Walkers Creek Trailhead added to Uwharrie National Recreation Trail

The Uwharrie National Forest recently announced the addition of the Walkers Creek Trailhead to the Uwharrie National Recreation Trail (UNRT).

The UNRT was rerouted from Luther’s Spur to connect to the Walkers Creek Trailhead. This reroute replaces the section of trail that went along the Pisgah Covered Bridge Road and now takes hikers through the forest. Reroute work was completed by the Uwharrie Trailblazers.

The Uwharrie National Recreation Trail was constructed in the late 1960s by hiking enthusiast Joe Moffitt, volunteers and Boy Scouts troops from local communities. The trail was completed in 1975 and received it’s “national recreation” status in 1979. Many sections of the original 50-mile trail were closed as private properties were sold. The Uwharrie National Forest continues to work with partners at the Three Rivers Land Trust, North Carolina Zoological Society, and the Uwharrie Trailblazers to reestablish the UNRT.

The Walkers Creek Trailhead is part of a 47-acre tract land was purchased by the U.S. Forest Service from the North Carolina Zoological Society. The trailhead is located on High Pines Church Road in Randolph County.

“We are grateful to our partners for the addition of this important piece of land along the Uwharrie Trail. This addition will improve forest access and provide us the opportunity to sustainably manage this land for future generations,” said Susan Miller, District Ranger for the Uwharrie National Forest. “It also comes at such a great time as the Uwharrie National Forest celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.”

The Uwharrie National Forest was designated on January 12, 1961 by President John F. Kennedy. It is one of the most recently formed in the National Forest System and is comprised of 51,481 acres.

Uwharrie Fun Facts:

* The prevalence of metavolcanic rocks has led geologists to surmise that a chain of volcanoes created the area’s mountains, once much higher but eroded over time into 1,000-foot peaks.

* Archeologists have found human habitation in the Uwharrie Mountains spanning more than 10,000 years.

* In 1700-1701, explorer John Lawson chronicled Native American tribes, plants, animals and geology in his journals, later published as “A New Voyage to Carolina”. He called the river “Heighwaree,” and later explorers called it “Uharie.”



Jeff
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