Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area near Hillsborough centers on Occoneechee Mountain, the highest point in Orange County, and protects both unusual natural habitat and a long human history. Rising above the Eno River, the mountain preserves ecological conditions researchers believe may have changed little since the last ice age, reflected in rare species such as the brown elfin and distinctive plants more typical of cooler environments. The area also includes the site of an Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation settlement, later nearby colonial settlement, and a former mill village. Since land acquisition began in 1997, the protected area has grown into a park with trails, fishing, picnic areas, and links to Hillsborough’s Riverwalk.