天橋山自然(ran)保護區地貌多(duo)樣(yang),自然(ran)條(tiao)件優越,野生動植物資(zi)源豐(feng)富,系亞(ya)熱帶常綠闊葉、落葉混(hun)交林,植被相當豐(feng)富,在生態系統、生物群落和(he)物種多(duo)樣(yang)性(xing)等方面(mian)具有典型性(xing)和(he)代表性(xing),具有很高的科學、文化、旅游、經濟和(he)保護價值。
天橋(qiao)山(shan)(shan)的(de)人文(wen)景觀和名(ming)勝(sheng)古跡也多達40余處。如位(wei)(wei)于(yu)天橋(qiao)山(shan)(shan)半山(shan)(shan)懸崖(ya)脊上的(de)天橋(qiao)古道,據(ju)推算該古道最遲建(jian)成于(yu)清康熙以前,是上天橋(qiao)山(shan)(shan)的(de)必(bi)經通(tong)道,“上山(shan)(shan)必(bi)過橋(qiao),過橋(qiao)必(bi)打顫”。由于(yu)奇(qi)懸多姿(zi),清舉(ju)人李涌(yong)曾賦詩筆譽(yu)“府首(shou)洞門青(qing)霧鎖,昆瞻峰頂白(bai)云(yun)連”。位(wei)(wei)于(yu)天橋(qiao)山(shan)(shan)頂的(de)北(bei)極(ji)四庵,威(wei)嚴而儀態萬般,分別(bie)為修(xiu)復(fu)于(yu)康熙年(nian)間的(de)華巖閣、娘娘殿、北(bei)極(ji)宮(gong)和靈宮(gong)殿。位(wei)(wei)于(yu)天橋(qiao)山(shan)(shan)右側的(de)杜鵑溪,因(yin)杜鵑花(hua)繁茂(mao)而得名(ming),水質清純,四季(ji)長流;位(wei)(wei)于(yu)保護(hu)區北(bei)面的(de)崔龍庵始建(jian)明清之間,翠竹蔥茂(mao),有“破(po)竹成兵,攻(gong)打朱元璋”等美妙神(shen)奇(qi)的(de)傳說;位(wei)(wei)于(yu)保護(hu)區南(nan)北(bei)腳下的(de)奇(qi)梁洞是著名(ming)的(de)佛教圣地。更(geng)為奇(qi)絕(jue)的(de)是,登上天橋(qiao)山(shan)(shan)山(shan)(shan)頂,極(ji)目(mu)窮盡,沅江、峒河像兩條飄(piao)帶(dai)把自然保護(hu)區緊(jin)緊(jin)環繞,云(yun)濤霧海(hai),如登仙境。
天橋(qiao)山自然保(bao)護區總面積13333公頃(qing),植(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)類92個(ge)科(ke)200余(yu)(yu)種(zhong)(zhong),其(qi)(qi)中屬(shu)國家(jia)一級(ji)保(bao)護的(de)(de)植(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)有(you)(you)(you)水(shui)杉、銀杏2種(zhong)(zhong),屬(shu)國家(jia)二級(ji)保(bao)護的(de)(de)植(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)有(you)(you)(you)21種(zhong)(zhong),屬(shu)省級(ji)重點保(bao)護的(de)(de)植(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)有(you)(you)(you)40余(yu)(yu)種(zhong)(zhong);野(ye)生動(dong)物(wu)30目50科(ke)1000余(yu)(yu)種(zhong)(zhong),其(qi)(qi)中脊(ji)椎(zhui)動(dong)物(wu)350余(yu)(yu)種(zhong)(zhong),屬(shu)國家(jia)一級(ji)保(bao)護的(de)(de)動(dong)物(wu)有(you)(you)(you)白頸長尾雉、黃腹角(jiao)雉、麝3種(zhong)(zhong),國家(jia)二級(ji)保(bao)護的(de)(de)有(you)(you)(you)30種(zhong)(zhong),省重點保(bao)護的(de)(de)野(ye)生動(dong)物(wu)有(you)(you)(you)100多種(zhong)(zhong)。