天(tian)橋山自(zi)然保護區地貌多樣(yang)(yang),自(zi)然條(tiao)件優越,野(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)動植物資源豐(feng)富,系(xi)亞熱(re)帶常綠(lv)闊葉、落(luo)葉混交林,植被(bei)相當豐(feng)富,在(zai)生(sheng)(sheng)態系(xi)統、生(sheng)(sheng)物群(qun)落(luo)和(he)(he)(he)物種多樣(yang)(yang)性等方面具有典(dian)型性和(he)(he)(he)代表性,具有很高的科(ke)學、文化、旅游、經濟和(he)(he)(he)保護價值(zhi)。
天(tian)(tian)橋(qiao)山(shan)的(de)(de)人(ren)文景觀和名(ming)勝古(gu)跡(ji)也多達40余處。如位(wei)于(yu)天(tian)(tian)橋(qiao)山(shan)半山(shan)懸崖(ya)脊上的(de)(de)天(tian)(tian)橋(qiao)古(gu)道(dao),據推算(suan)該(gai)古(gu)道(dao)最遲建成于(yu)清(qing)(qing)康熙以前,是上天(tian)(tian)橋(qiao)山(shan)的(de)(de)必經通道(dao),“上山(shan)必過(guo)橋(qiao),過(guo)橋(qiao)必打顫”。由于(yu)奇懸多姿,清(qing)(qing)舉人(ren)李涌曾(ceng)賦(fu)詩筆譽(yu)“府首洞(dong)門(men)青霧鎖,昆瞻峰頂白云(yun)連(lian)”。位(wei)于(yu)天(tian)(tian)橋(qiao)山(shan)頂的(de)(de)北(bei)極四庵,威嚴而(er)儀態(tai)萬(wan)般(ban),分別(bie)為(wei)修復(fu)于(yu)康熙年間(jian)的(de)(de)華巖(yan)閣、娘(niang)(niang)娘(niang)(niang)殿、北(bei)極宮和靈宮殿。位(wei)于(yu)天(tian)(tian)橋(qiao)山(shan)右側(ce)的(de)(de)杜(du)(du)鵑溪,因杜(du)(du)鵑花(hua)繁茂(mao)而(er)得名(ming),水質清(qing)(qing)純,四季長流(liu);位(wei)于(yu)保(bao)護區(qu)北(bei)面(mian)的(de)(de)崔龍庵始(shi)建明清(qing)(qing)之間(jian),翠竹蔥茂(mao),有“破竹成兵,攻打朱元璋”等(deng)美妙神奇的(de)(de)傳說(shuo);位(wei)于(yu)保(bao)護區(qu)南北(bei)腳(jiao)下的(de)(de)奇梁(liang)洞(dong)是著(zhu)名(ming)的(de)(de)佛教圣(sheng)地(di)。更為(wei)奇絕的(de)(de)是,登(deng)上天(tian)(tian)橋(qiao)山(shan)山(shan)頂,極目窮盡,沅江、峒(tong)河像(xiang)兩(liang)條飄帶(dai)把自然(ran)保(bao)護區(qu)緊(jin)緊(jin)環繞,云(yun)濤霧海,如登(deng)仙境。
天(tian)橋山自然保(bao)(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)區總面(mian)積13333公頃,植(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)類92個(ge)科(ke)200余(yu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),其(qi)中(zhong)屬(shu)國(guo)家一級(ji)(ji)保(bao)(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)的(de)植(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)有(you)(you)(you)水杉、銀杏2種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),屬(shu)國(guo)家二級(ji)(ji)保(bao)(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)的(de)植(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)有(you)(you)(you)21種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),屬(shu)省級(ji)(ji)重點(dian)保(bao)(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)的(de)植(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)有(you)(you)(you)40余(yu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong);野(ye)生動(dong)物(wu)(wu)30目50科(ke)1000余(yu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),其(qi)中(zhong)脊椎(zhui)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)350余(yu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),屬(shu)國(guo)家一級(ji)(ji)保(bao)(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)的(de)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)有(you)(you)(you)白頸長尾(wei)雉、黃腹角(jiao)雉、麝(she)3種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),國(guo)家二級(ji)(ji)保(bao)(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)的(de)有(you)(you)(you)30種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),省重點(dian)保(bao)(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)的(de)野(ye)生動(dong)物(wu)(wu)有(you)(you)(you)100多種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。