天橋山自(zi)(zi)然保護區(qu)地貌多樣,自(zi)(zi)然條(tiao)件優越,野生(sheng)動植物資源豐富,系亞熱帶(dai)常綠闊葉、落葉混交林(lin),植被相(xiang)當豐富,在生(sheng)態系統、生(sheng)物群落和物種多樣性等方面具(ju)有典型性和代表性,具(ju)有很高的科學、文化、旅游、經濟和保護價值(zhi)。
天(tian)橋(qiao)(qiao)山(shan)的(de)人(ren)文景觀和名勝古(gu)跡也多(duo)達40余處。如位(wei)于(yu)(yu)(yu)天(tian)橋(qiao)(qiao)山(shan)半山(shan)懸(xuan)崖脊上的(de)天(tian)橋(qiao)(qiao)古(gu)道,據(ju)推算該(gai)古(gu)道最遲(chi)建(jian)成于(yu)(yu)(yu)清(qing)康(kang)熙以前(qian),是(shi)上天(tian)橋(qiao)(qiao)山(shan)的(de)必(bi)經通(tong)道,“上山(shan)必(bi)過橋(qiao)(qiao),過橋(qiao)(qiao)必(bi)打顫(zhan)”。由(you)于(yu)(yu)(yu)奇懸(xuan)多(duo)姿,清(qing)舉人(ren)李涌(yong)曾賦(fu)詩筆譽(yu)“府首洞(dong)門青(qing)霧鎖(suo),昆瞻峰頂白云連”。位(wei)于(yu)(yu)(yu)天(tian)橋(qiao)(qiao)山(shan)頂的(de)北(bei)極(ji)四庵,威(wei)嚴而儀態萬般,分別為(wei)修復(fu)于(yu)(yu)(yu)康(kang)熙年間的(de)華(hua)巖閣、娘娘殿(dian)、北(bei)極(ji)宮和靈宮殿(dian)。位(wei)于(yu)(yu)(yu)天(tian)橋(qiao)(qiao)山(shan)右側的(de)杜(du)鵑(juan)溪(xi),因(yin)杜(du)鵑(juan)花繁茂(mao)而得名,水質清(qing)純(chun),四季長(chang)流(liu);位(wei)于(yu)(yu)(yu)保護區北(bei)面(mian)的(de)崔龍(long)庵始建(jian)明(ming)清(qing)之(zhi)間,翠竹(zhu)(zhu)蔥茂(mao),有“破(po)竹(zhu)(zhu)成兵,攻打朱元璋”等美妙神奇的(de)傳說(shuo);位(wei)于(yu)(yu)(yu)保護區南北(bei)腳下的(de)奇梁洞(dong)是(shi)著(zhu)名的(de)佛教圣(sheng)地(di)。更(geng)為(wei)奇絕(jue)的(de)是(shi),登上天(tian)橋(qiao)(qiao)山(shan)山(shan)頂,極(ji)目窮盡,沅江(jiang)、峒(tong)河像兩條飄(piao)帶(dai)把自(zi)然保護區緊(jin)緊(jin)環繞,云濤霧海,如登仙境。
天橋(qiao)山自然保(bao)(bao)護(hu)區(qu)總面(mian)積13333公頃(qing),植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)種(zhong)類92個科200余(yu)種(zhong),其(qi)中(zhong)(zhong)屬(shu)國(guo)家一級(ji)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)的植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)有(you)水杉、銀杏2種(zhong),屬(shu)國(guo)家二(er)級(ji)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)的植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)有(you)21種(zhong),屬(shu)省級(ji)重點保(bao)(bao)護(hu)的植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)有(you)40余(yu)種(zhong);野(ye)生動(dong)(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)30目50科1000余(yu)種(zhong),其(qi)中(zhong)(zhong)脊(ji)椎動(dong)(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)350余(yu)種(zhong),屬(shu)國(guo)家一級(ji)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)的動(dong)(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)有(you)白頸長尾(wei)雉、黃腹角雉、麝3種(zhong),國(guo)家二(er)級(ji)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)的有(you)30種(zhong),省重點保(bao)(bao)護(hu)的野(ye)生動(dong)(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)有(you)100多種(zhong)。