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When it comes to the outdoors around Charlotte, NC, most people think of the basics—Crowders Mountain, the White Water Center, and maybe even Lake Norman State Park. However, one of the best places to enjoy the outdoors usually doesn’t make the list. Enter the Uwharrie National Forest. About 50,000 acres of lush forest, the beautiful Yadkin River with its lakes, some of the oldest mountains in North America, and even Morrow Mountain State Park all exist about an hour east of Charlotte.
In this detailed article, I will give you a complete rundown of the area with everything you need to make a day of it or even a week! I’ll provide you with a quick rundown of the history, the major sites, what you need to know, and all the details in between. I hope you enjoy this guide and more importantly the Uwharries. I will ask that you be respectful of the area during your visit. As Charlotte grows, more and more people are starting to discover this area. Please leave it as you found it.
The History of the Uwharries
A long, long time ago, the Uwharrie mountains used to possibly stagger as high as the Himalayas. To be precise, this was over 500 million years ago during the Ordovician Period. Since then, erosion has made the mountain range into a much more modest still of forested hills. However, impressive views are still to be seen!
Closer to the current time, Native Americans inhabited the region for several thousand years. Specifically, Morrow Mountain was known to be a quarry site for Native Americans in the region. The mountains were rich in Rhyolite, a volcanic stone that is excellent for making sharp stone tools and arrowheads. Many relics are still found today in the region, including the Town Creek Indian Mound (which I will later cover). Some fascinating archaeological work has been done in the area including the Hardaway Site.
Gold was another significant event in the region. Reed’s gold mine, just a handful of miles away in Cabarrus country, was where gold was first discovered in the United States. This sparks a gold rush in the area, eventually leading to the numerous gold mines that inhabit the Uwharries. Today, gold can still be found and can be prospected within the National Forest.
In 1931, the lands that would eventually become the Uwharrie National Forest were purchased by the federal government under the Weeks Act, which allowed for the acquisition of land for watershed protection and conservation. Eventually, the National Forest as we know it today was established in 1961. The Uwharries National Forest and many others came from a broader push over several decades to control the logging that was taking place. Today, while we enjoy the numerous recreational activities, we must also appreciate the natural resources of the area.
Let’s Get to the Fun!
As far as recreation, the Uwharries are full of fun! Activities include:
- Hiking
- Mountain Biking
- Group camping
- Dispersed camping
- Kayaking
- Boating
- Fishing
- Off-roading
- Gold mining
- Horseback riding
- Backpacking
Within this guide, I’ll provide you with a general idea of the forest and the specific areas worth checking out. It will be sorted by activity with insights from my personal experiences. Feel free to jump around the different sections based on what interests you. Without further ado, let’s get into it.
A Map and Getting There
The national forest is positioned just east of Albemarle on the other side of the Yadkin River. The land itself is broken up into a few pieces bordered by private land. The southern part contains a group of beautiful hiking trails and dirt roads. The more popular part to the north contains more hiking, off-road OHV trails, water access, and much more. Morrow Mountain State Park is located on the other side of the river below Badin Lake.
If you’re coming from Charlotte, you will most likely either take NC 24/27 or NC 49. The drive will be a little over an hour. I recommend NC 24/27 as it’s a four-lane highway that passes by a couple of Walmarts and directly into Albemarle. This will give you some places to stock up for the trip. It’s important to note that you’ll lose phone service within the national forest. Make sure to tell folks back home where you’ll be and prepare some maps to help guide you.
Activity Guide
Hiking: Some of the Little Known Secrets in the Area
Hiking is a classic activity in the area. There are tons of trails with diverse scenery throughout the forest. I’ll break down some of my favorites that can make a half-day, all-day, or even overnight booking trip.
Dutchman’s Creek Trail
Tucked back in the southern part, Dutchman’s Creek Trail follows Dutchman Creek, a pristine waterway through the Uwharries. This hike will give you plenty of beautiful water along the creek with places to camp or hammock. It will ascend some hills that will give you a good view out into the forest during the winter. The trail connects to many other trails as well within the southern part.
The trail can be accessed via Dusty Level Rd. by starting on the Uwharrie National Recreation Trail or at the NC 24-27 trailhead parking lot. I recommended accessing it via Dusty Level Rd. The majority of the sights are closer to that part of the hike. Also, bring waterproof boots, you’ll need them as the trails cross the creek multiple times.
Uwharrie National Recreation Trail
This trail is the beast of the area. It’s 40 miles one way taking you from the southern part to the very north at Walkers Creek Trailhead. It’s perfect for a multi-day backpacking trip. You’ll pass creeks, waterfalls, remnants of settlers, and even hike up mountains. One of my favorite secrets is the shelter at the top of Little Long Mountain. It was built as a scout project and could be the perfect place to enjoy the mountain view while staying dry.
As far as accessing the trail. You can either start at NC 24-27 trailhead or Walkers Creek trailhead. NC 24-27 has access to multiple trails to give you a more diverse experience. But, Walkers Creek will be more remote. Whatever you do, come prepared. The trail can be rugged at points and you most likely won’t have any cell service.
River Trail #713
This is a special, but much less traveled trail in the Uwharries. For one, it’s tucked away from the main hiking areas. There isn’t an official trailhead. More or less a place to park off the road. You can access it via US Forest Service Road 555 near NC 109. I would park near these coordinates: 35°25’10″N 80°01’27″W. You can drive past here to the Daniel OHV parking lot or just park along the road. Be careful, however, as you’ll be traveling on some hilly dirt roads.
I love this trail because of the Uwharrie River. This smaller river runs by the park into the bigger Yadkin. The remote scenery by the river provides for a peaceful escape from it all. Make sure to bring your waterproof boots like these Timberland Pro Boots. I have Timberland Boots similar to those, which have seens years of hiking. The waterproof feature is key on any hiking boot you choose. Horses travel this trail and it gets very muddy from stomping up the dirt.
Camping: A Perfect Place to Rest
The Uwharries provide an extensive landscape to camp on. Primitive camping is allowed through most of the park. So, your options are almost limitless. If you prefer a designated campsite, there are a handful within the National Forest. Yates Place, Arrowhead Campground, and Canebrake just to name a few. Check out more on the USDA website.
Car Camping
Car camping is a simple way to enjoy the outdoors here for a night. If you spend time traveling any of the forest roads here, you will find signs of fire rings and primitive campsites used by people. These spots are first come, first serve. Prime locations tend to get taken up quickly, so I recommend getting there early or on a weekday. If it’s your first time here, cruise the forest roads looking for spots to camp. If you see a place that catches your eye, park your car there and set yourself up to “claim the spot”. My go-to is anywhere within the northern part of the forest by Badin Lake. If you have a 4X4, venture down to Deep Water Trail. This area provides some lakeside camping and stunning views of the water.
Backpacking
If you’re looking for more exercise, the Uwharrie National Forest offers some great backpacking opportunities. All of the trails in the forest hide some special primitive camp spots throughout. I recommend the southern part of the forest for backpacking. Dutchman’s Creek trail has some spectacular spots along the water. A perfect place to set up near fresh water. The Uwharrie National Trail also has numerous spots, including Little Long Mountain for spectacular views of the stars at night. Probably some of the best in the Uwharrie National Forest!
If you are looking for some camping gear to bring, I have some great recommendations from my experience. The ENO SingleNest and ENO DoubleNest hammocks are perfect for a simple hammock camping setup. I’ve used both of these in Uwharrie with no issues and maximum sleeping comfort! Get the ENO Atlas Tree Suspension System to strap yourself between any two sturdy and alive trees. Never camp near dead trees!
Enjoying the Water: Kayaking, Boating, Fishing and More
If you want to get some time on the water, the Uwharrie National Forest and its immediate area provide plentiful methods. Badin Lake and Lake Tillery both exist as major reservoirs along the Yadkin/PeeDee River stretch. Uwharrie River exists in the forest as a smaller river perfect for float trips. The forest itself also contains numerous small creeks for activities like ultralight fishing.
Kayaking
When kayaking, you have multiple options to launch:
- Morrow Mountain State Park
- Badin Lake Recreation Area
- Swift Island Lake Tillery Boat Access
- Falls Reservoir Boat Access
- Badin Public Access in Badin, NC
- Tuckertown Boat Ramp
- Uwharrie River Access Point at Low Water Bridge
All listed except the Uwharrie River Access exist on the lakes and reservoirs around the forest. Most are home to normal boat traffic, so be prepared to deal with other launching boats. However, one of my favorites is Morrow Mountain State Park. While it does contain a small ramp, boat traffic is light here for the most part. Combine that with the beautiful state park and this becomes the perfect place to paddle. For anyone who is looking for a simple and scenic paddle, I recommend Morrow Mountain State Park.
If you want more adventure, launching at the low water bridge on the Uwharrie River provides an excellent thrill. This river quickly flows through most of the Uwharrie National Forest and makes its way out into Lake Tillery right by Morrow Mountain State Park. Place for a full day and have a car ready to pick you up at the state park as it’s a one-way paddle. Also, be mindful that it may be impossible to access the low-water bridge during major rainstorms.
Boating
Most of the kayaking spots mentioned above will work to launch trailered watercraft. Swift Island Lake Tillery Boat Access is the biggest and should provide the most parking. However, most should work for your needs. Be mindful that Fall Reservoir is fairly small if you’re looking to cruise.
Badin Lake is your most open lake in the area. This is the prime spot for any cruising or wakeboarding activities. However, you can’t go wrong with Lake Tillery either.
Fishing
With plenty of water comes plenty of fish. All lakes should have your common freshwater species. Badin Lake should have better Largemouth Bass fishing over the rest. Lake Tillery will likely have better Catfishing. But, you can’t go wrong either way. The Uwharrie River has Smallmouth Bass from what I heard. This would be your river to bring out the waders and the fly pole or light tackle. When water levels are lower, there are fast-flowing sections, but still deeper holes. You will either have to use the trails or a kayak to access most of these spots. Perfect for secluded fishing. As mentioned earlier, if you want to try ultralight fishing. The many creeks in the Uwharries National Forest hold Panfish and other species.
Firing up the 4X4
One of the most popular reasons people come out to the Uwharries is to ride the OHV trails. Standing for “off-highway vehicles”, this means anything that wants to tear up some dirt. From a dirt bike to an ATV and even your TRD Toyota Tacoma! As long as you are willing to risk it for some fun, it should be allowed in the Uwharrie National Forest.
There are a variety of trails in the north part of the forest by Badin Lake at the Badin Lake OHV Trail Complex. But, before you get on any trail, you must first get a pass. Passes are $5 for a day or $30 for the season (roughly April to December). Places like the Eldorado Outpost near the trail sell passes. Once you have your pass, you are free to ride the trails as you wish safely.
As far as trail recommendations, it depends completely on your experience and vehicle. For beginners and those with less capable vehicles (AWD, 4X4 with no lockers, low ground clearance, etc.), Falls Dam and Wolf Den should be perfect for you. Those with more capable vehicles and experience can pretty much ride everything else in the Badin Lake OHV Complex. Daniels trail is going to be your hardest with lots of rocks, steep climbs, and more.
While I own a 4X4 truck and have ridden the dirt roads of the forest, I have never been within the OHV trails themselves. So, I cannot speak of experience here. I recommend watching tons of YouTube videos on trails you might want to try. Just be careful, especially if you have never done off-roading before. It can become very easy to get stuck or flip your vehicle.
Below is one of the simplest maps I found that explains the Badin Lake OHV Complex. As you can see, the majority of the trails hover in the center of this part of the Uwharrie National Forest. Falls Dam and Wolf Den can be taken on their own. But, you are going to have the most time and fun on the trail doing the toughest trails.
Get on your Horse: Horseback Riding
Another popular activity in the area is horseback riding. Given the vast rural lands surrounding the forest, many bring their horses to ride along the trails in the Uwharries. You see the trailers and the steeds walking along roads and trails. If you own a horse or have access to one, then the Uwharries provide the perfect experience.
The northern part of Badin Lake contains the majority of the trails. Many trails will be hiker-friendly as well. I recommend starting at Canebrake Horse Camp. This is one of the nicest horse camping spots in the area. Perfect for a night in the RV. There are electrical hookups, toilets/showers, drinking water, and accessories like grills. There is a cost to stay for most spots and reservations need to be made. Check out the USDA Forest Services link above for more details.
Prospect Like a Miner for Gold
As I mentioned previously, gold played a significance in the region. While it is not a prevalent industry today, many still attempt to look. Yourself included! Panning for gold is allowed within the forest grounds as long as it is not a commercial operation. Furthermore, you can only use a shovel and panning technique. Operations with a larger impact are not allowed on the Uwharrie National Forest grounds.
Many of the small creeks I mentioned previously in this guide can produce gold. I’d recommend checking out some of the videos across YouTube of people trying themselves if you have never looked for gold before. Various techniques can be tested out in the Uwharries. However, you are likely not going to become rich off of this. But, the fun and thrill of the search can be worth it!
In Review
The Uwharrie National Forest is one of the best places near Charlotte NC to enjoy a more primitive outdoors experience. The activities are endless and you could spend a week or more here just doing different activities. Almost all seasons too. While the summers are hot, the fall and winter can be a beautiful time and you’ll avoid the Appalachian mountains crowd. If you get the chance to go, let me know! I’d love to hear what you did and how this guide helped you. Thank you!
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