天(tian)橋山(shan)自(zi)然保護區地(di)貌多樣,自(zi)然條(tiao)件(jian)優越,野生動(dong)植物資源豐富(fu),系亞熱帶(dai)常(chang)綠闊葉、落葉混交林,植被相當豐富(fu),在生態系統、生物群落和(he)物種多樣性(xing)等方面具有典型性(xing)和(he)代表性(xing),具有很(hen)高的科學、文化、旅游、經(jing)濟和(he)保護價(jia)值(zhi)。
天(tian)橋(qiao)(qiao)山(shan)的(de)(de)人(ren)文景觀和(he)名(ming)(ming)勝古(gu)跡也多達40余(yu)處。如位(wei)于(yu)(yu)(yu)天(tian)橋(qiao)(qiao)山(shan)半山(shan)懸崖脊上的(de)(de)天(tian)橋(qiao)(qiao)古(gu)道(dao),據推算(suan)該古(gu)道(dao)最遲建成(cheng)于(yu)(yu)(yu)清(qing)(qing)(qing)康熙以前,是上天(tian)橋(qiao)(qiao)山(shan)的(de)(de)必(bi)經通(tong)道(dao),“上山(shan)必(bi)過橋(qiao)(qiao),過橋(qiao)(qiao)必(bi)打(da)顫(zhan)”。由(you)于(yu)(yu)(yu)奇(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)懸多姿(zi),清(qing)(qing)(qing)舉人(ren)李涌(yong)曾賦詩(shi)筆譽“府首洞(dong)門青(qing)霧鎖,昆(kun)瞻峰頂(ding)白(bai)云連”。位(wei)于(yu)(yu)(yu)天(tian)橋(qiao)(qiao)山(shan)頂(ding)的(de)(de)北(bei)極四庵,威(wei)嚴而儀態萬般,分別為修復于(yu)(yu)(yu)康熙年間(jian)的(de)(de)華巖閣、娘娘殿(dian)、北(bei)極宮(gong)和(he)靈宮(gong)殿(dian)。位(wei)于(yu)(yu)(yu)天(tian)橋(qiao)(qiao)山(shan)右側的(de)(de)杜鵑溪,因(yin)杜鵑花繁茂而得名(ming)(ming),水質(zhi)清(qing)(qing)(qing)純,四季長流(liu);位(wei)于(yu)(yu)(yu)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區北(bei)面的(de)(de)崔(cui)龍庵始(shi)建明清(qing)(qing)(qing)之間(jian),翠竹蔥(cong)茂,有“破竹成(cheng)兵(bing),攻打(da)朱(zhu)元璋”等美妙神奇(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)的(de)(de)傳說(shuo);位(wei)于(yu)(yu)(yu)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區南北(bei)腳下的(de)(de)奇(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)梁洞(dong)是著(zhu)名(ming)(ming)的(de)(de)佛教圣地。更為奇(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)絕的(de)(de)是,登上天(tian)橋(qiao)(qiao)山(shan)山(shan)頂(ding),極目窮盡(jin),沅江、峒河像兩(liang)條飄帶把自然保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區緊緊環繞,云濤霧海,如登仙(xian)境(jing)。
天橋山自然保(bao)(bao)護(hu)區總面積13333公(gong)頃(qing),植(zhi)物種(zhong)(zhong)類(lei)92個科(ke)200余種(zhong)(zhong),其中(zhong)屬(shu)國(guo)家(jia)一級保(bao)(bao)護(hu)的(de)(de)(de)植(zhi)物有(you)(you)水(shui)杉、銀杏(xing)2種(zhong)(zhong),屬(shu)國(guo)家(jia)二(er)(er)級保(bao)(bao)護(hu)的(de)(de)(de)植(zhi)物有(you)(you)21種(zhong)(zhong),屬(shu)省級重點(dian)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)的(de)(de)(de)植(zhi)物有(you)(you)40余種(zhong)(zhong);野生(sheng)動物30目(mu)50科(ke)1000余種(zhong)(zhong),其中(zhong)脊椎(zhui)動物350余種(zhong)(zhong),屬(shu)國(guo)家(jia)一級保(bao)(bao)護(hu)的(de)(de)(de)動物有(you)(you)白頸長尾(wei)雉(zhi)、黃腹角雉(zhi)、麝(she)3種(zhong)(zhong),國(guo)家(jia)二(er)(er)級保(bao)(bao)護(hu)的(de)(de)(de)有(you)(you)30種(zhong)(zhong),省重點(dian)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)的(de)(de)(de)野生(sheng)動物有(you)(you)100多種(zhong)(zhong)。