The LandTrust for Central North Carolina and other conservation partners will reach a milestone Saturday when a trail work day completes an eight-mile extension to the Uwharrie Trail.
With this reclaimed section, the Uwharrie Trail can be hiked continuously for roughly 28 miles between the Wood Run Trailhead at N.C. 24/27 to the Pisgah Covered Bridge Road entry point.
For the past 15 years, the land trust has worked with individuals, groups and businesses to acquire land and reopen lost sections of the trail.
A few years back, one of the land trust’s purchases was Little Long Mountain. For one day a month for a year-and-a-half, volunteers have worked on rebuilding 4 miles of trail connected with that land purchase.
It led to the opening of the new Joe Moffitt Trailhead last December.
Crystal Cockman, associate director of the land trust, says a group of volunteers has been working since January on an additional four-mile section north from the other trail. It goes over King Mountain to Pisgah Covered Bridge Road.
The land trust purchased King Mountain in 2007, and five years of work and negotiations transferred half of the property to the U.S. Forest Service and half to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.
Cockman says both properties contain rare plants and natural communities, in addition to beautiful landscape views.
As for this Saturday, Cockman says there will be “a Promontory Point moment” as the workers reconnect to the original Uwharrie Trail just south of King Mountain and create an 8-mile trail link from Jumpin’ Off Rock to Pisgah Covered Bridge Road.
It’s an important day, according to Cockman, because it’s been about 15 years in the making.
The work-day volunteers will meet at the Moffitt Trailhead on King Mountain/Thayer Road at 8:30 a.m. Saturday and work north 1.2 miles to King Mountain summit and reclaim the old trail, Cockman says.
An Eagle Scout candidate, Devon Poynter, and other Scouts will join land trust staff and volunteers as part of the work day.
Folks from Piedmont Land Conservancy also will be helping.
The Uwharrie Trail work days will continue in opening up more lost sections of the Uwharrie Trail, plus grubbing and benching as growth comes back.
The work usually goes on past lunch, but volunteers are welcome to stay as long as they want. They are asked to pack a lunch and plenty of water and are advised to wear sturdy shoes and long pants.
After Saturday, the next work day is June 14 before a break for the hotter days of summer.
Contact Cockman at crystal@landtrustcnc.org or 336-633-0143 for more information.