midst of the Appalachian Mountains, is best-known as the site of a popular wintertime tubing resort known as Hawksnest, which claims...

. It is along the Avery

Avery County, North Carolina

- Climate :As a result of its relatively high elevation, Avery County has a Humid continental climate enjoying considerably cooler summers than most of the rest of the Eastern US. Likewise, winters are longer, colder and snowier than most other locations in the region. This can be evidenced by the...

 and Watauga

Watauga County, North Carolina

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 42,695 people, 16,540 households, and 9,411 families residing in the county. The population density was 137 people per square mile . There were 23,155 housing units at an average density of 74 per square mile...

 border. Its elevation reaches 5203 feet (1,586 m). The mountain generates feeder streams for the Elk

Elk River (North Carolina)

The Elk River is a large stream in the North Carolina High Country and East Tennessee. The headwaters begin from the Northwestern slopes of Peak Mountain in Avery County, North Carolina and end at the Watauga River in Carter County, Tennessee.-Hydrography:...

 and Watauga

Watauga River

The Watauga River is a large stream of western North Carolina and East Tennessee. It is 60 miles long with its headwaters on the slopes of Grandfather Mountain and Peak Mountain in Watauga County, North Carolina.-Hydrography:...

 rivers.

In 2008, Bear Paw State Natural Area was established on the mountain by the North Carolina General Assembly

North Carolina General Assembly

The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...

. The High Country Conservancy

High Country Conservancy

High Country Conservancy is a non-profit land trust operating in northwest North Carolina. Its mission is "to protect the natural resources of Appalachia by conserving land with significant ecological, cultural, recreational, or scenic value in the North Carolina High Country." Through 2007 HCC...

 acquired the initial 350 acres (1.4 km²) for the state. The natural area is located just north of Grandfather Mountain State Park, and it protects Hanging Rock Ridge and the headwaters of Dutch Creek. There are no public right of ways to the natural area's boundary. It is managed by Elk Knob State Park

Elk Knob State Park

Elk Knob State Park is an North Carolina state park in Watauga County, North Carolina, in the United States. Opened in 2003, it is one of North Carolina's newest state parks. Elk Knob State Park was established to preserve the natural state of Elk Knob, the second highest peak in Watauga County...

.

External links

• Bear Paw SNA Map by the Town of Seven Devils.